Franz pressed a hand to his scar, feeling the edges of it, the way his skin stretched tight there. The moment Elisabeth first traced her finger along it—perhaps that was the moment he’d fallen, the moment there was no turning back. He’d been fully clothed and yet more naked than he’d ever been with another person. She’d traced soul before body and every part of him had lit up with want. It was more intimate, more erotic, than sex.

He pictured her then: dark-blue dress against tanned skin, a constellation of freckles kissed along her arms by the sun, the curve of a breast rising and falling with her breath, the alluring curve of a smile always hinted at. And those eyes—so deep you could hold your breath forever and never reach their end.

He imagined what he’d do if she was here now. How he’d unlace each bow on her dress, revealing her skin inch by inch, kissing each new revelation into his memory. He’d trace each perfect curve of her, let his hands linger where waist met hip. He’d kiss her navel, the curve of her stomach.

She would arch her back then, sweetness disappearing into want—bold, changed, a fierce night creature come to claim his soul. He’d give it to her with open hands.

Over and over in her letters, she had called him strong, called him her dreamer. His heart swelled with it, how much she saw through him and loved what she saw. She’d also encouraged him to stand by his heart. It wasn’t something anyone else had ever told him to do. They all had their opinions. They all wanted to offer him guidance. But she was the first to say that his own heart was strong enough, right enough, smart enough to find the way.

Not for the first time, Franz wished Habsburg had a railroad. He’d always wanted to build one, but his separation from Elisabeth had made him realize just how urgent it was, just how many problems a railway could solve. He’d spent countless hours irritated that he couldn’t get to her. A railroad would solve that pain for every other man. Not to mention that it would encourage business, trade, and connect people to faraway family. More important: it would connect cities to more food, more opportunity. The elegance of the solution took his breath away.

A knock sounded on the door, making him jump. And then his mother swooped into the room, stoic and impressive as always.

“Mother.” Franz stood and motioned for her to sit on the nearby couch.

As he lowered himself into a chair across from her, she started without preamble. “I must ask you once more to reconsider your choice. It’s not too late; you still have two days.”