Chapter 6

When the coach arrived at the castle, Charlotte hesitated getting out, wondering if she should really go inside. It had been so long since she'd attended such an event. She hadn't even been allowed to go to her stepsisters' cotillions. And then suddenly Wilhelmina was there, dressed in a simple gown of white satin. In her brown curls rested a diamond tiara.

"You look breathtaking," she said as she helped Charlotte down the steps. If the footmen thought it odd, they showed no sign of it.

Charlotte smiled even as she felt herself blushing. It pleased her that Mina thought her beautiful. "Thank you. You look—"

"Don't say anything," Mina said, her eyes glittering dangerously. "I'm going to get out of this accursed gown as soon as I can. Willi is making an appearance tonight so he can dance with you."

Charlotte hid a smile. If the truth were told, she did prefer Wilhelmina in men's attire. As they entered the majestic foyer,

Charlotte could not help but stop in open-mouthed awe. The Italian marble, Grecian mosaics, and French crystal chandeliers were unlike anything she'd ever seen before. There were so many candles burning it was like daylight. Wilhelmina took her hand and led her past watchful footmen. Their shoes clicked softly across marbled floors and up the grand staircase to the enormous ballroom.

"Put on your mask," Wilhelmina whispered. "We don't want your stepmother and stepsisters to recognize you."

Charlotte complied, still unable to speak, so overwhelmed was she by the sights and sounds that greeted her. A footman started to announce her arrival, but Wilhelmina silenced him with a gesture. Again, if he was surprised, he did not show it.

"Let me introduce you to my parents and my brother."

She led Charlotte over to where the king and queen sat overlooking the festivities. Next to them sat a bored-looking young man. Charlotte felt about ready to faint. Wilhelmina's parents were the king and queen? Her brother was Prince Sigmund? It would explain to some extent the freedom she enjoyed. It also explained the restrictions and duties Wilhelmina found so vexing.

"Charlotte, daughter of the late Baron Heinrich von Hessen."

Charlotte curtsied deep. She wasn't sure it was proper to keep her mask on when introduced to the king and queen, but it was too late to remove it now.

"Their majesties, the king and queen, and Prince Sigmund, my brother."

"Your Highness," Charlotte said.

The prince stood and bowed, then took her hand and kissed it. She thought he must be quite tired if he had to kiss the hand of every maiden here. She examined him through her mask. He was indeed very handsome, just as people said, but there was a melancholy in his brown eyes that was disturbing. She would venture a guess that marriage was not something he wished to do.

"We hope that you enjoy the ball," said the queen. She turned to her son. "I think it's time for you to mingle with your guests. Surely there are a couple of young ladies who have caught your eye? What about the Lady Charlotte here?"

Charlotte flushed furiously.

"Would you care to dance?"

She curtsied low again. "I would be honored."

As the prince led her onto the ballroom floor, there was a murmuring throughout the crowd. "Don't pay attention to them," Sigmund said kindly. "You are the first woman I have asked to dance tonight, and I must say my sister has wonderful taste in women."

"You are most kind," she replied, but she thought his choice of words odd.

"Willi will be joining us later this evening."

She looked at him in surprise, and he chuckled. "I know all about her exploits. I envy her the freedom to do so. As the princess, my parents do not expect much of her. At least, not yet." He sighed. "They want to marry me off first."

"Forgive me for being presumptuous, but it seems to me that you are not happy about it."

"You are perceptive. No, I have no wish to marry, but as the heir apparent I have no choice. Oh, what I would give to have been a younger brother."

"I am sure you have broken many a young girl's heart."

Again he sighed. "Not a young girl's—"

At that moment it came time to change partners. Prince Sigmund led away an awestruck girl who couldn't have been older than thirteen while Charlotte ended up with a vapid young man with sweaty palms. As she was twirled through the crowd, she looked for Wilhelmina. At one point she caught Lisette glaring at her, and she was glad for the masquerade mask. She then saw Gudrun and Truda huddled together, whispering behind their ivory fans. She felt their eyes boring into her back as she danced past, and it sent shivers up her spine. She changed partners yet again, all the while keeping an eye out for Wilhelmina. Where had she gone?

Then suddenly she was in Willi's arms. Despite the elaborate boar's mask, Charlotte knew immediately that it was her Wilhelmina. In tight, fawn-colored breeches and a gold brocade frock coat, she cut quite the handsome figure.

"Did I tell you tonight how ravishing you look? I would like to take you upstairs to my boudoir and have my way with you."

Charlotte blushed for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. "Why didn't you tell me who you really are?"

"Would you have been as free with me if you'd known the truth?"

"How could I? You're a princess and I'm nothing but a common servant."

"Neither common nor a servant, my love."

Mina led her toward the balcony, where they slipped through the curtains unnoticed. The stars were bright in the clear, dark sky. Mina took off Charlotte's mask and then her own. Her kiss was soft. Charlotte felt the familiar weakness in her knees.

"I like this gown," Wilhelmina murmured as she kissed the tender skin of Charlotte's breast above the low-cut neckline.

Charlotte moaned and tilted her head back. Mina moved up to kiss the hollow of her throat and then upward again to her neck. She ran her hands down Charlotte's arms and across her back, pulling her close. Charlotte had felt pretty as soon as she put on the gown; now, with Mina's hands on her body, caressing her through the lush velvet, of her dress, she felt truly beautiful.

