Over chicken schnitzel, Lavinia proved charming. Astonishingly, she seemed genuinely interested in talking about Edith Wharton. In a different setting, Dani would have enjoyed chatting with her, but she could tell that even though the others were, superficially, involved in their own conversations, they were simultaneously eavesdropping. Dani felt like a specimen under a microscope. Still, she managed to make it through to the end of the meal, thanks in large part to Lavinia’s kindness.

Until over coffee—or, in the case of the duke, kirsch—the duchess suddenly said, “I’ve had Frau Bittner make up a room for you, Daniela. She can show you to it whenever you’re ready.”

“Daniela is staying with me at the cottage,” Max said quickly, saving Dani from having to answer.

“Nonsense,” Max’s mother said. “She’s a guest at the estate. She’ll stay in a proper guest room, not in the drafty old dower house. And I’ve asked Frau Bittner to arrange a tour for her tomorrow since you’ll be busy with our other guests.”

“I’ve made the cottage attic into a bedroom,” Max said to his mother, before turning to the von Bachenheims. “And I’m terribly sorry, but I’m afraid I’m otherwise engaged tomorrow.”

“You’re housing your guest in an attic,” the duchess said sharply. Interesting how they could be rude to Dani, but when it was convenient they were suddenly worried about etiquette.

“I am, and I assure you it’s been quite overhauled. She’s writing a book, and she needs solitude and quiet. And I’m swamped with my own work and have a meeting I can’t reschedule.”

The duchess pursed her lips, and the duke outright laughed. What an absolute bastard. “Are you now? What kind of ‘work’ might that be?” The duke caught Mr. von Bachenheim’s eye and smiled as if the two old men were in cahoots.

“Actually—” Sebastien said, but he stopped talking when Max shot him a quelling look.

“I think it’s best discussed later,” Max said with what looked superficially like calm, though Dani knew it belied roiling emotions.

The duke sneered and looked like he was about to say more, but the duchess turned to him and seemed to silently communicate something that made him sniff and look away as if in surrender. Dani wondered if the duke and duchess were on “good behavior” because of the von Bachenheims. It was hard to fathom this icy snootiness as “good” behavior, but given some of the stories Max had told, it seemed possible.

Apparently satisfied that she had her husband under control, the duchess expelled a dainty sigh and turned her attention to Dani. “Daniela, I am sure you can understand that my husband and I have high hopes for our children, yes?”

Dani knew this was a trap, but what could she do but nod?