Chapter 24
Kassandra’s eyes flickered half-open and she brought her arms above her head, stretching languorously.
She yawned, then smiled contentedly and closed her eyes again. She rolled to her side, fitting her hands under her chin, and snuggled into the downy warmth of the bedding. Sighing softly, she felt sleep stealing over her once more, seducing her, lulling her…
“A good morning to you, milady,” Berdine said cheerfully, bustling into the room with a silver tray laden with a steaming teapot, toasted bread slathered with butter and honey, and two boiled eggs set in a china bowl that rattled against the delicate teacup and saucer.
Humming a lilting tune, she set the tray on a small table near the bed and moved to the window, drawing aside the lacy curtains.
Kassandra’s eyes flew wide open, her brow knit in confusion. Where was she? she wondered hazily, her thoughts muddled with fragments of dreams and whispered memories. She was in Stefan’s room, wasn’t she? A sudden wave of panic gripped her. Dear God, Berdine had found her in his bed!
Kassandra sat up abruptly, her unfocused gaze darting about the bright room, decorated in feminine shades of rose, cream, and pale lavender. With a start she realized she was in her own chamber. She sank back onto the bed, relieved yet still bewildered.
“Or perhaps I should say ‘good afternoon’ to you,” Berdine said, giggling.
“What time is it?” Kassandra murmured, almost afraid to ask.
“Why, three o’clock, milady. Prince Eugene’s gala must truly have been grand to keep you up till all hours. You’ve slept through two meals this day.” She set the pot down upon the tray. “It was Countess Isabel who decided I should wake you.”
Berdine plopped the silver tea ball into the cup, glancing over her shoulder while she allowed the tea to steep.
“I would have come to your room to help you undress, milady, however late, if you had only called me,” she apologized, her gaze shifting back to Kassandra.
“It appears to me you had no trouble at all, even with your stays.”
Kassandra sat up at this statement, her eyes widening at the sight of her gown—overskirt, hoopskirt, stockings, everything!
—neatly draped over the divan, which was set exactly where it should be, at the foot of her bed.
Even her satin shoes were placed toe to toe near her closet.
She shivered despite the warmth of her linen nightgown.
Nightgown! Kassandra’s glance fell to the fine lace garment, her cheeks flushing heatedly. She had no recollection of donning the garment. Her gaze flew to the door adjoining her chamber with Stefan’s. It was bolted securely, as if it had never been opened.
“Now lean back, milady, and I’ll hand you your tea,” Berdine murmured, plumping up the large down pillows.
Kassandra did as she was told, her mind racing.
Surely she hadn’t imagined last night, she thought dazedly. A blush crept across her skin as a secret smile touched her lips. No, never in her wildest dreams could she have envisioned such a night…or such a lover.
“I hope the tea is to your liking, milady,” Berdine said, handing the teacup to her carefully. She slid the table a little closer to the bed. “And the cook made a nice breakfast for you.” She paused, smiling. “Well, brunch, that is. Now then, will there be anything else?”
“No. This is wonderful, Berdine, thank you,” Kassandra replied. She blew gently on the surface of her tea, then took a sip. It was one of her favorites, sweet cinnamon.
“Very well, milady. I will return in a short while and prepare your bath. The water should be just about heated in the kitchen.” Berdine bobbed a short curtsy, then hurried from the room and closed the door behind her.
Kassandra took another sip of tea, her gaze sweeping the room.
There could only be one explanation. Stefan must have carried her into her chamber while she slept, slipped a nightgown over her head, and tucked her into bed, then arranged her clothing to look as if she had done so herself.
He knew as well as she the impropriety of being found sharing a bed together, despite their plans for marriage.
Their plans for marriage…
Funny, she mused. For the first time, the thought of marrying Stefan did not rankle.
She set the teacup on the tray and rested her head against the pillow, closing her eyes.
She tentatively touched her lips, still tender from the fiery passion of his kiss, her skin tingling with vibrant memories of his embrace.
A warm sense of fulfillment welled up inside her.
It enveloped her completely, and she sighed, recalling the male scent of him, the taste of his mouth, the rough texture of his skin, the giddy excitement whenever his eyes, startling in their gray depths, caught and held her own.
