Aurora controlled herself, but her hands shook on the reins; never had she been treated so boorishly by any man.
“I come on a mission so delicate there was no one else could have been trusted with it,” she answered. “You, sire, are not rendering my task pleasant to me.”
“Therefore I would have avoided you, Madame,” said Karl.
“I have been trusted by King Augustus with this mission——”
A look of scorn flashed over the Swede’s impassive face.
“Does Augustus think I shall find you dangerous? Believe me, I do not.”
Aurora quivered under the calm insult; all her weapons seemed powerless before the freezing indifference of this boy; she felt as at a loss as any inexperienced girl might have done.
“Augustus offers peace,” she said desperately, almost choking over the words. “Augustus begs for peace.”
Karl’s proud eyes gleamed for a second, and his full lips curled.
“Madame,” he replied, “I will discuss peace in Varsovia.”