Konstantina felt weak and emotionally exhausted.
Remembering the Baron’s rough kiss and the lurid glint in his eye, she began to sob.
“I walked to the pavilion alone – and the Baron was there – and he – he – ”
The Prince froze.
“He what?”
Konstantina let out a wail.
“I had to flee. He ran after me, but I kept running – running, until I saw the light here – ”
The Prince, eyes blazing, gripped her shoulders.
“He laid hands on you?”
Konstantina gave a nod and hung her head.
The Prince then shook her so hard that she looked up again in alarm. His eyes were incandescent with anger.
“How, laid hands? What did he do? Curse it all, Konstantina, what harm did this man perpetrate on you?”
She felt weak at the images flooding her mind.
“He came so close – his moustache was like bristle a
