“I also wanted to thank you for what you did for my brother, Lord Hamlin.” Osanna smiled sweetly. “Our family is very grateful. His leg is healing well. Wilhelm was quite impressed with your skill.”
Rose’s face burned and she knew she was blushing. “I’m thankful I was able to help.”
“I hope you like the fabrics I picked out for you. The gold silk would make a nice gown for the ball. Our seamstress, Cecily, could make it for you. I’ll send her to take your measurements.”
Rose opened her mouth to refuse, but she didn’t know how.
“You must come. You’ll be my personal guest.”
Her mouth went dry as she heard herself say, “It would be my pleasure.”
Chapter 4
Two days later Rose left Frau Geruscha’s chambers to take a walk and clear her head of thoughts of the coming dance. With Wolfie by her side, she exited the town gate. The bright sun warmed the top of her head, and her cheeks stung as the wind lashed her face with her hair. She breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh spring air, and strode up the hill to her favorite spot between the stream and the big beech tree.
Wolfie dashed past her, barking and snapping at a butterfly. He stopped and paced with his nose to the ground, stalking something in the grass. Suddenly, a hare dashed out of its hiding place and leaped away. Wolfie jumped straight into the air before racing after it.
Rose laughed and the sound made its way around the nearby trees as it was snatched away by the wind.
She stood gazing at the tall tree’s spreading branches. How much she had enjoyed climbing it as a child. A lovely view of the stream and surrounding meadow always rewarded her. If she were to climb it now she could see if everything looked the same.
It truly was the perfect climbing tree, with branches and crooks in just the right places. As she studied it, she tried to recall exactly where she could place her feet. Almost before she knew what she intended, she grasped a limb and hoisted herself up.
As a child, her skirts had been short—not as cumbersome as the voluminous, full-length ones she now wore. Rose stepped on her hem and then had to kick it aside while she searched for a crook in which to place her other foot. She held on with one hand while she shifted to a higher branch, reaching up with her free hand.
A sound like the snort of a horse came from below her. Her heart jumped. As she turned her head to see who was there, her foot slipped and her fingers lost their grip. She scrambled frantically, her fingertips scraping loose bark. Before she could even scream, she landed on her back on the ground.
Air forcibly escaped her lungs. Darkness shot through with tiny bursts of light filled her vision.
“Are you hurt?” A masculine voice, laden with concern, entered her consciousness a moment before his face came into view above her.
Lord Hamlin.
After the longest moment of her life, Rose drew in a gasping breath. Rolling to her side, she closed her eyes and tried to breathe deeply. O God, let this be a dream. But when she opened her eyes again, he was still there, kneeling beside her, worry creasing his brow.
“Are you hurt?” Lord Hamlin repeated.
“No.”
He studied her face, as though trying to make sure she was telling the truth. Then he grasped her arm and pulled her into a sitting position. She leaned limply back against the tree.
He released her, and her arm tingled where his hands had touched her.
Her back ached and her chest had a painful, hollow feel, but she wanted to show him she was not injured. Instead of smiling in reassurance, however, she stared at her lap, too embarrassed to raise her eyes.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt? I’ll go fetch Frau Geruscha.”
“No, no, I am well.”
“Do you climb trees often?”
Rose couldn’t help but peek at him. His eyes were wide, as if he was amazed at her.
“Why not?” She threw the question at him, feeling suddenly reckless.
He lifted an eyebrow. “I should think you’d stop climbing them after such a tumble.”
“If you hadn’t distracted me, I wouldn’t have fallen.”
She could hardly believe she said it. No one of her station should speak in such a way to Lord Hamlin. But there was something liberating in saying exactly what she thought, instead of making the humble, deferential replies expected of her.
“Forgive me,” he said quietly. “I’m thankful you didn’t injure yourself.” A slight smile tugged at his mouth. “But perhaps I saved you from falling from an even greater height.”
Rose folded her arms across her chest. “I could easily climb this tree. I’ve climbed it many times.” She wanted to add, when someone wasn’t sneaking up on me, but managed to muster a bit of self-possession.
Lord Hamlin ducked his head, but Rose saw the smile he was trying to hide.
“You don’t believe me.” She suddenly wanted to prove to him that she could do it. However, climbing a tree while wearing a dress, with a man below her, did not seem wise.
“No, no, I believe you. I of all people know that you are a maiden of many talents.”