Behind the Mask by Elizabeth D. Michaels

light-haired man wore the uniform of the Duke’s Guard, although she couldn’t recall ever seeing the fine red and black coat so closely before. On one hip he wore a sword, on the other a pistol, like the officers Abbi had seen with her father. He seemed nervous until he became aware of Abbi’s presence. As their eyes met, he became totally attentive, while the other man continued to gaze at the picture.
    “Ah, Lance.” Ramona appeared from behind Abbi and swept past to take the light-haired man’s hand as they exchanged a casual kiss. “You remember Abbi, don’t you?”
    “I do indeed,” Lance said with a deep, melodious voice, stepping forward to kiss Abbi’s hand. “But you have changed. Why, you’ve grown up very beautifully.”
    “I’m sorry I don’t remember you,” Abbi said softly, feeling more intrigued by the other man who was still preoccupied with that picture, which she thought was a rather ugly depiction of a farmhouse. Then he turned and met her eyes with a shameless gaze, and she sensed that his preoccupation had simply been an effort to be coy.
    “Why, Lance, where are your manners?” he asked casually.
    “Ah yes,” Lance said with light sarcasm. “Your presence is so powerful I almost forgot you were here.”
    “I’ll have your head for that,” the man retorted with a smirk, not taking his eyes from Abbi.
    Lance casually introduced the three ladies, then said, “May I present my dearest friend, Nikolaus du Woernig.”
    With that, Nikolaus stepped forward and announced, just before he kissed Abbi’s hand, “The Duke of Horstberg.”
    Abbi’s aunts curtsied deeply on either side of her, but she chose to simply face the duke, sensing an arrogance about him that challenged her. Still, she had to admit he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. The dark coat and brocade waistcoat he wore set off his muscular build smartly and enhanced his straight, dark hair. His eyes bored into her without shame, but Abbi smiled as she stared back at him, liking him despite his intrepid manner.
    “Calm yourself, Nik,” Lance said. “I saw her first.”
    “I believe dinner is ready,” Salina interrupted with awe in her voice, clearly a result of their royal visitor.
    “Yes,” Ramona added, sounding subtly nervous. Abbi wondered if she had known the duke would be Lance’s guest. “I believe dinner is ready, Your Grace.” She nodded toward Nikolaus. “Let’s all move to the dining room. Dinner is ready.” Abbi followed her aunts while their guests fell in step with her, each taking an arm.
    With Abbi seated between the two men, each trying to regale her with tales of heroism, the meal passed by too quickly. Unaccustomed to male attention, Abbi was beside herself with pleasure. Papa had never made an effort to give Abbi a social life, but until now she had never realized her seclusion. Now she knew how it felt to be admired, and she relished their attention. She had never considered herself very pretty, but the way these two were acting toward her, she felt like some kind of goddess.
    Abbi’s aunts were equally taken in by the conversation and seemed to be having the time of their lives. Despite Horstberg being a small country, they couldn’t help knowing that Nikolaus du Woernig, as its ruler, was an extremely important man. And they treated him with no less respect and admiration than they would the King of England.
    When dinner was through and Ramona had Lance busy telling her about his experiences as Captain of the Guard, Nikolaus took Abbi by the arm and led her quietly back to the drawing room. He motioned for her to sit down, seating himself much closer than necessary.
    “Tell me,” he said directly, “would you by chance be related to Gerhard Albrecht?”
    Abbi glanced sharply toward him, wondering what this man might know about her father. “I am his daughter.”
    “Ah.” He leaned back, scrutinizing her as if they’d just met all over again. Abbi wondered if her