Page 69 of The Assassin and the Libertine
Charlotte handed me her glass of brandy.
“Fortification? You appear to need something steadying.”
I took the glass and downed it in one.
“So? What are you going to do about it?” she prodded. “He’s still a vampire, after all.”
I considered the question. It had taken me some time to accept that Michel’s death was on Philippe’s hands—to let go of the hatred of vampires that had sustained me through my grief and despair. But as my work with The Order took me out around the city more and more these days, I’d begun to see that Étienne had been right all along. Certainly, there were still vampires who deserved a stake through the heart, just as there were human aristocrats who deserved the same—or more, in some cases. I could no longer lay the blame at the feet of the blood plague. Evil needed to be rooted out, wherever and however it lay.
Reading my thoughts, Charlotte took the brandy glass from my trembling hands.
“Would you give it up, do you think? To be with him forever?”
The tough question. Would I—could I—give up my humanity for him? A lifetime of sunrises? The pleasures of a mortal life?
I would.
“Yes,” I breathed. “Yes, Charlotte, I think I would sacrifice just about anything to be with him.”
She nodded sagely. “Great love demands great sacrifice.”
I blinked back the tears that welled in my eyes.
“Besides,” she continued, refilling the brandy glass and sipping at it herself. “Think how much better of an agent you’ll be with all those supernatural gifts!”
Would he accept me? I wasn’t certain. Regardless, I had to tell him. Iwouldtell him—as soon as I’d delivered my message to him from The Order. I kissed Charlotte’s cheeks and ran out my bedroom door, straight into Gaston. We both crashed to the ground.
“Madame! Are you all right?” he said, helping me to my feet.
“Yes, yes. I’m sorry, Gaston. I was distracted. Were you coming to find me?”
“Oui,Madame. You have a visitor.” He handed me a calling card. “He is waiting for you in the drawing room.”
Étienne.
He is here? But I was on my way to see him!My stomach twisted. I inhaled shakily and straightened my dress.
“Thank you, Gaston.”
I went downstairs and entered the drawing room. He stood at the fireplace, staring down into the flames. I hadn’t seen him since All Hallow’s Eve and my heart leaped at the sight. He was as uncommonly beautiful as I remembered—wavy black hair tied back, chiseled features, lean, muscular body wrapped in gilt-embroidered navy wool. His full lips were curved in a private smile that vanished when he saw me.
“Duchesse.” He bowed formally and my chest tightened. His manner had me rattled.
I inclined my head. “I was on my way to you with a message from The Order, but I see you beat me to the punch. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Monsieur?”
He coughed and fidgeted with his cuff. It comforted me that he, too, appeared to be nervous.
“Shall I call for some tea?” I offered. “Or perhaps something stronger?” I gestured to the sideboard with crystal decanters of brandy, sherry, and whisky.
“No, thank you. I…I came to call on you to…thank you for Doctor Van Helsing’s care. And to, you know, see how you fared.”
“Of course,” I said. “I hope I didn’t overstep. I mean, I’m sure I did, but I was worried about you and I wanted to ensure that you had access to the best possible care. I…I’m sorry. Thinking on it, it was probably quite overbearing. I should have asked.”Stop babbling, Daphne!Awash with anxiety, I sat on the small couch across from the fireplace. I pulled a cushion onto my lap and toyed with the tassels.
“No, it was kind of you, really.” He gestured to the empty space next to me and I nodded. He sat, maintaining an even distance from me.
“And how do you fare, Monsieur? Are you well?”
“Yes, of course, quite well. I saw Josephine recently. She sends her regards.”
