few people cast questioning glances at me as I pull open the door and let myself out into the chilly night. I shiver even as I sigh with relief. Hopefully no one is able to tell that I am as hot as I am. Under the full skirts of this dress, I'm wearing a lacy slip and a thong and both are plastered to my skin. I walk a few feet away from the doors toward the balcony, glancing down.
“Hello, Sylvie.”
I freeze at the sound of Mrs. Olson's voice. Turning my head, I find her looking in the shadows, talked away behind a stone pillar. My heartbeat races as I glance behind me nervously. "What are you doing here?"
Mrs. Olson emerges from the shadows, showing off her slim figure in a bright red ball down. She gives me a cold little smile. “Visiting you, of course. I see that you took my advice and accepted Lars's proposal. Clever girl.”
I gather my skirts, fisting the fabric. “You can't be here. You just… I don't even know who you are, but you need to leave. You are bothering me.”
Mrs. Olson gives a bark of laughter. “Bothering you? You should be thanking me. My organization made you and Lars happen.”
I pause. Part of me wants to scream at her, tell her that there is no me and Lars. But the other, smarter part makes me fold my arms across my chest. “What is it that you want? I'm very close to calling a security guard, so I would make it quick if I were you.”
She smirks at me. “Oh really? I don't think you're going to do any such thing, Sylvie. Not if you want to keep that precious sister of yours a secret, anyway.”
I shake my head, turning to go inside. “This is crazy. You're crazy.”
“All I'm asking is for a few questions to be answered. Surely that is worth your secret being kept, no? Because otherwise, I will go straight to Queen Margot and tell her who you really are.”
I slow. “I don't know what you think I can do for you. I don't know anything. Lars is not the head of state or anything. He's just…”
"Just the brother of the king. And that's fine. I just have a couple of questions. Specifically, I would like to know what Lars is position in the Royal Air Force is and whether or not he has much contact with Col. Ahmad.”
I cock a hip and cross my arms, turning to glare at her. “I don't know the answer to that. How would I even go about finding out the answer to that question?”
Her smile is staid. “I also want to know if the younger Løve brothers have girlfriends or boyfriends. Is there anyone on the horizon for either of them?"
I scrunch up my face, disbelieving. “What? I don't know.”
“Well, I would make it your business to find out. When you do, you can dial my number in the prepaid phone I gave you. I won't answer, but you can give the message to whoever picks up the phone.” She smiles again. “That's all I really require at the moment.”
I shake my head. You're insane. “Just… Don't contact me again. I don't care what you threaten me with. It can't be worse than thinking I am plotting against the country of Denmark.”
“Oh, Sylvie. Do me a favor before you go telling anybody about these little meetings of ours. I would check my phone first.” She whirls on her heel, heading back into the shadows. I shiver against the cool breeze that picks up, turning toward the balcony doors again.
I slip inside and immediately start searching the room for Lars. The need to be near him, to be protected by him, is intense right now. Or maybe it's the other way around and I feel like I'm protecting him? Either way, I have to find him.
After looking around for him for a few minutes, I finally find him talking to Stellan just outside the ballroom doors. When he looks up and sees me heading his way, his eyebrow rises. “What's going on?” he asks.
I smile at Stellan, putting my hand on Lars's arm. “Do you mind if I just borrow him for a second?”
"Be my guest," Stellan says, waving his arm.
Looking both ways up and down the hall, I lick my lips and pull Lars toward the first room that seems unoccupied.
21
Pippa
I flush, looking over my shoulder as Lars hustles me out of the room.