Page 10 of The House Saphir
“Don’t look so worried,” Louis said as Sophia dragged Mallory toward the door. “We’ll bring your sister in tomorrow, so you won’t be alone for long.”
“Wait.”
Sophia paused.
Axel was watching the scene with dismay. His eyes bored into Mallory. “You can speak with ghosts. Can’t you?”
A muscle twitched in her temple. “A little irrelevant at the moment, don’t you think?”
“If the duchess is here now, ask her what she was holding in the last portrait that was ever painted of her.”
“What?”
“Just ask.”
Mallory glanced at Triphine, who had been standing in the center of the room, uncharacteristically speechless, though as unhelpful as ever, while Mallory was being arrested.
Louis scoffed and grabbed Mallory’s elbow, yanking her forward. “This is absurd.”
“Triphine?” Mallory said.
“Oh—uh. The last portrait. Right. That would have been…” Her breath snagged. Her eyes went watery. “My son. I was holding my newborn son.”
Mallory dug her heels into the carpet, stopping Louis in his tracks. “Your son? I’ve never seen this portrait.”
Triphine shrugged. “It showed all three of us, and was done barely a week after he was born. Right when Bastien started to spread those rumors of me being bedridden after the birth. It mustn’t have been displayed much after his crimes were discovered.”
“Her son. That’s right,” Axel breathed. “My gods, she is here.” He stepped forward. “Investigators, I cannot speak to the other accusations against Mademoiselle Fontaine, but you cannot arrest her for trespassing. Not tonight.”
Louis’s grip tightened on Mallory’s arm. “And why is that?”
“Because I am Count Armand Saphir, and she has my permission to be here.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Heat rose in Mallory’s face as Triphine exclaimed, “Iknewhe was a relation! Is he my grandson? Great-grandson? Wait—how long has it been since I died?”
“You’re a Saphir?” Mallory breathed.
“I am.” He pulled a chain from his collar on which hung a gold medallion, emblazoned with the Saphir crest—near identical to those in her merchandise box.
Armand Saphir. The sole heir to the Saphir estate.
Gods above.
“It’s… an honor to meet you.”
He scoffed. “I’m sure it is.” He nodded at the investigators. “You can release her now.”
They didn’t—not immediately, anyway. First they had to inspect Armand’s medallion and pepper him with questions to ensure that he wasn’t another actor in the Fontaine scam, whileMallory suffered the indignity of being ignored with hands bound uncomfortably behind her back.
Finally, with much grumbling, Sophia undid the shackles.
“Enjoy your freedom while it lasts, Miss Fontaine,” she whispered in Mallory’s ear. “We will be back.”
“I love repeat customers,” Mallory said, rubbing her wrists. The investigators bowed respectfully to the count—great gods, thecount—then sauntered out through the front door, leaving it hanging open as they crossed through the overgrown garden.
Exhaling through her nostrils, Mallory considered curtsying, but… no. “This was eventful. Thank you for your patronage and your… assistance. Have a nice night.”
