Page 79 of Lord Appleby's Gorgeous Imposter
“Yes, Charmaine.” Viv strode forward and took the straight wooden chair opposite.
“You come from France?”
“I do.” Viv noted how Charmaine had stopped tapping on her armrest. “I come with news.”
Beneath the murky veil, thin lips spread wide. Triumph was the portrait of Charmaine in that moment.
Viv recoiled. “I had a successful debut in Paris. I was well received.”
Triumph went to joy. “No one knew?”
Viv opened her reticule, took out the two étui, and put them on the small table to her right. “I return your two étui to you.”
“You prevaricate.”
“I came to say goodbye.”
“What? Goodbye? You just got here!”
“I will be leaving after I tell you about those whom I met in Paris.”
Charmaine folded one gloved hand over the other. Satisfaction was now her demeanor. “As you should. Continue!”
“I earned rave reviews. Talleyrand and a few of his assistants. Bankers. A few British in Paris for the peace.”
“Ba! The filthy British. French don’t give a damn about a peace with the British.”
As well you know.
“Who else?”
Viv would not give her the satisfaction of names like Ashley or Ramsey. Certainly not Tate. “A few lovely ladies. Leaders of Society.”
“Merde.” Charmaine had always had a foul mouth. “Women! Did you find the scullery maid? The one I told you betrayed us to the police?”
“Jocelyn Gatel?” Viv pronounced her name with a certain relish. “Oui, I did.”
Charmaine pulled back in her chair. “That was her name?”
“It is. But then, I think you knew it. Knew her very well.”
Wary now, Charmaine cocked her head to one side. “Why would I?”
“Because you paid her money.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Enough for her to do the task you assigned her.”
“Oui.Keep us safe from the police,” she said like the practiced liar she was.
“You mean alert the police to our family’s flight from Paris.”
Beneath the veil, Charmaine’s mouth dropped open. “Absurd.”
“You also knew the man she attempted to persuade.”
Charmaine shrugged. “Some local gendarme.”
