Page 30 of The Lady Glass
Rolland scratched his jaw. “Does he have any means of recognizing you?”
Theresia hesitated. “There is no reason he would’ve seen me before. I haven’t been out in Society or even lived at home, for that matter, in years.” Before Rolland could react, she quickly added, “For reasons irrelevant to this conversation. Regardless, my name alone would condemn me.”
Rolland wanted to delve into the story behind her name, but he would not be dissuaded from convincing her. “We will give you a false name.”
Her eyes went to the ceiling in exasperation. “Like Miss Smith?”
“No. It must hold up to the standard of His Grace’s company, and Smith is too common. What about...” He thought for a moment, trying to think of something to adequately capture the anomaly of the woman in front of him. “What about Freiin Glas?”
“Freiin?” Theresia sputtered. “A daughter of a baron sounds presumptuous. Besides,Glasmight be a surname in the German states or Austria or Hungary, but it is decidedly not a title.”
“No one will question what they don’t know for certain. What do you think, Freiin Glas from Vienna?”
“I think it a mouthful for the English and will only draw undue attention to me.”
She was right about that. “Many adopt the English form of their title when they move here. We shall keep it Lady Glass, with no added accent. Several upper-class families sent their daughters here to attend seminaries and keep them safe from Napoleon’s armies. It’s an excuse we can use to explain why your English is so good and why you returned to a familiar place.”
Theresia bit her lip, stewing over his words. “The English might like when foreigners want to conform to their ways, but it doesn’t mean they will welcome me or deign to confide their secrets to me.”
Rolland had the answer for this. “If you are the particular friend of the Duke of Westmorland, then you have nothing to worry about.”
A light laugh escaped her throat. “What a thought—me, the particular friend of a duke?” Her disbelieving smile disappeared under a wrinkled nose.
“Should we give you a fake husband and make you a baroness? I just realized the English do not give titles to daughters of barons like the Austrians do, and I do think an air of authority is important.”
“Oh no. I wouldn’t know the first thing about what it is like tobe married to a baron.”
“I should say not!” Mrs. Bedrich speared him with her glare.
“Widowed, then?” His brow raised to test her response. A married woman might be easier to protect than a single one, with so many bachelors as guests.
This didn’t seem to make her or Mrs. Bedrich any happier. “Do you think I’m more capable of mourning a husband than feigning attachment to a living one? I could never pretend either way. It goes against my principles.”
“Principles?” he teased. “I didn’t know you were so scrupulous.” They shared a knowing look based on their shared memories, and he was gratified to see that he’d almost made her smile.
Mrs. Bedrich tsked her tongue, her disapproval mounting every time he opened his mouth. She had a right to disapprove too. The rough sailor life had worn off on him. It was one matter to banter with Theresia in private, but what sort of gentleman made such disparaging comments while in company?
Theresia patted Mrs. Bedrich’s arm again. “It’s a great joke and not at all what you think.”
“Forgive me,” he said quickly. “I never should have been so flippant with my words.”
Theresia glowered at him. “Especially to abaroness.”
His brow raised a notch. “Then, do we have a deal? A short marriage followed by a year out of mourning? You wouldn’t have to shed a single tear for our guests, or wear black, and if questioned, you can merely say it is too difficult for you to speak of. It’s the perfect cover to keep others from prying too much.”
Theresia looked from his eager gaze to Mrs. Bedrich’s concerned one. “I... I... don’t know.”
Rolland wasn’t impatient with her hesitancy. There was too much at stake to take the decision lightly. “Might I add a caution before you agree?”
“Please,” Theresia said. “Whether you want to talk me in or out of this, you’d better speak your piece.”
Her frankness was one thing he liked about her, so it was easy to be equally as frank with her. “While you would be doing our country a great service, there are greater risks than your reputation at stake should we fail. One person has already been killed, and more lives have been threatened, including that of my father, who is a member of the foreign council.”
“You could’ve started with that,” Mrs. Bedrich mumbled.
“Perhaps I should have.” He wasn’t trying to frighten Theresia, but it was better for her to go in with both eyes wide open. “We would be indebted to you if you were able to find this man for us. Please, tell me what concerns you have. I will do my best to alleviate them.”
Theresia was quiet for a long moment. “I have never had any desire to do England any service, but I cannot condone a lack of respect for human life. I have my reservations, but if my doing this helps us both, then I will consider it. However, if I am to be Lady Glass, I need more of a background than a dead husband should someone ask about my life.”