The fine fabric of Mina's clothes felt slick and soft to Charlotte's fingers, long accustomed to only the coarse wool and rough leather of Mina's hunter disguise. She played with the buttons on her satin waistcoat, longing to see Wilhelmina naked, to make her experience the same sensations she made Charlotte feel. She wanted to touch Mina's bare skin, wanted their bodies pressing together. She pulled Mina close, kissing her lips, biting her neck. Mina moaned.

"Charlotte," she breathed. "Stop."

"I want you."

"No, no, my love. Someone could come out here any minute."

"But Wilhelmina, I want you so." She pulled Mina against her, boldly caressing the warm spot between Mina's legs.

"Oh, God, I want you too, but now is not the time."

Charlotte kissed her again. "Promise me. Next time—"

"Soon, my love. Soon."

Wilhelmina pushed her away. They were both breathing hard. Their eyes locked. Charlotte took a step toward her, but then they heard the sounds of footsteps and immediately put on their masks. Another young couple came into view, laughing and flirting as they too melted into the shadows.

"Come," Wilhelmina said as she took Charlotte's hand and brought her back into the ballroom. Almost immediately, the prince came over and led Charlotte onto the dance floor. She was aware of everyone looking at her, and as they passed her stepmother and stepsisters, she was again glad for the feathered mask. The look in their eyes was chilling. If they knew who she really was ...

The prince danced her around the ballroom. She felt flushed from her interlude with his sister on the balcony and hoped he would think her color came from dancing. Just as she was about to ask that they stop and get something to drink, he spoke first.

"Will you consent to marry me?"

Charlotte looked at him, disbelieving what he'd just asked. "What did you say?"

"I want you to marry me."

"Marry you? Your Highness, I'm flattered, but I... I cannot."

"You would turn down the opportunity to become queen one day?"

"But you don't even know me."

"I don't know any of the women here. My parents do not expect me to marry for love. They only expect me to pick someone here tonight, anyone. And I choose you."

Charlotte was beginning to feel uncomfortable. This was the prince, the heir to the throne. What was she thinking? How could she refuse him? In desperation she looked for Wilhelmina. She glanced up at the king and queen. They were smiling as they watched her with their only son. Could he have already told them his intentions?

"If it makes you feel any better, it would be a marriage in name only. I know you and my sister are lovers."

Charlotte could not help but gasp. "How—?"

"We tell each other everything. And I too have a lover."

"Then why don't you marry her?"

Sigmund laughed. "My lover is a he."

"Oh."

"Wilhelmina and I have it all figured out. I will marry you and she will marry Josef."

"She said nothing to me."

He twirled her around the floor. "Oh dear. She'll not forgive me for revealing our secret. But it will work out, you'll see." He led her to the side and bowed. "I'd best be nice to some of these other ladies. I don't want my parents to think I have succumbed too easily to their wishes."

"What a beautiful ball gown."

Charlotte recognized Gudrun's voice immediately. It sent chills up her spine. She turned and faced her stepmother. "Thank you," she said, hoping the feathered mask would help disguise her voice.

"The prince seems to be quite taken with you—his first dance of the evening and now this one."

Charlotte bowed her head.

"You seem so familiar to me. Have we met?"

Before Charlotte could think of an answer, she heard the clock begin to strike. She glanced up at the tower and saw it was indeed midnight. She had to go. "Excuse me," she mumbled and hurried off. She looked back over her shoulder and saw Gudrun following her. Panicked, she almost ran through the ballroom, weaving in and out among the dancers, not caring how rude she seemed. The clock counted down. A determined Gudrun still followed. Charlotte looked for Wilhelmina. She saw her dancing with a very pretty young woman and felt a flash of jealousy.

Down the steps she flew, to the courtyard. She stumbled and lost a shoe. It tumbled away from her. She started to chase after it, but Gudrun was close on her heels with a grim, intent look on her face. Charlotte had no time. She ran to the coach and practically leapt inside. "Hurry!" she said to the coachman. He flicked the horses with his whip and off they went. She looked out the window to see Gudrun standing there, watching. In her hands she held Charlotte's lost shoe, but then a footman came and took it from her.

It seemed to take forever until they arrived at the huntsman's cottage. Elke and Anna were waiting for her.

"Elke," she said, "we must make haste back to the manor. I have to be there before Gudrun and the others get home. I think she might have recognized me. She could be on her way home even now."

The two women helped her out of the velvet gown and back into her servant's garb. Charlotte apologized profusely for losing the shoe, but Anna assured her not to worry. She scooped up Charlotte's scattered belongings, stuffing them into the rucksack.

Elke and Charlotte ran hand in hand through the dark woods, their lanterns flickering wildly. She hurriedly emptied her rucksack so there would be no chance of Gudrun discovering it ever having been packed. To her horror she found one of the slippers. Her cold little room held so few hiding places. Fighting panic, Charlotte had still not thought of a place where she could slip it out of sight when she heard the horses and coach clattering into the courtyard. Huddled in bed, she kept her eyes closed tight when she heard her door open and felt the light of a candle on her face. Her heart pounding, she clutched the shoe to her breast while she tried to keep her breathing slow and even. Charlotte was sure it was Gudrun who stood there. It was a long while until she heard the rustling of Gudrun's taffeta skirt as she moved away.