Author's Note: I continue to take creative license with noble and royal titles and Austrian geography. I don't speak German, so I hope my Google translations come through OK. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
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Luke sprinted across the hallway between the game room and parlor to the steps leading to the upper levels of the castle. After the girl-on-girl show his maids, Anna and Marie, had performed for him and Sophia, the couple conspired to meet in the young Count's suite for a night of uninterrupted and unrushed passion. Luke and Sophia had "christened" the nobleman's new game room earlier that afternoon and now the action would move to a more secluded setting. Just as Luke was about to make the turn and ascend the stone steps to the second floor, a familiar voice beckoned to him from the other side of the parlor.
"My Lord," the Baroness Valentina Lehner, Sophia's mother barked. "May I have a word with you, please?'
Luke stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face the older noblewoman. "Of course, Baroness," Luke replied. "What's on your mind?"
"My daughter, Sophia, Sire," the Baroness continued. "I'm afraid she has portrayed herself incorrectly to you, my Lord. Sophia is pledged to another, Sire. The Duke Erich von Furstenburg and Sophia have been promised to each other since both were quite young. They are scheduled to be wed early next year. So, you see, my Lord, there can be no relationship between you and Sophia..."
"Mother!" Sophia screamed behind Luke. "
Was machst du gerade?!
(What are you doing?!)" She was holding two chalices of Stiegl Weisse beer and wearing a short red satin robe cinched loosely at the waist. Luke was quite sure that Sophia was wearing nothing underneath the cherry-red cover-up and he felt the strain in the front of his jeans begin anew.
"Sophia, you cannot deceive Count Wagner any more. I will not allow you to disgrace your father's name further. Stop this now or the Lehner name will forever be tarnished! You must not..."
Luke cut the Baroness off and decided to use the full authority of his title. "Baroness, you will stop this tirade NOW!! Sophia is capable of making her own decisions! If you continue with this outburst I will make sure that you are removed from this castle today and summarily stripped of your noble status. Is that clear?!" The blood rose in Luke's face as he berated the older woman. Both Lehner women stood stunned at Luke's ultimatum.
"Quite clear, Sire." The baroness replied softly. "Please forgive me, my Lord." She begged as she bowed to Luke then swiftly retreated from the parlor.
Sophia sat the two chalices of beer on a stand near the staircase and went to Luke. She took the young Count in her arms and held his trembling body. Luke laid his head on Sophia's shoulder and let his rage subside.
"I didn't want to do that, Sophia. I don't want to make an enemy of your mother. But I don't want to lose you. Not to her, not to this Duke von Furstenburg, not to anyone. I'm falling for you, Sophia. I have a fortune and a castle in the Alps and a title. I have everything a man could ever want, but I would give it all away to keep you with me, Sophia. Please say you'll stay with me..." Luke poured his heart out to the baronetess as tears began to slowly stream from his hazel eyes.
Sophia took Luke's head in her hands, stood on her bare tiptoes, and kissed her lover's sad lips then held him tight. "I'll stay with you. For as long as you want me to. I'll stay..."
Luke gazed into Sophia's emerald eyes for a moment longer then surprised the scantily-clad red head by picking her up off the floor. Luke cradled Sophia in his strong arms as he carried her up the granite steps to the third floor and the master suite where he intended to prove his devotion to his
liebhaber
(lover) throughout the night.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As Luke carried Sophia to his room, the Baroness Valentina Lehner retreated to the smaller dining room to contemplate what she should do next about her daughter and the Count. She took a seat at the rectangular oak table and put her face in her hands. At 54, Valentina was at a crossroads in her life. The home where her family had lived for over eighty years now belonged to someone else (A
foreigner!
); her daughter was not honoring her obligation to marry the Duke von Furstenburg, which was interfering with her plans to move to Vienna; but most depressing, her noble status had become quite insignificant since the Count's discovery and subsequent arrival. Oh, how they cheered for him the night of his welcome party! That man, that
American,
had strolled in here and won the hearts of the townspeople and the dignitaries. And why? What had Wagner done besides smile and wave and
schwachsinn
(bullshit) his way into the societal circles. Worst of all, that American had seduced her daughter, had taken Sophia from her and filled her head with so much Western decadence that she had completely forsaken her own noble status and duties. And had
consorted
with him! Valentina removed the pin that held her hair in place and let her red and grey locks fall past her shoulders then put her face back in her hands in desperation.
The Baroness heard a clinking noise next to her head and moved her hands from her eyes. Maximillian had placed a cup of her favorite tea next to her then took the chair to her right with his own cup and saucer. Maximillian looked at his former employer but said nothing. Finally, Valentina broke the silence.
"
Danke
, Maximillian." The Baroness said to the executive chef as she patted his muscular forearm. "I fear that my time here at the castle is coming to an end, my friend. But that is none of your concern, dear one."