For now, she was Lady Dorothea, dancing with a nobleman, smiling and dressed like all the other ladies in the room.
As they performed the rather slow steps of the dance, her partner said, “You look beautiful, Lady Dorothea.”
“I thank you, Lord Dreigers. And you dance very well.”
“I thank you, Lady Dorothea.”
They smiled and complimented each other a few more times until the dance was over. She simply had to keep this up for the rest of the night. One last night to pretend. One last night to feel important and beautiful.
Carefully, she stayed in the small crowd of older people, except for the three dances she danced. She chatted with Lady Applonia’s mother. For a moment she thought Lord Thornbeck was coming toward her, but he was stopped by Lady Otilia’s father, who spoke with him for several minutes, then they were joined by two more fathers.
When Magdalen finally stopped dancing, she came over to Avelina. “Have you spoken to Lord Thornbeck?”
“No, why?”
A worried look came into her eyes. “Perhaps you should talk to him. I am sure he wishes to speak to you.”
“Why would he wish to speak to me?”
Magdalen bit her lip again, as if in frustration.
“What is wrong?” Something was bothering Magdalen. “I’m sorry if I was rude to Lord Thornbeck, but Magdalen, there is something I need to tell you.”
Just then, the music stopped and everyone turned toward the head of the room, near the staircase. Jorgen Hartman and his wife, Odette, were standing with Lord Thornbeck.
“May I have your attention, please,” Jorgen said.
All conversation ceased.
“You all know that for the past two weeks, Lord Thornbeck has been deciding who he will marry from among the ten ladies here tonight.”
Avelina and Magdalen glanced at each other. Magdalen had such a strange look on her face.
“And now, before we retire to the Great Hall for the feast that is prepared for you, Lord Thornbeck’s guests, our margrave would like to announce his choice.”
Avelina’s next breath stuck in her throat as her heart beat fast and hard.
Lord Thornbeck thanked Jorgen, then turned his eyes on Avelina. “I wish to thank all the ladies who came to Thornbeck Castle for these two weeks.”
Why was he staring at her?
“I expected to learn a little of each lady’s character and temperament. I did not expect . . . to be so impressed, by one lady in particular.”
Avelina’s heart pounded. If only he would hurry and get it over with.
“I choose to be my wife the noblest and most worthy lady . . . Lady Dorothea of Plimmwald.”
The floor seemed to give way underneath her, and she was dangling once again above a cavernous ravine. Her stomach plummeted even as her heart trembled in excitement. Could Lord Thornbeck have truly chosen her? Love her? It was the most wonderful moment of her life, and the worst possible thing that could happen.
Her vision was so blurred, she could just make out Lord Thornbeck standing as if he was waiting for her to come forward and join him.
Magdalen hugged her from the side and giggled, an overjoyed smile on her face.
“No, no,” Avelina whispered to her friend. “This can’t happen.”
“What do you mean?” Magdalen whispered back. “He’s waiting for you. Go.” She gave Avelina a gentle push.
She started forward, putting one foot in front of the other. What would she say? Her heart squeezed inside her. O God in heaven, I don’t want to hurt him! She must simply wait until they were alone. She could not tell him in front of all these people. It would be too shameful, for both of them.
His face was blurrier than ever. People were murmuring all around her, a few of them saying, “Glückwünsche,” or some other congratulatory word, but she concentrated on walking straight ahead.
When she had nearly reached him, Odette embraced her, smiling, even whispering into her ear, “I knew you were the one for him.”
Avelina felt a stab. She would tell them—Lord Thornbeck, Magdalen, Odette, and Jorgen—as soon as this evening was over and everyone else had dispersed to their chambers.
She finally looked up at him. I’m so sorry.
Suddenly, Fronicka was speaking. “That woman is not who she says she is. She is not Lady Dorothea.”
The room quickly hushed. Avelina felt the blood drain from her face.
“Explain yourself.” Lord Thornbeck stood rigidly beside her.
The Duke of Geitbart said, “We have discovered that this woman is not the daughter of the Earl of Plimmwald. She has been deceiving everyone for the past two weeks. Not only is she not the Earl of Plimmwald’s daughter, she is only a servant, Lady Dorothea’s maidservant.”