Who was I kidding? I’d been attracted to him from the first moment I saw him, and despite myself, that attraction had only grown as I’d begun to know the man. How had that happened? When had he changed from being something convenient to being something . . . more?
And how had I got it so wrong? Not only to fall for a German officer, but also a philanderer. I didn’t know whether to kick myself or scream, and in this company I could do neither.
Eduard’s face was impassive. ‘Thank you, Laura, for your concern.’
It wasn’t concern, it was bloody malice. I raised my head a little higher so that I towered over Laura and murmured, ‘And my thanks, Countess, for the necklace. I trust you’ll excuse us.’
*
Under the false gaiety lay something even darker and more desperate than my mood. Even the more moderate drank heavily, trying to convince each other, and maybe themselves, that the events in Italy, in Russia, were temporary setbacks. That Mr Hitler would find a way to lead them to victory.
Fools. If they thought the surrender of ’18 was bad, this would be far worse.
A woman teetered past on high heels, while on the far side of the dance floor a young adjutant craned his neck. With a sinking feeling, I knew who he searched for. It seemed that Bendixen believed in social graces, but only when they were useful. This soirée was an elaborate ruse to ensure his men were in one place without attracting undue Allied interest. I anticipated the words before they were spoken:
‘Herr Major?’ The adjutant was young, perhaps seventeen or eighteen years old, and fresh-faced. That didn’t make me detest him, or his message, any less. ‘The Herr Kapitän has requested your presence. Immediately, sir.’
Eduard glanced at me. ‘Has he?’
‘He’s waiting for you in the library. My apologies, Fräulein.’
I sighed. ‘Go ahead, Eduard. I’m certain Haydn wouldn’t mind keeping me company.’
The young adjutant’s face brightened. ‘Have you seen Major Schüller, ma’am? The Herr Kapitän requests his presence as well.’
Yes, of course he did.
I tapped one fingernail on the crystal champagne flute as Eduard pointed the lieutenant in the direction we’d last seen Schüller and took his leave. Over the next few minutes, one by one, senior officials exited, leaving their women milling around in pairs and trios. And despite stepping out with an officer, I was still an outsider; each time I neared a group of women, they changed the subject.
Bored, I sipped another glass of champagne and watched the only other outsider edge towards a door. I had no intention of confronting her, but my legs thought otherwise and I found myself following the countess. Laura kept to the shadows, pausing and looking over her shoulder, one hand on a door knob. She slipped through and allowed the door to softly close behind her.
I covered the distance in a handful of steps, paused outside with my back to the door. Smiled and fanned myself as a couple sauntered by. I heard Laura unlock and open another door.
Then silence.
Grateful for any distraction, I followed. It could be a trap, and save for the knife on my thigh, I was unarmed. I placed my hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath. Felt it turn and the door ease open. The room was dark, the pale moonlight revealing a desk with two visitors’ chairs. Framed watercolours of the monastery and the ruined castle hung on the walls, flanking a pair of French doors.
Laura was outside, sliding along the shadows between the villas, pausing under a magnolia tree. She turned around and I froze, hoping the night and my dark gown hid me. Her gaze passed over me, and her shoulders relaxed a fraction as she leant against the tree, intent on the second villa. I took advantage of her distraction to slip outside.
Just in time to see a man step through the door. He was almost upon her when she called out.
I edged closer, intrigued, hiding behind a low hedge.
The man turned, one hand reaching for his service pistol, his posture aggressive. A slow smirk spread as he recognised her, and Schüller swaggered towards the countess. Wasn’t he supposed to be with Eduard? Had the meeting already finished? I turned to go, but my gown caught on a bramble. I tried to free it as Laura’s slim arms wound around Schüller’s neck. His hands bunched the burgundy silk of her dress, drawing it to her waist as he pushed her against the tree.
Oh hell. At least I now knew who his lover was, should I need to find him. Not voyeuristically inclined, I looked away towards the blazing villa, to the one from whence Schüller emerged and up at the ivy wall above them, cursing my bad luck.
A dark shape caught my eye. Actually, there were three. Three black objects, carefully hidden in the leaves.
Another piece of the puzzle fell into place. My skirt freed from the shrubbery, I retreated to the ballroom and was standing by a modern representation of an old master’s oil painting when Laura strode past, face taut and angry as she called for her cloak.
I acquired a fresh glass of champagne, silently congratulating whoever had irritated her, until my mind wandered back to the three baubles. Harmless, if you didn’t know what they were. I sipped the champagne and sat in a corner, considering how to get word of this new twist to Matthew.
Eduard found me there, two glasses and perhaps forty minutes later. He looked as grim as I felt.
‘What happened?’ I asked, forcing myself not to shake off his hand.
It was now clear that his attention to me was as contrived as mine had once been for him. More than my ego hurt.
Normally astute, his attention was focused on the news. He
