But I don’t want to “match myself” with Joel. I have a purer, nobler match in mind. “I understand,” I murmured, my gaze riveted upon my hands trembling in my lap. I did not know whether the count realized how serious things had become between Augustin and me. He certainly must know something, especially since the servants liked to gossip about Freia’s and my courtships with the local lords. Emilie had asked me just yesterday whether Lord Augustin had kissed me yet. I gathered all of my courage and raised my eyes to the count’s. “I do have . . . another suitor, my lord,” I admitted, my entire body tensed against an expected onslaught. “But I’m not entirely sure of his intentions yet.”
“You speak of the Lord Augustin von Bayern,” Count von Meldorf guessed, his wrinkled countenance appearing
