Page 57 of The Assassin and the Libertine
Suddenly, I remembered. I turned a half-crazed smile on Étienne.
“I know where to find a priest,” I said.
He eyed me skeptically.
“Come on,” I said, tugging at his arm. “This time, I’m leading the way.”
He didn’t argue or challenge me, and although his face was stern, I swore I saw the glint of amusement in his eyes.
The carriage ridewas silent with repressed tension. Étienne watched me from beneath long sweeps of lashes but did not speak.
Uncomfortable with the insults I’d hurled at him back at the palace, I cleared my throat.
“Étienne, I—” My voice rasped. “What I said back in the library, it was?—”
Mon Dieu, why was this so hard? Out with it, Daphne!
Étienne’s lip twitched. “Unladylike?”
“It was wrong. You were right. If it hadn’t been for you, I would probably still believe the worst of you—that you murdered Jeanne. The progress we’ve made has beenours, not mine alone.On top of that, you saved my life back at the bookshop and I’m grateful to you for that. I said those things out of anger, and I shouldn’t have. I am sorry.”
He remained quiet, but nodded once. I held my hand out to him, hoping to put the awkward mess behind us.
He regarded my outstretched hand. Grinning wickedly, he took it and pulled me onto his lap.
“Étienne!”
“What? I was just going to tell you that I forgive you. Shall we seal it with a kiss?”
I wriggled against him, trying to extricate myself from his grip. I felt his arousal through my skirts. He tipped his head back and moaned.
“If you keep that up, Duchesse, I shall seal it with more than a kiss.”
The carriage slowed and I looked out the window. We were near the abbey.
“We are here,” I said.
Étienne swore. He brought my face down to his for a quick kiss, then released me. He looked out the window and swore again.
I hesitated. “Can you enter a house of God?”
He laughed. “Of course I can. I just try not to. With all of my sins, it’s a wonder I’m not struck down the very moment I set foot on holy ground. I feel as though I’m tempting fate.”
“We’ll have our fair share of tempting fate tonight,” I muttered. “No point in avoiding it now.”
“As you say, Duchesse.Alors, shall we go in? I am yours to command tonight,chérie.”
We approached the heavy oak doors and I stopped for a moment. Shoring up my courage, I knocked loudly. It wasn’t long before the door swung open and we faced a young and somewhat rumpled-looking priest. His close-cropped brownhair stood out at odd angles and he had a shadow of whiskers on his face that badly needed a shave. He blinked blearily at us, but seeing our extravagant dress, straightened his robes and bowed.
“Madame. Monsieur. How may I assist you?”
Without waiting for an invitation, I swept past him into the nave. Candles flickered in the darkness, but it was still possible to be awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of the building.
“Do you know who I am?” I demanded of the priest, who was shutting the door behind us.
“No, Madame, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
“I am the Duchesse de Duras. My husband and I were married here four years ago in a wedding presided over by Cardinal de Bernis.”
