The Temple of Indra’s Jewel: Read Online Free PDF

night.”
    “It’s all right. Are you feeling better?”
    “That’s just it. I’m not. I wasn’t kidding about everything I said. I need to get away.”
    He just stood there staring.
    “I must get home.”
    “Home? Where might that be?”
    I paused, wondering how to explain home was a hundred and fifty years in the future.
    “Never mind,” I said, picking up the pace again just as a gnarly branch caught my heel, pulling me to the ground.
    “Are you hurt?”
    Only my pride, I decided.
    “ Bitte. Pardon my hands,” he said, reaching down quickly and lifting me to my feet. “Roll your foot,” he commanded and bent down to take a look.
    “Does this cause you to hurt?” The words were barely out of his mouth before he swooped me into his arms as if I were no bigger than a child. “I’ll carry you back.”
    “I can walk. Please, I don’t want to go back,” I said. But it was too late. He was already trotting along with me in his arms. My wounded pride told me to be upset with him; however, the temptress in me was impressed with his brawny arms.
    “I realize you may still not feel well after such an experience.” He smiled down at me sheepishly.
    “I guess I must sound crazy to you,” I said, giving in and smiling back at him. He carried me a few more feet as the silence dangled in the air.
    “Your anschneiden is very nice,” he said.
    “Pardon?” I followed his gaze to my chest, which was popping out the top of my dress. “What did you say?” I asked, blushing a fair shade of pink. I didn’t recognize the word but it sounded very dirty, and I couldn’t help but think of the nipple tweaking earlier. Had it been him?
    “ Die Brosche ,” he said, shifting his eyes downward.
    “Oh, this. Thank you,” I said, glancing back down at the mountains, which, to be honest, framed the broach quite nicely.
    “I apologize for staring earlier,” he said.
    Apologize for staring— what, at my breasts? “Don’t be silly,” I replied, thinking, In this dress, I’d stare too. “Honestly, I didn’t even notice.” I spat out the words, pushing my drunken inner dialogue aside.
    “I was reminded of when I first saw you. You were a fair sight, dancing with the Comte de Chalais in that ruby gown.”
    More confused than ever, I tried to focus. The wine had been potent; perhaps I’d misheard him.
    “I was dancing in the sea with Henri when you found me?”
    “ Nein. ” He cracked a smile. “I attended one of your parties two months ago. You don’t remember me. You did seem distracted that night. I almost didn’t recognize you in the water. Your hair appeared dark. You seemed fragile, so unlike the bold spirit you discernibly are.”
    He seemed to take my silence as encouragement and was coaxed further.
    “You are different, Prinzessin, from any other fräulein I’ve ever met. Your eyes are secretive but beautiful, and I am embarrassed to admit that I have trouble looking away whenever you are around.”
    I smiled, flattered but confused that he also seemed to believe I was this Princess. Did I really look and act so much like her? I gazed at my naked finger, the one where Gigi’s ring had sat. For some reason I had felt the need to slip it off my finger and hide it after my introduction in the hall on the first day, as if they were out to rob me, but now I wondered if I’d made a mistake. It was apparently the only proof of my true existence.
    “Thank you, you are very kind. You didn’t finish your story from the other night about when you found me. How did I get to that?” I pointed toward the large building looming in the distance.
    “The palace?” His green eyes sparkled now, and I marvelled that they could hold so many expressions.
    “My cousin, Franz, sent one of his stable boys to let them know your whereabouts. I carried you inside his home of course and covered you with warm blankets. Not even an hour later your uncle arrived with the Comte de Chalais and two other men and swept you away.