Page 12 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
“Indeed,madame. Since fifteen-ten.”
“And the name of your people?”
He grew bored with this recitation of blood and responsibilities. His Aunt Justine and her family would hate thatthey were the topic of conversation of these rascals who had usurped power. “The family Lamartine.”
“They produce goodvin blanc.”
“Indeed they do.”
She sidled nearer, her perfume of roses the most delicate thing about her. Indeed, it was her breasts, her round nipples bursting from their thin confinement, that brushed his forearm. Her invitation was crude. As for her expertise in bed, he could say with certainty that he had no desire to learn. He preferred a lady with subtlety to her charms.
“I have a good cask of the Lamartine vintage from two years ago in my cellar.” She gave him a moue of delight.
“How marvelous,” he said. “Good taste.”
“I give a luncheon tomorrow in my home. Do come,monsieur.I will serve the Chenin blanc ’00 with the excellent veal.”
“Je regrette,Madame Averdeau. I have a previous engagement.”
“Ah, but I understand you seek a friend of mine who will be in attendance.”
He would not take the bait and look like a fool. The lady did not know he sought Augustine Bolton. Only his team knew that. “Sadly, I do regret this,madame. Perhaps another time, I might have the honor.”
“She will be sorry you cannot attend.”
Damn.Who was this woman she alluded to? “I am afraid she must be.”
She gave him one of her long-lashed dismissals and, with a few polite words, faded from his presence.
He turned away, refusing to see her go and take with her any remnant of his frustration. He had been invited to this supper party by Madame Tallien, who told him he must attend to watch the midnight entertainment of the members of the ballet troupeof Versailles. He couldn’t, frankly, give a rat’s arse about ballet, but if this errant Mademoiselle Bolton would show her reputedly pretty face, he’d count the evening’s boring hours well spent.
Across the room, even Dirk agreed with him. His cousin yawned and tried to cover his boredom with a quick lift of his cuff to his nose.
Kane took the few steps across the marble floor to his side. Footmen bent to them to offer refreshments from trays. Then he and Dirk were blessedly alone in the so-called “conversation” double chairs, which each faced the opposite way. “Past your bedtime, old man?”
“One year more makes a perfect man.” Dirk always got a hit making fun of their age difference, since he could do nothing to compare their sizes. They were in many ways the same, save complexion, the tallest and broadest of shoulder in any room. “Not here again, is your certain lady?”
They both took a long draw of their wine and surveyed the room filled with women more naked in their transparent fabrics than Kane had ever seen a woman sans clothes. “Rumor has it she has the ague.”
Dirk smirked. “If she dresses like these do, it is no wonder. However, I have it on good authority she is indisposed.”
“What authority?” Kane had to assess everything.
“Her aunt.” Dirk lifted his crystal flute in a small salute to none other than himself, of course.
Kane honored him with a laugh. “Ah. A point to you. Met her, did you?”
“I was introduced this morning, riding in the park.”
“You get up too early for me,” Kane observed, as he always had at his cousin’s regimented nature. Kane taunted Dirk for his strict training at Heidelberg University. “Too many worms out at that time of day.”
Dirk glanced around. “If you got up to go with me, you might benefit.”
“To meet the ladies? I do well enough on my own. Besides, I need only one on this trip. I am on good behavior, remember?”
“One can still look…for later, you know?” Dirk flourished his empty glass. “I have talked you up. Everyone is eager to meet the English cousin of the maternal cadet branch ofder kleine Prinz von Bergenhaven.”
“Jawohl.I am a bore this trip, Diederich.Meine fraulein ist nicht herein.”
