Page 59 of The Lady Glass
She gave him a dull look. “If you would’ve seen the chandeliers my father designed, you wouldn’t be thinking so practically. This place simply begs for one.” She took a few steps in the opposite direction the others had gone. “Where does this lead to?”
“To the only complete guard tower. Would you like to go up?” He glanced behind him. Surely a few minutes together wouldn’t do any harm.
“Are the stairs sound?”
“Shall we see?” A sudden urge for adventure stole over his concerns.
They left the keep through what was once a side door but was now a gap in the wall and crossed the rocky ground toward the entrance of the tower. He guessed there were at least three stories of stairs to climb, curling in a circular path upward.
Theresia’s head fell back as she stared at the top. “Why don’t you go first.”
“So you do have some fear of heights after all.” He charged upward.
“It appears I trust lattices more than crumbling stone. However, I will be certain to mention your gallantry at your funeral should you fall.”
“I would expect no less.” Leading the way through the narrowwalls was no chore. His legs relished the exercise after being cooped up in the carriage. Sensitive to his short time alone with Theresia, he slowed his pace to match hers. He turned to see how she fared. When he was assured of her well-being, he said, “I do believe it’s your turn to tell me a story.”
“I was afraid you would remember that.” For a moment there was only the clip of their feet against the stone before she spoke again. “I suppose you deserve to know more about the history of my missing dowry. My father said it was his best work. He was a famous glassblower, you know, and his work was displayed in more than one royal palace. Before he died, it is said that he turned down a commission from Napoleon.”
“I’m impressed.” Rolland pieced this new information together with their current case. “Do you think his rejection to Napoleon could have caused lasting offense?”
“It would have been over ten years ago. I cannot imagine anyone speaks of it now.”
Ten years was a long time. A few steps later and the farfetched idea was already behind him. “Now I know a little of your father, but what of your mother? What sort of person is she?”
“Mama came from a wealthy family who wanted my father to be more than just a common tradesman. Their connections and money added to Father’s incomparable talent and caused his fame to spread, or so I’ve been told. Mama died when I was eleven, and we came to England not two years later. It was to be Papa’s fresh start, but I’ve often wished we had never come. He remarried shortly after, and my stepmother sent me away to be reformed from my foreign habits. I was at the seminary when my father was thrown from a horse. He died instantly. The vase...” She paused, and Rolland resisted turning. “It was supposed to be my way back to Bohemia.”
How he wished he could see her face, but he could guess enough by her tone how she felt. “I’m sorry. I cannot imaginelosing both of one’s parents. And I deeply regret your lost vase.”
Her voice did not waver when she answered. “I’ve come to realize that even more than my future’s security, it represents him. Losing my vase was like losing him all over again. You must understand now why I will never stop searching for it.”
Her determination had been refined by her trials and matched the level of strength of the finest soldiers under siege—which was exactly why she needed protecting. “I might not understand perfectly, Theresia, but I know enough that I have felt safer having you become Lady Glass than continuing to risk your neck breaking into castles.”
Theresia laughed. “It’s only a risk if you have something to lose. And Lady Glass is every bit as daring as Theresia Dvorak.”
“Yes, but Lady Glass is privy to a dashing escort in uniform. Isn’t that worth something?” He had never been a great tease, but flirting with her was as natural as breathing.
She snorted behind him. “An escort who time and again leaves me in the presence of questionable company possibly capable of murder. I do hope hisdashingappearance and said uniform can make me overlook such a disservice.”
He chuckled. “My hope is the same. I cannot promise to rectify such appalling manners for another few weeks though.” When he reached the top of the roofless tower, he turned and, without second thought, offered his hand to her.
She smiled up at him, sending his heart racing, and accepted it. Curling his fingers around hers, he pulled her to the first of the six narrow windows overlooking the sprawling fields of green. The gentle rolling hills reminded him of the sway of the water beneath his ship, and he could almost imagine the smell of salt in the air. He glanced at Theresia to see her reaction.
She looked up at him at the same time, her eyes bright. “Thank heavens I am so brave. It was worth risking the stairs for this view.”
He was no longer interested in what was outside the tower. “You’re right. This view is stunning.” He should let go of her hand now. He knew he’d crossed an emotional line he’d sworn to leave alone. It took quite a bit of willpower, but he released her, letting his arm fall to his side.
Theresia seemed to sense the meaning behind his words and clasped her own hands together, her cheeks growing a little pink. “Now that I’ve confided in you about my parents, I believe it’s your turn again to tell a story.”
“My turn already?” The angle of her head played with his thoughts. With her chin up and her long lashes framing her face, it made it hard not to tell her more than a story but every secret in his heart. “Is there something specific you would have me tell you?”
Her lips pursed together. “Will you tell me more about your time in the war?”
He frowned. “You don’t want to hear that. What about something from my childhood? I wasn’t saving young ladies then, but I was a precocious child.”
“Is it so hard to speak of? The war?”
She would not be dissuaded, this one. He wasn’t surprised. “Do you think a captain in the Royal Navy could scare so easily? I’m just not in the mood. Not with this delightful view before us.” He’d planned to drag his gaze to the window this time, but it wouldn’t leave the real beauty directly in front of him.
