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both British earl and German imperial knight?”
    The ancient order of Reichsritter was not the highest of the German nobility, nor were the holdings of the free knights the largest or the richest. But the imperial knights were among the most ancient and prestigious of all the German nobles. Free from the sometimes petty politics of the small and divided German principalities, the knights originally took orders from none less than the Holy Roman emperor himself on their charge to safeguard the German people. After the Napoleonic Wars and the abolishment of the Holy Roman Empire, Lenora knew that the titles of the ancient Ritter had been mediatized, as the knights no longer served their original purpose. But here was this man fighting for German rights and unity. Did he think himself some warrior-knight of yore, duty-bound to protect the people?
    He gave a small nod to her earlier question. “Since I joined the revolution, most here simply call me der Wolfram — der Wolf-Ram, the Wolf-Raven—or the Black Knight. My mother is the Baroness Magdalena von Wolfsbach, although in England she’s been Countess Ravensworth these past three decades and more. She was clever enough to insist on the Christian name of Wolfram for me, to claim my German heritage as son of the House of Wolfsbach. Her father and the line of Wolfsbach men before him held the honor of knight for almost eight hundred years. The last emperor agreed such an ancient German title shouldn’t go extinct, even if it meant giving it to the son of an Englishman.”
    Ravensworth .
    She knew of the title and the family. Not personally, but her governess had made Lenora memorize the families of the upper peerage. Such knowledge was needed in the duties of a hostess.
    An English aristocrat fighting here in the German revolution?
    Another wheel clicked. “Do you not have a cousin, or is it perhaps a sister, who spent time as a lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty?”
    â€œYes.” His smile widened. “Margaret, my sister. She’s married now, with two children. Were you at court with her?”
    â€œI had my presentation whilst Lady Margaret was there; it must have been ten years ago. I remember your sister as particularly kind.” She paused and searched his face. “And she had those same blue eyes.”
    â€œSo you’ve noticed my eyes, have you?” He batted his lashes at her, grinning again.
    She stared at him. Was the man flirting with her?
    â€œ Freiherr , do we send her back to Prince Kurt?” said Müller, coming up to interrupt them.
    â€œ Ja, ” added Horwitz, “the girl would fetch a pretty ransom, we thought.”
    The earl scowled and turned to his men. “Silence!” He switched back to German. “That’s enough from you reprobates. Lady Lenora is our honored guest. You will treat her with every respect. We are not giving her back to Prince Kurt. I wouldn’t send a dog to that excuse for a man. He’s no fit master for anyone.”
    She didn’t particular care for this comparison to a dog but let it pass for the moment. “Then you will take me to Frankfurt, Lord Ravensworth, to the British ambassador?”
    The earl shook his head. “The German Confederation is in flames, Lady Lenora. Frankfurt isn’t safe. You’ll stay with us for now.”
    â€œWith a ragtag militia band engaged in battle?” She raised her hands, gesturing toward the tents of the encampment. “That hardly seems any less dangerous. Surely there’s some place of safety where you could hand me over to a British official or set me on transportation bound for home.”
    â€œNo place on the continent is safe for you now. But don’t worry. I have a better idea.” He captured her hand in his much larger grip and turned toward his men.
    â€œOn the morrow, Lady Lenora and I will wed,” he announced to their startled faces.

Chapter 4
    W ed? What? Marry