Chapter 24 #2
“Yes. He left for the winter camp of the Imperial army, a day’s ride from here. But of course, you know all about it, Kassandra. So tell me, was the gala absolutely splendid? If only I hadn’t been plagued by that awful headache. I would have loved to join you.”
“What winter camp?” Kassandra asked softly, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe.
Isabel leaned forward in her chair. “Stefan did not tell you?”
Kassandra shook her head, twisting the silken fabric of her skirt.
“Why, just yesterday morning he said he’d be leaving in about a week.
He knows how much I dislike to see him go, so he always waits until the last moment to tell me anything.
Then last night, Prince Eugene told him he had to leave much earlier than expected, but I cannot believe he didn’t mention all this to you. ”
Isabel shrugged her delicate shoulders, sighing deeply.
“Men and their unfathomable passion for war,” she murmured.
“They seem to think of little else.” She quickly explained the camp’s purpose, then rushed on.
“All Stefan told me was they’re beginning preparations for the summer campaign against the Turks, but where the Imperial army will strike, and when, is a most closely guarded secret. ”
“How long will he be gone?” Kassandra queried, her gaze focused blindly on some point in front of her, a hard lump in her throat.
“Until early spring, I believe,” Isabel replied.
She patted Kassandra’s hand, noting with dismay that it was ice-cold.
“I’m truly sorry, Kassandra, that Stefan didn’t tell you.
As I said, he had originally planned to leave at the end of the week, but then the most unexpected thing happened last night at the gala.
He was named commander-in-chief of the camp—well, at least temporarily, until Prince Eugene takes full command in the spring.
I’m so proud of him. It’s quite an honor.
Perhaps his mind was so full of his duties and responsibilities—”
“Of course, that must be it.” Kassandra fixed a smile upon her face as she squeezed Isabel’s hand. “I’m sure he will write a letter, and explain everything.”
“Oh, I know he will,” Isabel agreed, relieved that she was taking the news so well. Though for the life of her, she could not imagine why Stefan had neglected to apprise Kassandra of his plans. It was so thoughtless of him.
Isabel paced the floor excitedly. “We shall have a marvelous time together, you and I, and the days will pass so quickly, he will be back before we know it. There is so much to do before your wedding…I mean, there’s certainly no harm in beginning some of the preparations, Kassandra, your gown, your trousseau.
” She paused, sighing. “I haven’t received a single reply yet from Miles to any of my letters, and heaven only knows if he has even received them due to this nasty winter and all the snow.
The last of our worries should be receiving his consent to your marriage. ”
Isabel glanced down at the letters clutched in her hand.
“Speaking of which, I must have Zoltan take these into the city and post them for me at once.” She hurried to the door.
“I’ll be back in a moment, Kassandra,” she called over her shoulder.
“Say a prayer that one of these letters reaches your father.” Then she was gone.
Kassandra sat motionless in her chair, silence descending over the room like a suffocating vapor.
So Stefan had known he was leaving…and hadn’t bothered to tell her. Cold fury welled up inside her. Not even last night, when they lay in each other’s arms after…after…
“Damn you to hell, Stefan von Furstenberg!” Kassandra blurted under her breath, rising to her feet so suddenly that the chair fell to the carpeted floor with a resounding thud. She stormed to the window, her arms clasped tightly to her chest as she stared out across the snow-covered lawn.
It was all so painfully clear, she thought bitterly, swallowing hard against the tears stinging her eyes. Obviously she was good enough to bear the brunt of his endearing lies…and his lust, but hardly worth including in other facets of his life!
Kassandra felt almost a physical pain as the promising notions she had entertained so briefly vanished from her mind like whispering phantoms.
It was just as Stefan had said. He had need of a wife, an heir. It was only her body he was interested in, not her. She meant nothing to him. Nothing.
Another wrenching thought struck her. Maybe last night was merely a cruel ploy to hasten along his desire for an heir!
Kassandra wiped the tears rolling down her face with the back of her hand. She was such a fool!
For a few fleeting hours she had actually believed Stefan cared for her.
She could have sworn she saw affection in his eyes, felt it in his caress, heard it in his whispered words of passion.
Yet it was all an illusion, a heartless play on her emotions, a calculated ploy to get what he wanted from her.
Well, damn him, she would not be so easily deceived again, no matter what he might say or do!
When he returned to Vienna, she would give him a welcome he would not soon forget.