Page 23 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
“I admire that.”
“Do you?” she shot back, as if it were a challenge.
“A woman must be revered for her individual talents and aspirations.”
Her face lost all hauteur. Drained of every pride and artifice, she looked at him as she was, simply a young woman alone in a jungle filled with predators. “I hope she can be praised for her honor and her integrity.”
“She can be,” he whispered. “By the right people.”
She regained some of her composure. “If she can discern them.”
“I know she can.”
She inhaled and drained the wine in her glass. “It must be wonderful to be so sure of other people. Have you not ever been disappointed that your assessment of someone was entirely false?”
“Oh, yes. Horribly wrong.”
“What was the result?”
“He died.”So did I, in many ways.
She squinted her lovely, luminous green eyes in a survey of the guests in the salon. “I don’t wish to die.”
The severity of her tone shook him. But in this crowd of grasping opportunists, he could only appear blithe. “Be careful, then.”
She lifted her chin in a stance that told of courage. “I will. You must be, too. After all, you do not want to see another man die.”
“Nor you.”
“Nor me.” She nodded, trying to curve up her lips in a smile and failing.“Merci, Monsieur le Comte. A bientôt.”
Chapter Six
“Isaw youtalking to that British attaché, Ashley, last night.” Her aunt sipped her apple and pear concoction from her crystal goblet. Her pale green eyes ran over Gus with deliberate concentration. She wore a morning gown to come down to sit with her niece and eat breakfast. Unusual, but pointed of her to do so. “He is quite devastating.”
“Do you think so?” Gus spread her little serviette out upon her lap. She waited as her aunt’s footman served her coffee—and while her aunt got to the point she came to breakfast to make. Aunt Cecily was assessing how well Gus liked the new man in their midst, no doubt about it. “I like his looks.”
“A very impressive figure. Norse heritage, perhaps. Rollo’s offspring, I would say.” Her aunt put down her glass and took up her fork and knife. “It is good he has refinement in his features. And in his manners.”
“I do agree,Tante. It is difficult for a big man to appear at ease in a salon if he lacks poise. This one, I am happy to say, seems at home here.”
“I hear he has relatives in the Loire.”
Gus wondered who had told that tidbit to her aunt. “That I did not know. Good for him. Are there many?”
“A large family. His mother’s brood live near Amboise. Wine growers of many generations.”
“Perhaps that is why his French is so good.”
“It may also be why he is a negotiator for trade.” Her aunt looked her over much too closely as she dallied over herpetit déjeuner. “You find him attractive, don’t you,ma cherie?”
“I do.” Lying never succeeded with her aunt. The woman was much too discerning. It was how and why she had survived the cruelest moments of her life. Still, Gus inwardly shivered at her perception. She thought she’d given a strong impression that she was wary of Ashley. Who else had detected such emotion beneath her façade? Ashley himself, perhaps?
“I understand, my sweet girl.” Her aunt sighed. “Were I younger, I might find myself entranced. However, I do caution you about him.”
“Tante, I decided long ago that I will not allow my heart to meddle in politics or foreign affairs.”
Her aunt sat quietly staring at her. “Fine to say. Hard to do. Why? Hmm? I say he is different. Only you can say why he appeals to you. But to your conflict with him, I did see that you clashed with him. Why?”
