Page 26 of Songs and Spun Gold
But she wanted Gunther to ask her again because he waskind and full of life, she enjoyed his company and the feel of his solid arm under her hands, and he made her feel like moving on was possible.
“Our cousin threatened to never come back for shearing again after we finally got the last sheep in the pen,” she laughed. “I think that was the true reason Liesl has been extra careful ever since.”
“Never come back?” Gunther asked, raising an eyebrow.
“He lives in Himmelsburg now,” she explained. With a chuckle, she added, “Liesl was heartbroken when he left.”
“Are you going to visit him while you’re in the city?”
“I spent yesterday afternoon with him once he was free. Angelika and I are returning home tomorrow, but I might drop by his gate for a quick goodbye first.”
Gunther tipped his head back to look at the sky. “His gate. Is he a member of the guard?”
“He is,” she answered with a nod.
Dropping his gaze back to her face, he smiled and rested his hand over her hands where they clutched his arm. “I’m glad you were able to see him again. But sad that you will be leaving my fair city so soon.”
“Me, too.” She smiled back, then said, “But enough about me and my peasant life. Tell me more about you.”
“What is there to tell? I live on the stage and to sing with every breath I take.”
Katy nudged him with her shoulder. “I had that figured out. Tell me about your family. Where do you live?”
“In a house that is much larger than we need with more servants than I know what to do with.” He nudged her back. “My mother has a flair for the dramatic – which I am sure surprises you – and my father orders everyone about as if he is the king himself in his own castle.”
Giggling at these descriptions, she asked, “What aboutsiblings?”
His face fell. “Just the one sister.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes. “How did she die?” Katy ventured in a quiet voice. Gunther simply shook his head, a troubled expression on his face.
The owl hooted again, farther away than she’d heard before. In a tree nearby, she traced the path of a small animal by the skittering of its claws on the bark. Otherwise, the air was mostly still, the sounds of the city decreased to such a low murmur she could barely hear it.
“I suppose you should take me back to the inn now,” Katy reluctantly said. “It’s getting late.”
“What if I don’t know the way?” he replied with a hint of worry. The thin crescent moon gave off just enough light to betray the twinkle in his eyes.
“And you talk about honor,” she chided gently. “Then since you are a liar, I’ll just have to leave you here and find someone who knows the city better,” she breezily told him as she raised a challenging eyebrow.
He leaned in, his face so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. The rustle of his clothing was loud in the silent night. “No one knows this part of the city better than me. But I might get lost along the way.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Distracted by my beautiful companion and all.”
Unnerved by his proximity, Katy pulled back a little. “Gunther, if you—if you don’t take me back right now, I’ll—”
He straightened, eyes dancing, and steered her in the direction of the gate. “Fear not, fair Katrin, you’ll be there before you know it, safe and sound.”
“I’d better,” she grumbled.
Despite his teasing, Gunther led her by a direct route to the front door of the inn where Angelika had a room. “I guess this is it,” Katy said slowly, turning to face him.
He nodded as he pressed one hand to his chest. “It must be, fair Katrin, for I am but a poor prisoner of my city, as you are of your river-side village, free of it though you may be for a short while.” Lifting one of her hands to his lips, he smiled serenely as he continued. “If you should ever grace our fair capital again, it shall be my greatest pleasure to see you at my theater once more.”
At first, she thought this glib speech was proof that he was less affected by their time together than she was. Clearly, she needed to put it behind her. But then she noticed his eyes.
There was no light in them.
“Gunther?”
“Yes?” He gave her that same serene smile.
