“Forgive me if I hold my decision over. What you have said has greatly impressed me.” It had, but not quite in the way she may have thought.
“I shall see something of you while you are here?”
“How long I remain is, of course, uncertain,” I answered; and the evasion displeased her.
“That may mean no. But I must see you. I insist, I do, indeed, positively insist;” and she laid her hand on my arm and smiled winningly.
“But I may go over to the Austrian side, whatever that may be. They may also have eloquent advocates.”
“You may find the Queen’s chief advocate the most difficult to resist. I think I ought to warn you.”
“Who is that?”
“The Princess Gatrina—a very beautiful girl and very persuasive.”
Fortunately the start I gave passed unnoticed as her eyes were off me at the moment.
“It seems to be a contest of beautiful women, Baroness,” I said with a bow.