And most of all, his words of love and desire, thrilling her still as they echoed in her mind. He had called her his only love…
Kassandra’s eyes drifted open and she gazed at the bolted door with a glimmer of hope.
Perhaps it might be possible for them to find some happiness together after all, she considered, despite what had gone before.
She could no longer deny to herself, or him, that she yearned for him with a passion beyond her understanding.
Perhaps what they had shared the night before signified a new beginning. She could not help wondering if there might be something more between them than desire, something not yet touched upon…
A soft rap at the door dispelled her thoughts. Could it be Stefan? She smoothed the coverlet and ran trembling fingers through her tangled hair, feeling as foolish as a blushing girl half her age.
“Come in,” she called breathlessly.
Berdine opened the door. “I’ve summoned your bath, milady.”
Kassandra could barely mask her disappointment. “Thank you, Berdine,” she murmured, sinking back against the pillows.
Ah, well, she would go and find him when she was finished with her bath and dressed. She waited until the maidservants had filled the porcelain tub, set near the decorative heating stove in one corner of the room, before she threw back the coverlet and swung her feet to the floor.
Berdine arranged the painted screen around the tub to afford Kassandra some privacy as she stripped off her nightgown, pinned up her hair, and stepped into the steaming water.
She bathed hurriedly, much to the surprise of the young maid, who was used to her lingering over her bath.
Then she was out of the tub and buffing herself dry with a thick towel as she walked to the closet, leaving a trail of wet footprints upon the carpet.
Kassandra dressed with unusual care in an emerald silk morning gown.
Sitting impatiently at her dressing table, she bade Berdine not to bother overmuch with her long hair.
A few simple brushstrokes soon had it gleaming with brilliant highlights, and two gold combs, her only decoration, swept the heavy mass away from her forehead.
She donned a pair of soft slippers and skipped lightly toward the door.
“Milady, what about your meal?” Berdine asked, glancing at the untouched tray.
“I’m not hungry,” she called over her shoulder as she left the room. “If you would like, Berdine, you’re welcome to it.”
Kassandra paused in the corridor, looking both ways before reaching a decision. Instead of walking toward the staircase, she turned in the other direction, stopping when she came to Stefan’s door.
She tested the doorknob, unable to resist the urge to see if he was in his chamber.
The door opened easily and she peeked inside, but the room was empty.
She began to close the door, but her curiosity got the better of her and she ventured inside.
She had never seen his chamber before last night, and she was not surprised she could remember little about it.
The brightly lit room was quite large, with a massive fireplace at one end. It was sparsely furnished, almost spartan, the bed near the tall windows the dominant feature in the room.
Her skin heated like wildfire as she drew closer, running her hand along the brocade bedspread.
She could almost sense Stefan’s presence there, vivid images of the night before flashing through her mind.
She closed her eyes, remembering. A long time passed before she left the room, her breath caught in her throat, fearful that one of the servants might find her there.
Kassandra hurried past her door and continued down the hallway, her steps light and buoyant.
She felt happier than she had in months.
She ran down the stairs, checking first his library, which was dark and empty, then the dining room, but there was no sign of Stefan, or anyone else for that matter.
Next she tried the kitchen, but its only occupants were the cook and several maidservants, busily preparing the evening meal.
Last she tried the drawing room, nearly colliding with Isabel as she pushed open the door.
“Kassandra!” Isabel gasped, stepping back in surprise, the letters she had been holding now scattered on the floor.
She merely laughed, a pretty smile lighting her features.
“I was beginning to wonder if you were going to spend the entire day abed.” She bent down and began to pick up her letters, and Kassandra knelt by her side to help.
“Forgive me, Isabel,” she began, rising and handing over several crisp packets. “The gala went much later than I had imagined—”
“So Stefan told me,” Isabel interjected.
“Come and sit down, and tell me everything.” She settled in a soft armchair near the harpsichord while Kassandra pulled out the high-backed chair in front of the writing cabinet.
“I had hoped to hear more from him, but he was in such a hurry to be on his way this morning.”
Kassandra glanced up sharply as she took her seat. “On his way?”