"Did you tell the prince any of that?"
"No. He would think me mad, or using him for money." Her smile turned sad. "I tell him what he want to hear-that he will be king one day, he will be a good king, and have children and many mistresses."
"How did he take that?"
"He laughed and said I wasn't reading his future but his present. I laughed too. It was enough."
"Enough?"
"To catch his eye. I was beautiful then, Charlie. Men liked me."
"I don't doubt it. You're still very beautiful."
"Bah. I am old and wrinkled."
"You have the bones of a beautiful woman, Leisl, and the bearing. The lines on your face tell the story of a life well lived. Don't wish them away."
"So wise and kind for one so young." She suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, and set down her cup again with a clatter in the saucer. "I must go." She quickly rose and headed for the door before I could stand. She was spritely for her age.
Lincoln filled the doorway, blocking her exit. He wore his expressionless expression, the one that told me there was far more going on behind that façade than he wanted anyone to see. But he forgot that I knew him well now, and that he couldn't dupe me into thinking he was unaffected.
"Leisl," he said with a slight nod.
She glanced at me. For assistance? To carry the conversation? I hesitated. I didn't want to help her-or him. I wanted them to converse without my interference.
"I am leaving," she said.
He stepped aside. "Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon." She hurried to the door, her head bowed. Doyle assisted her into the cloak.
"Wait!" I marched past Lincoln, grabbed his hand, and tugged him after me. I felt his reluctance with every step. "You can't leave yet. Lincoln, say something to her."
Leisl pulled the edges of her cloak together at her throat. "I must go."
"Doyle," Lincoln said, "have Gus drive Leisl wherever she wishes to go."
Doyle bowed and left. Good. It would take a few minutes for the coach to be ready. That would give them time. They needed help to begin, however.
"Lincoln, Leisl was telling me about the day you were born," I said. "How the general-"
"Now is not the time or place." His voice rumbled with simmering anger.
I drew in a deep breath. It was worth risking his ire for this. "There is no better time or place."
His gaze turned flinty. "I know the general took me from her. He told me." To Leisl, he said, "The general's allowance will continue, with an increase."
"You do not need to," Leisl said, her gaze lowered. "It is enough."
"Prices have risen over the years. It's only fair that your annuity does too. In the event of my death before yours, the payments will continue."
"Thank you."
I looked from one to the other. How could mother and son speak of money after so long apart? Why weren't they asking more important questions? I didn't expect them to embrace, but this formality felt wrong.
"Lincoln." I pressed my hands on my hips. "Did you know you have a half-brother and sister?"
His nostrils flared. "I have them on my father's side too. They don't know I exist, and I have no interest in meeting them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."
He turned and stalked off. I went to run after him, but Leisl caught my arm.
"Leave him," she said quietly. "One day, perhaps, we can talk, but not today."
She was far more forgiving of his rudeness than me. "If that's what you want."
"Thank you, Charlie. You are a good friend to him, I see." She took both my hands in her bare ones. She had not worn gloves despite the cold. "You love him and he loves you."
I bit the inside of my lip in case it wobbled. I nodded.
She patted my hands and looked up at the chandelier dangling above our heads. "Then it must be difficult to live here together and not be married, eh?" She chuckled. "Very difficult."
"We're, er, waiting for … for me to know my own heart on this matter. Our past together has been full of ups and downs."
"Aahhh. You wish to punish him for wrongs?"
"No!" Not really. Perhaps. I tried to smile, but it felt forced.
She patted my hand again and made a noise in her throat that I think meant something, but couldn't decipher what. She let me go and flipped her hood over her head. Outside, wheels rumbled on the gravel.
"Goodbye, Charlie."
"Wait, Leisl! Will we meet again soon?"
"If you wish it."
"You can't see whether we do or not? In a vision?"
She laughed. "No. I cannot choose to have a vision. They come when they want, not when I want."
"How inconvenient. Well, I'd like you to know that I do wish it. In the meantime, I'll work on Lincoln."
"Good luck." She tapped her temple. "He is stubborn. Romany men have hard heads. It takes a strong woman to be a good match. You are a strong woman, Charlie. Never forget that."
I waited until Doyle shut the carriage door behind her then headed up the stairs. I knocked on Lincoln's door and held my breath, unsure if he would even receive me.
He opened the door, crossed his arms, and scowled. "No."
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"You're going to ask me to visit her. The answer's no."
"You're wrong." I pushed him in the chest, not hard, but he stepped back anyway and allowed me to enter. I kicked the door shut and scowled back at him. Be strong, Leisl had said. I would do my best. "I haven't come to ask you to do anything, but tell you how rude you were to her."
He turned away and strode to his desk.
"Lincoln! Don't walk off on me. Disregarding the fact that she's your mother, she was your guest today, and you ignored her."
He sat at his desk, his back to me. "I spoke to her."
"That is hardly the same as having a conversation."
"You know I'm not very good at small talk. You said so yourself. Besides, you were doing fine without me. Better, I'd wager."
"That is not the point. The point is, she came here to see her son."
"I am not her son!"
"Lincoln-"
"Don't, Charlie." He half turned and glared at me over his shoulder. "I don't want to argue with you, so don't press me on this."
I fisted my hands at my sides and forced my nerves to settle. "I don't understand you. If I had the chance to meet my mother, my real mother, in the flesh, I would be so happy and eager."
He turned away again. "Not everything I do or say is supposed to make sense to you."
"Explain it to me then. Help me understand how you feel."
"I feel nothing toward Leisl. I told you that."
"I don't believe you."
His body rose and fell with a silent heave of breath. "Go before I say something I regret."
Anger and frustration flared in the pit of my stomach, but I doused it. I wasn't going to win this battle today, and certainly not like this. I came up behind him and circled my arms around his shoulders. The engagement ring I'd flung back at him sat in its box, waiting for me to slip it on my finger. I'd promised him I would put it on when I'd decided to marry him. He must see it every day, a reminder of the mistake he'd made in sending me away.
I kissed the top of his head. I wasn't prepared to apologize for pushing him to speak to Leisl, but I wanted him to know that I harbored no ill will toward him over his refusal.
His body relaxed and he tipped his head back against my chest. "I don't want to fight with you," he murmured.
How could I remain angry with him after such a plea? "We won't."
"Promise you won't bring it up again."
"I can't make that promise."
He drew me around his side and sat me on his lap. He gave me an arched look. "Promise, Charlie."
"I cannot."
He regarded me closely. "What can I do or say to make you promise?"
I pulled away from him and frowned. "You mean you want to bribe me?"
"I wouldn't have put it like that, but yes."
Well then. If he wanted to use underhanded methods, then so would I. I nibbled my bottom lip and undid the second top button on his shirt since the top was already undone.
"There is something that I want, as it happens," I said in what I hoped was a seductive voice. "Something that you can give me to extract my promise." I popped open another button and kissed him lightly on the lips.
He broke the kiss. "What are you doing?"
"Being bribed."
I reached into the gap of his shirt and stroked the hard muscles of his chest. His heartbeat quickened against my palm. With my own pulse throbbing, I leaned closer and kissed his throat.
He plucked me off his lap and stood suddenly. The chair tipped with his violent shove, thumping on the floor. "That's not fair," he growled, his voice ragged. "You know I won't."
"And you've always played fair?"
He raked his fingers through his loose hair. "You win, Charlie."
"It's not about winning. It's about me not making a promise I can't keep." I went to do up one of his buttons, but he stepped to the side and did it up himself. Both of them.