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Back The Empress Save as PDF
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1853
  4. PART I
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. 1854
  42. PART II
  43. THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. THIRTY-NINE
  46. FORTY
  47. FORTY-ONE
  48. FORTY-TWO
  49. FORTY-THREE
  50. FORTY-FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. FIFTY-THREE
  60. FIFTY-FOUR
  61. FIFTY-FIVE
  62. FIFTY-SIX
  63. FIFTY-SEVEN
  64. FIFTY-EIGHT
  65. FIFTY-NINE
  66. SIXTY
  67. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  68. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He was so tired of meetings like those. Who cared what the official language was when he was doing everything in his power to stay out of an unnecessary war? When there was unrest at Habsburg’s doorstep, a brewing revolution that had literally stabbed him in the neck? It was exhausting.

“Franz?” his mother prompted.

Franz sighed. “What do you think, Mother?” Perhaps this would be his concession to her. He was standing against her on matters of love and war. Perhaps he could stand with her if she had strong feelings on matters of language.

“I say tell the Croatians you’ll reconsider their proposal in a year’s time once Napoleon has stopped sending you gifts to try to tempt you into an alliance.”

He nodded, and she looked pleased.

And then—

Then.

Finally.

Elisabeth arrived, and the relief of seeing her was so overwhelming that Franz felt instantly drunk with it. How was it possible that every time he saw her, he was stunned all over again by how beautiful she was? She was in a yellow-and-olive dress with a pop of bright red in the collar framing her neck and shoulders, drawing the eye to her delicate collarbone and that perfect place where chest started to curve outward.

In the low light of the room, she looked ethereal. If only he could tuck her behind the curtains for a secret kiss. If only they were alone and he could do much more.

“There she is!” The first voice to speak was all sunbeams. He knew how they felt. Elisabeth lightened the whole room with her entrance. Everyone raised a glass to her before continuing their conversations.

She found his eyes then and held his gaze. He could live forever in that moment, just gazing at her across the room.

Then Elisabeth was pulled into a conversation, and Franz couldn’t politely exit his. He watched her out of the corner of his eye, wishing he could take her into his arms, press his lips to her temple. She was so close and yet so far away.

FIFTY-FOUR

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“ELISABETH, WHY DON’T YOU COME OVER HERE?” SOPHIE motioned to her from across the room, warm and welcoming.

Elisabeth’s heart sighed with relief. She could have cried, finally seeing Franz for the first time since the dance. She wished they were alone, but it was relief either way. Franz, who’d stood up to his mother for her, who was standing up to generals, standing firm against war. He’d comfort her. Stand with her. She’d tell him about the doctor, the priest, the shock, the pain. And he would help her, protect her, ensure that it was the last time any woman had to endure such an invasion.