Page 53 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
“I have.”
That sounded like the truth, so Gus gave him more of her own. “I am so eager to go into town tomorrow and ask at the house for her. I want to put an end to this worry about Amber.”
“I doubt it is wise to do that right away. Tomorrow I propose we go north past the St. Antoine vineyards to a small village I know.”
“Why?” she said, with her chin up, disliking the delay.
“A diversion. Also to check that we are not followed.” He sent her a compassionate smile. “If we see no one likes us a little too much, we’ll go into Reims the next day.”
She nodded, her face serene, her manner cool. “Logical.”
He put out his hand. “Come. We will eat, and you will tell me about Amber and your friendship.”
“There is not much to tell. My Aunt Cecily took her in the same way she did me. I was seven when Aunt Cecily brought her to Paris after Amber’s parents died. Amber was nine. Amber’s father, James Gaynor, was a minor knight, a former aide to the prince regent’s younger brother, the Duke of Kent. Her mother had been a close childhood friend of Aunt Cecily.”
“I have not heard of the Gaynors. It is an extraordinary act of generosity for your aunt to take in two young girls and treat them as her own.”
“Exactly. She has been the best mother. Better than mine, certainly. I remember the woman only screaming at everyone.”
“No way to live. I know. My parents married for money and position. It was the death of them both. No one should marry forthat.” He paused and looked her in the eye. “Did Amber care for her husband?”
“Very much. It was a love match. At first Amber denied it, but it was true. After his death, she grieved so long that it affected her health. Even her work and her attitude toward those whom she opposed. You liked Monsieur St. Antoine? You said you knew him.”
“A fine gentleman, yes. I met him years ago through another friend of mine. A vintner from the Loire.”
“Do you know many in the Loire?”
“My cousins, the Lamartines from Amboise. And the family Bechard, who also produce good grapes.”
She dared not freeze.
Yet Kane looked at her oddly. “What? You know them?”
How much should she give away here? Her gaze locked on his. He saw the answer, and she could not deny the truth she now must reveal to him. “Monsieur Bechard,oui, I know him.” She got up from the settee and walked toward the fire. “He has come to Paris to sell his wines. Aunt Cecily buys from him regularly. Barrels of his vintages.”
“Gus?” he prompted when she did not turn.
“He does not like the new regime.” She could venture that.
“No, he does not,” Kane responded quickly. “Is there more I should know about your association with Luc?”
She set her teeth. He called Luc by his first name. Unable to hide all truth from Kane, she faced him with what she could tell—and what might put him off this line of questioning. “He has kissed me.”
Jealousy flashed across Kane’s strong features, to be replaced by a curiosity that was cautious. “Did you like his kisses?”
Hot tears welled, and she knew they came from tension and the fear of betraying Luc with lies. Oh, she was, at base, a verypoor liar. Kane had gotten that right. Thank God she now spoke truth. “No. I have not liked any man’s kisses. Only yours.”
He raised his glass to her, drank, and sent her a ghost of a smile. “There is more there you do not tell me.”
She sniffed back her telltale tears. Only her sorrowful eyes told him the truth.
But he rose, put down his glass, and strode to her.
She bit her lip as he took her own glass from her and wrapped her in his arms. She lifted her face to him, unable to speak lest she say something damaging to her cause.
He stroked the fullness of her lower lip with his thumb. “At the moment, my darling, I cannot care that you leave me in the dark about whatever else I should know about Luc Bechard. I hope that if or when I need to know, you will tell me. For now, I confess I am enthralled that my kisses bring you delight. They do me.”
Ecstatic at her release from telling any lies, she flung her arms about him and lifted on her toes. “Oh, please. Kiss me lots.”
