Free The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki Page B

studying Helene through narrow eyes. “But of course, with the eldest one becoming a Habsburg, I doubt you’ll have a shortage of young men calling on the rest.”
    Ludovika nodded. “You are correct, I’m sure.”
    “Will she be fertile? She looks as thin as a maypole.”
    Ludovika laughed, a short, nervous titter, and Sisi sensed her mother’s irritation. “Why, Sophie, I’ve never had a problem with fertility, and my daughters will not either.”
    At that moment Sisi caught once more the eye of the auburn-haired soldier beside Sophie and, in spite of herself, felt herself smile at him. He smiled back, a secret communication that she hoped only she had noticed as she lowered her eyes again. Her cheeks, indeed her whole body, flushed warm.
    “Let us hope. But I don’t like the black, Ludovika, it doesn’t suit her.” Sophie’s tone remained flat, unimpressed.
    “As I tried to explain, Sophie, we have not yet had time to change from our mourning clothing.” Ludovika kept her lips close together as she replied. “I do hope we shall be able to locate our dresses quickly.”
    Sophie nodded. “Step forward, my girl.” Sophie lifted a hand from her dog’s downy white fur, waving Helene closer. Helene obeyed. Sisi watched her sister approach, peeling her eyes from Helene only for a minute to glance once more at the young soldier. He still studied Sisi, and their eyes held one another’s for a moment too long before Sisi forced herself to look back to her sister.
    “So tell me, niece, how was your journey?” Sophie awaited a reply, but her eyes were already roving over Helene’s figure, riffling through a hundred additional questions: Would she really be fertile? Would she be pleasing to her son? And certainly there was no need to worry about her maidenhead being intact when the girl was so small and meek? Helene wilted under the intensity of this visual inquisition.
    “Well? I asked you a question: How was your journey, niece?”
    Helene, gaze still tilting downward, made no reply. She gnawed at her lower lip, a nervous habit that Sisi would always remind her she must break before her formal introduction at the Viennese Court.
    “Helene, your Aunt Sophie is asking you a question.” Ludovika nudged her elder daughter, but still no reply issued from the timid girl.
    Sophie laughed at her niece’s reticence. “Nerves?”
    “I suppose.” Ludovika smiled with her lips only. “Helene is such an intellectual girl. She astounds all of her tutors. Perhaps a bit serious—but then, the art of conversation can always be learned. And of course, your court here is much more imposing than our Bavarian duchy. She simply requires time to grow comfortable.”
    “Ha, this is nothing! This is a small summer retreat. Just wait until we move back to Vienna.” Sophie sat, petting her little dog, her jeweled ring momentarily catching in the tangle of its fur. “I remember when I first arrived to court. I didn’t allow myself to show my nerves. Helene, you know I’m Bavarian originally? Like your mother?”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.” Helene nodded and Sisi could have sung in relief. At least that minor communication had been transacted.
    “Tell me, Helene, how do you find Austria compared to Bavaria?” When Helene did not answer yet another question, Sophie continued. “I, for one, should never like to return to that dark, cold land. Surely the beauty of our Alps and the open Austrian vistas were a welcome sight after the oppressive pines of your forests, nay?”
    A clamorous silence now stretched between the seated woman and her three visitors, the only sound in the room being that of the little dog snoring in the archduchess’s lap. The young officer, still standing, cleared his throat.
    Sophie took a slow sip of tea and then tried again. “Well, what do you have to say to that, Helene? Do you find Austria beautiful?”
    Speak! Sisi wished to yell to her sister. She threw a sideways glance in Helene’s direction,