“Rose, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, believe me.” He sighed. “But I have a feeling you are.”
Rose’s heart tripped as she thought about what to say. “Forgive me. I suppose I’m a little uncomfortable, wondering what people are thinking.” And there’s the way you look at me sometimes, like I’m a stray lamb and you’re a hungry wolf.
“People are thinking what I’m thinking—that you’re the most beautiful maiden they’ve ever seen.”
“I doubt that.”
“Rose, please listen to me. I know you like to dance, so I hired the Meistersingers for you. If I’m doing something that makes you sad, please tell me. Let me make you happy today. That’s all I want…to make you happy.”
He leaned toward her, his hair curling around the sides of his neck. His unique smell, mixed with fresh air and the lilac his laundress folded inside his clean clothes, wafted to her. His eyes were the pale blue of a shallow stream. At the moment they looked wide and innocent and sincere.
“I want to believe you.” Rose drew in a quick breath as she realized she’d let the words slip out. She bit her lip.
Rupert’s features softened. He leaned closer and lifted her hand out of her lap. “Then believe me, Rose.” He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb, drawing it to his heart, pressing it against his chest and sending tingles up her arm. “The truth is, I’ve fallen in love with you. I want to be with you…forever.”
He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it so tenderly, Rose’s heart stopped beating for a moment.
“And I’m sorry I wasn’t there to save you from that detestable cur. I would never let anyone hurt you.”
He reached his other hand toward her cheek, and this time Rose did not pull away. He gently brushed his fingertips over the bruises. Rose closed her eyes and gave in to the warmth that flooded her from his touch. O Lord, I’m in trouble.
Rose opened her eyes as Lord Rupert took both her hands in his. He focused on her lips, and she knew he was preparing to kiss her. She bent her head and let him kiss her forehead instead. His lips were warm. “So beautiful,” he whispered against her skin. He let go of her hands and his arms went around her back, pulling her close.
Rose ignored the warning bells ringing in her head and concentrated on how good it felt to be held, close and tender and warm. His hand caressed her back in smooth, slow circles. Her insides melted like butter. She laid her head against his shoulder and watched the faint, rhythmic pulse in his neck, then closed her eyes and savored the sensations washing over her.
He pulled away slightly. If she lifted her face, he would kiss her. Part of her wanted to let him, but she also felt as though his lip prints were already branded on her forehead.
She took a deep breath and placed her hands on his chest. Gently, she pushed out of his embrace and stood up.
Lord Rupert stood too and wrapped his hands around her upper arms. Rose was afraid that he would be displeased with the way she had avoided his kiss, but when she ventured a peek at him, his face held a strangely contented expression.
“I believe I hear the music again. Are you ready, mein Liebling?” The endearment sounded so good and sweet. She was “his dear.”
Rose nodded and let him slip her hand through the crook of his arm and lead her out into the waning sunlight of late afternoon, back into the noisy Marktplatz.
Chapter 14
Rose fetched a bucket of water from the courtyard well and came back inside the chamber, setting the water beside the fireplace. Frau Geruscha walked in, worry lines wrinkling her forehead. She crossed the floor to stand in front of Rose.
“I’ve just come from speaking with Bailiff Eckehart.” She frowned. “Rose, they couldn’t find Peter Brunckhorst. They don’t believe there is any person by that name in Hagenheim.”
Rose felt the blood drain from her face. “How can that be?”
“I know not.” Frau Geruscha wrung her hands. She sat on a wooden bench and leaned forward, then straightened, then stood up again. “Rose.” She fixed her eyes on her. “What did the man look like?”
“He was tall, with black and white hair.”
“How tall?”
Rose raised her hand high. “About this tall.”
“What else did he look like? Describe him.”
“He doesn’t have any distinguishing features to speak of. He has black eyes and bushy eyebrows, brown teeth, and a pointy chin.” Rose shook her head and shrugged.
Frau Geruscha’s expression grew even darker. “Who else knows him?”
Rose thought for a moment. “My mother. He came to her months ago, asking to marry me.”