Citit - Sweet Tannenbaum by Sue London

Author:Sue London [London, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

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Their carriage rolled to a stop in a lovely, settled part of London. Townhouses lined the street, with just enough room between to afford some privacy, a mews, and a speck of garden. Not an area of outrageous wealth, but well enough to do. Hans supposed he shouldn't be surprised that Casimir had landed on his feet, the boy had something of the cat to him. Nor should he have been surprised this morning when, asked to provide her brother's location, Krystyna had rattled off a very precise street address. Now it was coming on noon in a strange city and gray clouds pressed down over them like a heavy, chilled blanket. The city hadn't seen as much snow as they had en route, but drifts of it decorated the walkway.

When Krystyna emerged from the carriage, it was with the military posture and glint in her eye that he had first seen from her. It seemed her ire was mostly reserved for battle with her brother and that should prove to be interesting. Casimir didn't strike him as the type to like direct confrontation. His own brother Henry had been known to leave the country to avoid it, and the two were more alike than different. He held her elbow as she walked up the slick cobblestones and stairs to the door, then stepped back as she took hold of the knocker. He knew his role, for now, was simply as escort.

Hans recognized the man who opened the door as Casimir's valet from Vienna. Wladek, if he remembered correctly. What he didn't expect was the reaction the man had upon seeing Krystyna.

"Królewna!" Then he dropped to the floor in a clear sign of supplication. Hans knew little Polish and didn't recognize the word. Nor was he able to keep up with the stream of Polish that Krystyna spoke after that. Her tone was affectionate, but firm. Wladek rose to his feet again and finally noticed the other guest. "Herr Von Rosen."

Hans bowed in acknowledgment, and then they were herded into the household, through an open foyer, and into a drawing room. Wladek looked skeptical about leaving his królewna with Hans, but withdrew, leaving the door open. Hans raised his brows questioningly at Krystyna, but she shook her head with a frown. Deferring any of his questions until later, he supposed.

Casimir entered the room quickly. He gave Hans a disapproving frown, not an expression Hans expected to see from the young man, then turned his worried attentions on his sister, holding her hands and talking with her in rapid Polish. Even more of a surprise to Hans was the woman who entered on Casimir's heels. A willowy, blonde British girl he had known as Frau Appleton in Vienna.

He bowed. "Frau-"

"Rokiczana," she supplied before he could say more. She curtsied briefly to him. "It's delightful to see you again, Herr Von Rosen."

"I hadn't expected to see you here."

She narrowed her eyes a fraction. "I could say the same. But here we are.

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