Page 28 of The Assassin and the Libertine
I didn’t havemuch hope for a lead from the jeweler, Georges. If Jeanne’s ring had made its way to some black market jewelry merchant, I suspected we would have had some inclination about it by now. We were no closer to Jeanne’s killer.
After our outing into Paris, we’d returned to my château to regroup. We decided our next move would be to hunt down the woman who’d poisoned Étienne. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if shehadbeen on assignment from The Order. As far as I knew, I was still the only female member, though I supposed she could have been hired or coerced by one of the other male agents. Either way, we needed to find her and question her.
In an effort to regain some of my lost influence with The Order, I’d also sent them a message about what I’d learned in Paris—the late hours of the merchants and their willingness to do business with the vampires—and told them I suspected achange in the attitudes of the people.Were the other agents aware of this? If so, what was the plan to deal with it?I left out several details, not wanting to damn the unfortunate Georges, but made it clear that my investigation was progressing regardless of their assistance. I hadn’t received a reply, but I didn’t really expect one, either.
Étienne had refused to tell me where our investigation would take us tonight and had become somewhat agitated in response to my questions, so we’d been careful to avoid each other for the rest of last night and the first part of this evening. While I didn’t know what to expect, I was sure we would find ourselves in yet another dark and dangerous part of the city, so it seemed silly for me to be bathing now, but I didn’t care. Relaxing in the hot water helped me shore up my courage—and I’d spent so much time worrying over Jeanne’s murder, The Order’s grand plan, and Étienne’s recovery, this was my first opportunity to enjoy time to myself and let my swirling thoughts still.
At least, Ihadbeenenjoying it until my infuriating houseguest knocked on my door.
“Go away!”I shouted.
“I’ve come to apologize,” he called. “I’ll tell you where we’re going tonight, but I’m not going to yell at you through this door.”
“Well, it will have to wait,” I replied.
“We’re already losing evening hours—I don’t believe it can,” he said, and forced the door open.
I shrieked and ducked beneath the bubbles, covering as much of my nudity as possible. His face lit with a pleased grin.
“There had better be an exceptional reason why you’re here,” I growled. “Otherwise, I’m going to call Dr. Van Helsing again and have her put the quicksilverbackin your blood.”
Étienne chuckled and sat on a chaise opposite the tub. He stretched his long legs out before him and leaned back, makinghimself comfortable. His manner was no longer dark and brooding—rather, he seemed extraordinarily gleeful.
“We’re off to theMaison des Nympheson the Rue Saint-Denis,” he said, his eyes never leaving me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was…uncertainabout allowing you to accompany me. You are, after all, a duchesse.”
“Rue Saint-Denis? We’re going to a house of ill-repute?”
“The finest in all of Paris,” he winked.
“And you’re worried that will offend my delicate aristocratic sensibilities?” I scoffed.
“Certainly not. I’m worried you’ll offend the ladies within. I must insist you be on your best behavior,” he drawled, eyeing me up and down.
If the water was warm before, I was set to bring it up to boiling in my ire.
“We’re going to a bordello that you patronized, and you thinkI’mthe offensive one?” I gritted out.
“Well, you do have a firm set of opinions and a rather sharp tongue, Daphne. Not that I’m complaining. In fact, I rather like your tongue.”
Lust heated his gaze and he smiled wickedly.
The audacity of the man!
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Monsieur. If you’re referring to thatmistakein the library, I’ve quite forgotten it. And just because you had the misfortune of succumbing to your poisoning in my house does not give you leave to address me like one of your mistresses or your meals. Now, gather up your arrogance and get out.”
“Myarrogance?” he laughed. “Duchesse, you are quite possibly the most arrogant woman I’ve ever known.”
“And yet—remarkably—still less arrogant than nearly every man on Earth.”
“I can’t argue that,” he conceded, standing up. Just when I thought I’d won, he proved me wrong and started to disrobe.
“Did the poison damage your hearing, Étienne? I told you to leave.”
His eyes sparked as he casually unbuttoned his cuffs. “Have you really forgotten it?”
“Of course. I remember the cognac and nothing more,” I grumbled.Liar.
He took off his shoes and pulled his linen shirt up over his head. I opened my mouth to yell at him again, but froze, strangely mesmerized by his bare torso. Taught, sculpted muscles flexed beneath smooth, pale skin. A thin trail of dark hair descended from his bellybutton into his breeches, hinting at some dark, secretive virility. Infuriated with myself, I found it impossible to look away. Henri hadn’t looked like this. There wasn’t an ounce of softness to Étienne, merely hard planes and smooth angles. My fingers fidgeted with the desire to touch him.
