Chapters (68)
- Cover
- Dedication
- 1853
- PART I
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- 1854
- PART II
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helene hated to take the dress off, but after the fitting, the hairdressers insisted both women strip down to their undergarments so as not to wrinkle their gowns. Now the two sisters sat in simple white linens, leaning back, as servants fluttered around their heads, brushing, braiding, twisting, perfecting every strand.
It was a surprise that Elisabeth had asked to participate, that she could actually be still long enough for an elaborate French twist. It gave Helene hope—that Elisabeth was coming around, embracing her role as the future empress’s sister. And even if the sudden change of heart was because Elisabeth was attaching herself to unpredictable Maxi—which Helene had wondered about a few times—Helene’s hopes were bigger than her concern.
Helene felt a rush of affection for her sister, held out a hand, and squeezed Elisabeth’s, resting on the arm of the chair beside her. They hadn’t talked about Vienna yet, but Helene was looking forward to that moment. She was sure that as empress she’d be able to invite Elisabeth to be one of her ladies-in-waiting. And perhaps that was the answer to everything; if being here had made Elisabeth want to be patient with the hairdressers, being at court might help her embrace responsibility in a larger way. Being surrounded by glamour and manners would be easier than reading about them in books and practicing etiquette in an empty manor room. And then Mother couldn’t send Elisabeth away because Helene could keep her out of trouble.
Helene just needed to ask Mother and Sophie about it first. Then she could bring it up with her sister. It would be perfect.
Mother left the room to collect a forgotten ribbon from the trunks and Helene turned to Elisabeth, joking, “You should ask to have your hair done more often. It’s the first time in a year that the three of us have been together and Mother hasn’t asked for a sherry.”
“Or claimed she was going to bleed to death,” Elisabeth said, returning the jest. “But maybe we’re letting her have too much peace. Since I’m feeling well-behaved today, you should do something to irritate her ulcer. Wink at a stable boy or something.”
Helene giggled, let herself joke freely in a way she hadn’t in a while. “Maybe I’ll flash my ankles at dinner.”
God, it felt good to joke with Elisabeth. The tensions of the past months shrank and shrank again, turning to nothing. Helene’s heart warmed with the idea of having her sister with her in Vienna. They could do this every day: dress fittings and little jokes. It was the perfect life she could almost taste.
THIRTY-TWO
