Royal Hunt

12th Chapter

I left the dance floor without bowing to my companion. I pushed my way through the crowd, looking for the nearest exit. 

"Marie Kristine. Where are you going?" Mamá hissed in my direction as I pushed past her.

I didn't answer, grabbing the first glass of champagne that came to my hand on my way to the door. 

I gave out nervous smiles in all directions, depending on who was approaching me but I didn't stop until I was safe in the dimmed hallway. 

That... pig… I thought to myself. If he was suggesting what I think he was suggesting, I couldn't think of him as a family friend anymore. What does he think of himself? 

I wasn't naive and I knew what went on in a truly fulfilled relationship, and I even knew that such activities happen quite often before marriage. But after all, I was a lady and certain appearances and standards were expected of me. 

What he was propositioning me for was unacceptable and inappropriate. If Papa had found out about it, he probably would have killed young Czernin on the spot. 

Suddenly, I heard muffled voices behind me. 

I turned further down the corridor and then several more times while I tried to hide from any further company. 

I stopped only in a long dark corridor where only the moonlight shined through the high windows and long draperies hung from the walls. I leaned my back against the cool wall of the alcove and downed the champagne inside me. 

Is this what the whole winter is going to look like? Will the sons of the leading families pass me from hand to hand, examining me from every angle as if I were a commodity for sale? Will they consider whether I would make a suitable wife without even asking me a question the whole time? After all, apart from social niceties, no one has asked me a single personal question. What I care about, what I enjoy, what my values are, or my plans for the future. They didn't care about any of that.

They just brag about their accomplishments, status, and money and it doesn't even cross their minds that maybe I don't want them. 

And if it suits them, or no one's looking, they'll try to take advantage of the situation and take what they want?

If I'd known that beforehand, I would never have agreed. I would have defended myself furiously and made a scene, and Mamá would have had to admit that it was too early to present me at court. But it's too late for me now. 

I looked out the window and watched the moon grow up. The beautiful palace gardens were slowly being enveloped by a mist that had appeared from God knows where.

I was snapped out of my reverie by muffled voices, but they were approaching fast. 

I panicked and looked around. 

Two men were quickly approaching me. I couldn't run down the corridor, they would notice me. So I pressed myself as far as I could into the corner of the alcove and half hid behind a hanging curtain.

"Don't tell anyone we've arrived. I don't want any company. You can leave the horses outside, they're used to it for now and the cold isn't too bad yet. Take care of everything and then send everyone to bed." The man paused for a moment, "Joseph? Thank you for everything. You have been a great support and welcomed company." 

The other man, Joseph, replied quietly so that I couldn't understand him. Then all I could hear were the receding footsteps. 

I could hardly breathe. I mentally counted to two hundred and listened to the silence. 

It looked like they'd both left. I was drowning in complete silence, broken only by my frantically beating heart. 

I carefully emerged from my hiding place in the shadows and quickly stepped back down the dark hallway to where I suspected the ballroom was. I glanced back to check if anyone had remained in the long corridor after all...

And at full speed, I bumped into a gentleman leaning against the window, staring into the moonlight.

"What the hell...?" He trailed off in exasperation. 

"Oh my God. I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't mean to... It... it..." stammered in confusion. I got scared real bad, I didn't want anyone to know I was hiding there. Plus, after my recent experience with Czernin, I didn't want to be alone with a strange man. 

"Enough with the stuttering." He interrupted me rudely. "What do you want here?"

He was authoritative, and there was a faint note of exasperation in his voice. This was a man who was used to being listened to by others.

"I ran away from the ball," I admitted quietly. I was shocked at how quickly the answer flew out of me. I certainly hadn't planned on confiding in a complete stranger. 

"Yes? And why is that? Wasn't the ball lavish enough for your taste? Didn't enough gentlemen notice you?" He asked mockingly with a raised eyebrow. He took a few steps away from me to get a better look in the moonlight. As his gaze swept over my full figure in my gorgeous dress, brushed hair, and lightly made-up face, his eyes sparkled a little. 

"Quite the contrary," I gasped involuntarily, "I am not comfortable with so much attention at once, and it does not please me in the least." 

He stood silently facing me, still looking me over thoroughly. My fear never left me, but I gathered all my courage and returned his intent gaze. He was tall, well-groomed, and had several orders and military ranks pinned to his coat and a sash wrapped around his waist. I was ashamed that Papa had never explained what the various insignia meant, so at least I could more easily discover who I was dealing with. 

He had dark hair and deep brown eyes that looked almost black. He was clean-shaven and stared at me with his jaw clenched. 

"So, a young lady overcome with too much excitement." 

I frowned, it sounded like he was mocking me. 

"A young lady who has been overcome by too much arrogance and rudeness," I replied and was about to leave. 

"And if you don't want to let your horse freeze, you shouldn't leave him out tonight." I couldn't leave without that remark. My stupid pride and need to be right at all times. I had to come out of every debate a winner.

I was passing the gentleman when a hand suddenly shot out of the darkness and grabbed me firmly by the shoulder.

"What do you mean?" came a low voice. 

I shuddered. Suddenly, the voice sounded neither arrogant nor amused. It was chillingly cold and distant.

He must have sensed my reaction because his grip loosened slightly, but not enough for me to free myself. 

"What do you mean? After all, it's been extremely warm all week, and the best meteorologists from the court say it'll last another week." He repeated his question.

"First of all, it's unusually warm for this time of year, so I suppose the weather must be breaking at any moment. Plus, the wind direction has changed today, which could mean the arrival of a cold front. The fog has lifted, look." I pointed out of the window into the castle park, "Besides, when we came into Vienna from Nikolsburg, we could see all the way to the Alps, and that kind of visibility always means only thunderstorms." 

The grip on my arm loosened, and the man stared at me blankly. 

His gaze softened and I felt as if he smiled out of the corner of his mouth. 

"Come on, ma'am," he motioned with his hand, "I'll get you back before someone starts looking for you."

"Thank you, I think I can find my way," I replied, still in a fighting mood.

"I doubt it," he smiled genuinely, "And for saving my horses you deserve an escort." 

He strode off in the opposite direction from where I was going and I followed him like a sheep. I had no idea why, but I walked like I was hypnotized. 

We walked in silence the whole time, through corridors I didn't recognize. He was right, I would have looked in vain for a way in here. 

Suddenly, we stopped in front of a door. The man turned to me and bowed briefly. 

And he was gone. 

He didn't even introduce himself, I thought. But it was too late now. 

I carefully opened the door and pushed my way inside. Unfortunately for me, my nervous mamá was standing right behind it.