Page 99 of A Torn Allegiance
“I thought she loved me, Brothers. Am I so simpleminded that I can be fooled by a woman’s smiles?”
They exchanged looks, which meant they had discussed something while he’d slept. Of course they had.
“Do you think it wise to discuss it? Perhaps some more reading would do for a distraction instead.” Kristoff reached for their borrowed book.
Hayes shook his head. “Everything around us speaks of her to me. We may as well talk through what happened.”
“I, for one, think she loves you.” Marc crossed his arms. “But I don’t think that means she needs to become a Wilhelm.”
“But we employ spies. You yourself are one.” Kristoff tilted his head pointedly at Marc.
“The difference being I don’t plan to marry anyone we spy on.”
“Fair point.” Hayes nodded. “Kristoff?”
He hesitated and then shrugged. “I think she loves you too. Anyone who saw you together or listened to you converse could see that.”
“Think of your waltzes.” Marc shook his head. “Not a person in the room could have doubted after that.”
Hayes closed his eyes. “I don’t want to think of our waltzes.” The feel of her in his arms still lingered with him. “But we must discuss her further. Does one forgive such a thing? She befriended me under false pretenses.”
“But consider, it was her father who required it of her.” Kristoff eyed Marc as though in defiance.
“Isn’t that worse? Could she not stand up to him? Refuse? Or talk to me about it?” How Hayes wished she had.
Kristoff rested a hand on his shoulder. “It is not for me to say. Who can know the innerworkings of her thoughts or why she did what she did? Unless you ask her.”
Hayes looked out the window. Perhaps she deserved an opportunity to explain herself. Might he leave for Oldenburg feeling more settled about things were they to have a conversation?
“I’ll think on it,” he said.
Their conveyance slowed and turned. Hayes open his window wider. “We are still following both carriages.” The road had become smaller, with deeper grooves in centuries-old hardened mud. They were all forced to slow their pace. “Are we still headed toward the Everly estate?”
“We are, yes,” Marc said.
“Then, that might well be Lamoreaux.”
Marc nodded.
Hayes turned to Marc. “And this other carriage?”
“Perhaps it is someone in league with the man.” Kristoff tossed his book back into the satchel.
Hayes pressed his lips together. “Anyone associated with that filth is filth as well.” He shook his head. “To think Elsie’s entire family assumed such a thing of me.” He clenched and unclenched his fists in frustration.
“They certainly had nothing to go on when they made those assumptions.” Kristoff lifted his head. “They didn’t know you at all at that point.”
His words did take away some of the sting.
Perhaps Hayes would pay Elsie one final visit before he left for his country. “I think it would be wise for me to hear the whole story before I leave. I certainly don’t want to wonder once we are gone.”
“I’m always in support of discovering all of the information.” Marc smiled. “But that does not need to be said.”
“Did either of you fare better than I did in your interactions with the finer sex? Did you find anyone of interest?”
“Feminine interest?” Marc adjusted his sleeve. “Always.”
Hayes laughed. “But of a lasting nature?”
