Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis

Author:Stephanie Burgis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633881334
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Published: 2016-03-17T04:00:00+00:00

“Did you see how he was annoying her?” Anton glared across the audience. “What a cad.”

“Mm.” Friedrich leaned over the cart of pastries and drinks that the maidservant had brought. “Strudel or torte, Esterházy?”

“Have you ever seen such perfect beauty? Such innocence?” Anton shook his head. “I’m telling you, I felt her shiver when I kissed her hand! What kind of actress would do that?”

“One who used to be a maid?” Friedrich pointed at the tray. “I asked—”

His hand hovered over the top shelf of pastries, and stilled. Beneath the plate of strudel slices, a sliver of ivory paper stuck out.

Not again. He looked up at the maidservant’s face for the first time. She looked back blandly.

“Sir?”

“Never mind.” He yanked out the sliver of paper—and went limp with relief.

It was only a napkin. A fine, smooth, linen napkin that had looked like paper from the wrong angle. Friedrich laughed in sheer relief. There was a blur of noise in the background—Anton saying something he didn’t catch—but he couldn’t stop laughing once he’d started. It was too absurd. His face was burned, and he was watching godawful Italian opera, but he hadn’t been sent a missive from the Brotherhood after all. It was too wonderful for words. He finally hiccupped to a halt, with the napkin in his hands.

“Von Höllner?” Anton was looking at him oddly. “Are you all right?”

“Fine, fine.” Friedrich scooped up a slice of strudel for himself, grinning widely. He bit into the sweet, juicy apples and felt a ripple of sheer pleasure run through him.

“I just said, I need your help,” Anton repeated. “Keep an eye on that Pichler fellow while I’m at maneuvers. See if he tries to pester her again.”

“And?” Friedrich raised his eyebrows. “What do you want me to do about it? Shout for help?”

Anton narrowed his eyes. “Just tell me later, and I’ll deal with it. Meantime, I’m going to see what I can find out about him. I’ll ask my cousin if there have been any problems with him in the past.” He turned back toward the stage, one finger tapping impatiently on his leg. “Keep your eyes open, von Höllner. You can do that?”

“Why not?” Friedrich licked pastry off his fingers and shrugged. Keep his eyes open? Spy without understanding or agreement? Why not, indeed. It was become almost second nature by now.

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