Reflection of the night
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Edward couldn't hide his surprise.
– In that case, I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am.
Lady Rain responded with a slight bow.
Robin and Arthur were still standing at the window, watching the Falcon approach.
–Why didn't you ask the Countess of the Rhine to dance? – The Duke of Kern asked ironically.
– She said «no».
– What?! You?!
– It looks like she's not going to dance at all, – the Falcon said, watching the other man walk away from Anna.
– This is something interesting, – Robin said thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Lanber came up to Anne.
– The Minister? – Arthur asked. – Who's that brat next to him?"
– That's his son, – Edward said, eyeing the slender, blue-eyed blond man.
– Look, she went to dance with him, – the Bear continued.
The king looked around and saw the pair formed, which immediately attracted everyone's attention. Anna smiled at her partner warmly and sincerely, which for some reason infuriated him. The two of them seemed to fly around the hall to fast music.
The Countess of the Rhine said goodbye to the Duke and his son, who was looking at her with rapt eyes, and was just turning to leave when she suddenly bumped into a man in a dark suit. Looking up, she met the king's gaze.
– Are you in a hurry to leave, my lady? – The king asked.
– Yes, – the girl said shortly.
– Then dance with me one last time.
– Is that an order, Your Majesty?
– Have you ever been told, madame, that the impertinence of my subjects can have unpleasant consequences for them?
– I've been told that many times, – Anna didn't look away, not at all afraid.
He yanked her toward him, not caring what he might do to her.
– Tell me, Mrs. Rain, what principles do you use to choose your dancing partners? You so easily rejected the top officials of the state, who have wealth and good looks.
Anna raised her eyebrows in surprise, which made her face take on that childlike spontaneity that the king had seen the day before.
– I don't even know what to say to you, it never occurred to me to select cavaliers by such criteria.
– Yes? And why did you dance with the younger Lanbergsky, his father leaves him nothing, because he is as poor as a church mouse. Was he your lover?
Robin watched with pleasure as a shadow crossed Anna's face.
– He gave him an honest name, which is quite a lot. This young man has a pure soul. I am sure that he will be as happy in love as his father. Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty.
The music had not yet ended when Anna broke off the dance, smiled, bowed to the king, and left the hall.
She confidently walked through the labyrinths of the castle and was already not far from her bedroom, when suddenly Duke Edward Ereman, the head of the powerful magical Falcon clan, appeared on her path.
– Is there anything I can do for you, my lord? – Anna asked, unable to get past him.
– Let's not be too polite, – the young man said sharply, and smiled wryly. – I suggest, madame, that you spend the night in my comfortable bedchamber.
Anna put her hand to her throat again, as if it hurt, and stepped back a little.
– I do not think your bedchamber is more comfortable than mine, my Lord, – the Countess Raine replied, her voice firm and somewhat distant.
She hurried past, but it was not possible, as the young man again blocked her way.
– Tell me, how many lovers have you had? What is it? – he asked, watching as Anna struggled to keep her hands from shaking.
– I don't want to discuss this with you, Lord Ereman.
Edward was advancing on her, still smiling unkindly.
– You're all brainless dolls who can only bat your eyelashes and dress up.
He pinned her against the wall, his arms wrapped around her waist, and then he pulled back quickly.
Anna, disheveled, leaned heavily against the wall, the Falcon's pupils dilated, and his breathing became heavy and ragged. Seeing his reaction, the Countess smiled wearily. The pale young man stared at her speechlessly and breathed heavily.
– Do you know, Edward, I remember your mother, she had the same wonderful emerald eyes.
– Don't talk to me about her, you're a witch, – the young man hissed.
The girl ran her hands over her face, as if trying to take the weariness out of it, and continued:
– This' brainless doll ' sacrificed her reputation and her life to save you and keep you as the head of the clan. Knowing in advance that the son, who was the meaning of life, would hate her…
Tears flickered in the Countess ' eyes, but only for a moment.
– What are you talking about? How do you know her?
He grabbed Anna by the shoulders and began to shake her, but she did not resist, just looked into his eyes from under the stray strands.
– I was put on the waiting list for the scaffold after her.
There was a pause.
We were kept here in the castle. In the cramped basement of the west wing of this building. There's a hiding place under a big rock, and I think it still contains her correspondence.
The Falcon recoiled from the Countess as if from a plague. The blood was pounding in his temples.
Anna seemed to peel away from the wall and stagger away down the gray corridor.
Robin was lying on the bed in his own bedroom, and Arthur was pacing up and down beside him.