haphazardly buttoned and gaping at the throat, but he’d somehow managed to get a pair of trousers tucked into his high boots. Leaving the look of shock to Ellie, he surveyed the scene with a professional eye before drawing a blank look of pretending not to see the obvious.
Like a fish gone cold, Kat’s arms dropped from Barrett’s neck. Red burned across her face. “I’m all right. I—we—Barrett came to help me find the emergency candles.”
The shock ebbed from Ellie’s face as she switched her attention to him. Coolness swept her tone. “So I see.”
Like an inspector on duty, Eric’s eyes swept the room, pausing briefly on the broken bottle before sweeping up to the glasses on the table. And the envelope with the two train tickets peeking out of the top. It lasted no more than a second, but it was long enough to register.
Hooking a hand under Ellie’s arm, he tugged her to the door. “Come on, schatz. It’s clear Mr. Anderson has everything in order.” His pale-blue eyes lingered on Kat before sliding to Barrett. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
Pressing a fist into her stomach, Kat’s eyes remained fixed on the door after they left. Her shoulders pumped up and down in a desperate attempt to control the situation that had spun out of control. “I think you should go.”
Rain billowed against the windows, the pinging like a deluge of dull nails scraping to fill the silent void. Barrett curled his fingers in and out, flexing the muscles in anticipation. It had come, and he had only the momentary breath before the battle to prepare. And her? How was he to prepare her for what was coming?
His hand reached out to soothe the tremble from her slender shoulders but fell back to his side. Tenderness was for those who had time, and theirs was up.
“Destroy those tickets. If you had any doubt before, it’s too late now.” He stepped around her to the door. The cool knob stung his heated palm. “Eric knows.”
Chapter 14
Kat tipped the glass of wine to her mouth, but didn’t part her lips. She hated reds, especially dry ones, and they gave her a splitting headache. There was enough spinning in her head tonight without the added crowding of a migraine.
The great hall of Berghof glowed with lamplight from every corner, highlighting the tapestries and thick rugs with cheery warmth as the fireplace crackled with thick logs. Groups of twos and threes dotted around the room in easy conversation and laughter as the smell of food drifted down the hall, bringing delightful anticipation. If not for the gray uniforms spiking the evening’s pleasantness, Kat might have dreamed she was back in Berkshire.
“What do you think of Bavaria now that you have been here?”
Kat pulled her attention back to the woman in front of her and smiled. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never visited a place with its likeness, especially the crystal lakes.” She was certain the landscape of Switzerland would have been even more beautiful with the freedom it offered, but such a dream had crumbled like forgotten ash. So much for her attempts to act on her own decision.
The pouf of brown hair atop Henriette von Schirach’s head waved back and forth as she nodded. “We’ve been coming here since I was a little girl. Uncle Alf was kind enough to introduce me to Eva, and we go swimming together since he doesn’t like to. I think he’s afraid of going under.”
The man in question sat in one of the floral chairs surrounded by a group of admirers as he waxed loud enough to be heard across the Channel. Don’t worry about that. I’m sure the lack of a heart and soul will keep him buoyant. “What a shame. He’s missing out.”
“Ja, but then as long as I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him give in to many frivolities, with the exception of painting and music. After dinner I’m sure he’ll play a record for us, and you can witness for yourself his gifted ear.” Henriette’s heart-shaped face dipped. “Though sometimes I wish he would play something different simply to change things up from Strauss and Wagner. Are their works popular in England?”
“Yes, classical pieces are very popular at many of the parties I’ve attended with my parents, though I honestly can’t tell many of the composers apart. My musical ear is sadly lacking.”
“Baldur has said that you and your sister may help open many doors into these parties.”
Alarm clanged in Kat’s ears.