Chapter 16 #3
He answered her carefully. “Under military law, it is a capital offence, and spies are court-martialled. The death sentence is carried out by a firing squad.” He held her gaze. “Is that what you wanted to know?”
She was decidedly pale. She gave a curt nod. Leaning forward, she said, “Tell me, then. Have you ever heard about—”
A smooth voice inserted itself into their conversation. “Lady Evangeline. What a delightful coincidence.”
Her gaze flew up to meet that of a well-polished man.
His blond curls tumbled artfully about his high forehead and his lips curled into a slightly sardonic smile.
“And Hartenberg. Of course. I have heard you are to be congratulated, soon, Your Excellency. Or not? The latest state of things was, I believe, that it was to be called off. But seeing you here in tête-à-tête might make one believe that this may have been mere rumours after all. One should not always believe what one hears.”
“Metternich,” Hartenberg groaned. “What now?”
Evie blinked, confused. “Our engagement has not been publicly announced. And how did you know that we—oh.” She slapped a hand against her forehead. “How silly of me to ask.”
He smiled suavely. “May I?” He pulled out a chair and sat, without waiting for them to invite him.
“One does not often have the chance to visit a coffee shop, you see, but today I have finally made it happen. The Princess Bagration was rather insistent on trying the Apfelstrudel and coffee here, which they say is a work of poetry.”
“I am surprised that a busy man like you has time for such frolics.”
“Coffee house visits, too, are where politics is made.”
Hartenberg conceded his defeat. “Shouldn’t you rejoin her then, quickly, before she changes her mind about being here, with you?”
They looked at the table by the window, where the Princess sat, flirting heavily with a cavalry officer.
Metternich smiled. “Even better if she is thus distracted. But let us talk about more interesting things. Lady Evangeline.” He turned the full force of his charm onto her. She braced herself.
“This is one of our best houses, Lady Evangeline. What do you think? Don’t we Viennese have a right to boast about our confiseries?”
“Well yes, it’s very nice. But our tea houses in England aren’t too bad, either, you know.” Evie, ever the loyal patriot, said.
“Let me tell you the history of our coffee houses.” He crossed his legs.
“Please don’t,” Hartenberg muttered under his breath and scowled at him. She bit back a smile. It was clear the two men did not harbour much fondness for each other.
“The Turks, back in 1683 after they withdrew in disgrace from their futile attempt to conquer Vienna, left one thing behind that would turn out to be a blessing for us progeny. And that is the coffee bean. The first Viennese coffee house was created soon after by Georg Franz Kolschitzky. Do you know who he was?”
Hartenberg merely groaned.
Evie shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“He was, naturally, a spy.” Metternich leaned back with a satisfied smile. “Amusing, is it not? That a spy, of all people, would be the father of Viennese coffee house culture.” He lifted his cup and took a satisfied sip.
“And here we are back on familiar ground and back to your favourite topic,” Hartenberg muttered.
“That is all very interesting.” Evie said politely.
“Yes, it is.” Metternich looked at her with a half-smile. “I wonder whether you have thought over my proposal in the meantime?”
For a moment, even Evie, who was never speechless, was speechless.
“You are asking me, in front of my betrothed, whether I am willing to spy on him for you?”
“Well, yes. Naturally.” He gave her an apologetic look. “One has to ask, you know. There is nothing lost in asking.”
“Nothing surprises me anymore,” Hartenberg muttered into his coffee cup.
“You have to see things from my perspective, of course. As the sister of the Duke of Aldingbourne, and bride to our most prominent field marshal, you are strategically placed. It is a brilliant chess move, by the way, Hartenberg, I must congratulate you.”
“Is it?” he said dryly.
“Naturally. A wife with such political connections is most convenient to have. Furthermore, as a lady of high rank, you have access not only to all the fashionable salons, but also to all the drawing rooms of the entire upper and middle classes. In short, all the society gossip at your fingertips. I am envious, my friend.”
“I am not your friend,” Hartenberg replied testily. “And I forbid that you attempt to recruit my future wife for your espionage purposes.”
“I am still here, sitting right here, between you two,” Evie protested.
The two men were having a staring contest above her head.
“Besides, you overestimate me. There is truly nothing worthwhile I get to hear from either side, my brother, him”—she nudged Hartenberg with her elbow—“nor society gossip. It’s all about fashion and who is in love with whom. ”
“Ah. But Lady Evangeline.” He smiled, but it seemed devious and did not reach his eyes. “You spend considerable time in the salons and shops of Vienna. Tell me, have you never encountered the rumour of… a certain Widows’ Circle?”