Free Nightingale by Juliet Waldron Page A

about her, because (God protect him!) he seemed to be in love!
    From all these complicated and distressing thoughts, Klara took refuge behind a prima donna's imperial manner.
    "Do take off that damned wig, sir."
    Almassy's eyes remained grave, but he obeyed. One shapely hand swept the white curls away. Then, with almost childish feeling, he furiously rubbed his head to loosen his own flattened raven hair.
    "Ah," Klara said, watching him with a smile, "that's so much better."
    He removed the black bow from the queue of the wig and used it to tie his own shoulder length hair back.
    "Have you brought me more medicine, sir?"
    "Yes, I have." He reached into his pocket and produced another paper cone. "I forgot to ask Liese to get it steeped."
    "Will it make me sleep again?"
    "No, it’s not like the other. You don’t need that again, especially if you slept after I left." When she nodded, he observed, "The fact is, you allowed yourself to sleep. You needed to do that very badly."
    "Yes. That’s true. I've been having trouble sleeping."
    "Why don't you tell me about it?"
    "Do you mind your Prince so arbitrarily setting you a new task?" She ignored his question. Today she would keep control of the situation!
    "No, Fraulien. The conductor Herr Novotna has risen from his bed today. He is determined, like an old but not very wise dog, to serve his master to his last breath. This humble Assistant Concertmaster has returned to playing violin in the Prince’s Orchestra again."
    "I'm sorry to hear that. You did such a wonderful job rehearsing us."
    "Thank you, Fraulein Silber, but being even temporarily in your service is a welcome task."
    As bold as his words were, those beautiful hazel eyes were bolder. Much to her annoyance, Klara felt herself blush again.
    "Will you do the other part of the cure again?” A renegade shiver ran through her, one incited by the memory of the touch of his hands.
    "Yes, but with a difference. Today, with your permission, I shall massage your head and neck. We shall go straight to where the problem is."
    "My – my – neck?"
    "Yes. If it makes you uncomfortable, Liese can sit right there and watch."
    "Well, yes. I suppose she had better." Klara sighed at the idea of those dragon eyes watching them. "And what will that do?"
    "It will make you blow your nose, spit and cough. I doubt that even Frau Liese will be able to see it as a prelude to an amour." Akos smiled.
    Klara felt her color rise higher. How did he make her feel this way? She was, after all, the prima donna, the Count's mistress, the one in charge here!
    She rang the bell, a little more briskly than was necessary, and summoned Marie, her housemaid, to take the cone of herbs to Herr Messer in the kitchen, so that he could make it into a tea. While this was done, Akos warmed his hands by the fire. Then, taking a stance behind the divan, he laid those same artful hands upon Klara's neck, pausing occasionally to sweep the soft, escaping tendrils out of the way away. His first grazing touches made Klara shiver.
    "You just watch what you are doing, young sir!" Summoned by Marie, Liese delivered a caution even as she came through the door.
    "Hush, Liese."
    "Yes, please, Frau Liese. You must be silent and allow your mistress to relax, or this treatment will not help her."
    "But, good heavens, Fraulein!"
    "One more word and I shall ask you to leave!"
    Liese clamped her jaw shut. Unable to endure that dogged, disapproving stare, Klara closed her eyes.
    "Now, let us all take a deep breath and feel peaceful," Almassy said, beginning again.
    His hands felt so good! Once her eyes were closed, Klara had little trouble relaxing, even with the continued sensation of Liese's boring gaze. Whenever he found a spot which felt cool or knotted, he'd linger upon it. Waves of tranquility washed through her body. Klara sighed.
    Interruption came when the newly brewed tea was carried in by Herr Messer. Akos poured it out with a muscular hand that looked more suited to the