Page 72 of The Assassin and the Libertine
He laughed, low and seductive. “Nymph and goddess no longer,” he said.
“No?” I slipped out of my skirts and chemise, baring myself to him. “Then what am I now?”
A heady possessiveness that heated me all over again flashed in his gaze and he smiled.
“Mine.”
EPILOGUE
CHARLOTTE
October 31, 1767
Palace of Versailles
I watchedDaphne and Étienne twirl around the ballroom, their eyes never straying from one another. Daphne—newly-turned vampire and soon to be the Duchesse de Noailles, thanks to Étienne’s newly bestowed title—was still the main topic of courtly conversation tonight. As the first titled woman to willingly succumb to the blood plague, she had shocked the court to a dangerous degree, but had weathered their disapproval with grace and aplomb. While her decision to ally herself with the supernatural set pushed her firmly to the fringes of thetonne, she didn’t seem to mind in the least. I wondered if Daphne had evennoticed, honestly, considering how starry-eyed and in love my cousin seemed to be.
To both Daphne’s and my surprise, the Order had handled the news of her turning with eager anticipation. As I’d suspected, her increased stealth, strength, and speed were extremelybeneficial for her work with the organization, and Daphne’s progressive influence on the attitudes of the upper circle had started to turn a few minds to her new vampire rights cause—gradually, but with conviction. The Order seemed to be undergoing a change of nature, as well, or so I hoped.
Theallemandeended, and the band struck up a livelyminuet. All the couples on the dance floor—save for Daphne and Étienne—changed partners and began anew. Unsurprisingly, they had enjoyed a scandalous courtship, even by Versailles standards, and they’d eschewed propriety yet again by attending this year’s All Hallow’s Eve masquerade in matching Persephone and Hades costumes.
Really, I thought with a smile.Can’t they keep their affections to themselves for an evening?
The dance ended and I watched them kiss, oblivious to the whispers around them.
I didn’t bother to hide my grimace. I was happy for them, truly, especially after everything they’d been through, but it didn’t stop the pang of envy that shot through me. I thought I’d had love once. Well, not love, really, but at least affection. The lovers I’d had after Philippe’s imprisonment had all been temporarily satisfactory but had proved wanting in the end. Observing Daphne and Étienne on the dance floor now made me realize that the thing I’d been missing—the thing I’d been longing for—was a love of my own. A love like Daphne and Étienne’s, a love that would defy the laws of nature and humanity and…well, any other laws.
Sadly, as I looked around the luminous ballroom, I reasoned I wasn’t likely to find a love like that within the walls of Versailles. That was fine. Really, it was. I had my duties to the DD to occupy my mind and my time.
Speaking of which, I should really get back to work.My target tonight made Philippe’s crimes look like child’s play, andI was determined to see him brought to justice. Multiple counts of rape and abuse—including children—had been levied against him, and the DD had gathered enough evidence to warrant action from The Order. I was that action. I saw Daphne flick her fan twice in my direction—the signal that my target had arrived.
I climbed down from the perch in the beech tree from which I’d been surveying the ball, grateful for the freedom that my costume allowed. I certainly didn’t enjoy donning men’s attire as often as Daphne did, but one had to admit, breeches did make it easier to skulk around in the dark. Initially, I was disappointed that I wouldn’t get to attend the masquerade in an outrageously expensive gown, but once I’d received the details of my assignment, I’d sort of come around to my Cupid costume.
I brushed the dirt from my toga, adjusted my mask and wig, and sauntered into the hall through the open glass doors. It didn’t take me long to find my target in the crush of people—the Marquis de Sade stood out like a sore thumb. I wound my way around the edges of the ballroom, making my way to the vile man. He was dressed as a wolf—something that felt uniquely perverse to me, given all the innocents he’d preyed upon. I approached him with a glass of champagne in hand.
“Monsieur,” I said, lowering my voice in what I hoped was a masculine timbre. “You look like you could use a drink.”
The marquis eyed me appreciatively. “Most gracious of you, dear boy. Have we been introduced?”
I smiled shyly. “No, Monsieur. But I am most anxious to remedy that. My name is Latour.”
“Latour. I am Donatien.” Sade’s eyelids began to droop—a sure sign that the sedative I’d slipped him was already beginning to take effect.
“Donatien,” I said, taking his arm. “Might we find a quiet place to better get acquainted? I find these ballrooms can bemoststifling, don’t you?”
Sade blinked slowly and murmured his assent, allowing me to steer him outside toward the hedge maze. Out of nowhere, Daphne intercepted me, shoving a square of parchment into my hand. As quickly as she’d been there, Daphne melted away into the crowd. I pulled the marquis hurriedly through the garden and darted a look at the note.
Someone else has been watching the target. Étienne spotted him and is on his trail. Guard yourself well!
“Merde,”I swore.
“What’s that, Latour?” Sade tripped over his feet and I almost fell. “Mon Dieu,Idofeel peculiar… Where are we going, my friend?”
I reached the hedge maze and thrust him forward. “How about a little game, Monsieur? I’m sure you’d enjoy that. I know how fond you are of games.”
Sade chuckled and mumbled something unintelligible. I made a left, a right, then two more lefts inside the labyrinth until I was absolutely certain we were alone.
“All out here on our own, are we?” Sade slurred. He began to pluck at the falls of his breeches, unsuccessfully attempting to remove them. “Come on, then, boy, let’s play that game of yours…”
