A Sister's Quest (12 page)

“Don't twist my words! If I met the right man, I could love him.”

“And marry him?”

“Of course.”

With a snort of derision, he nodded. “I should have guessed. The schoolteacher in her convent—”

“St. Bernard's is not a convent. I have told you that over and over.”

“You are afraid of any emotions that might make you lose that prim gentility. Fraulein D'Orage is a puppet, speaking as she has been taught, never with an original thought in her head.” He cursed imaginatively. “If your mother could see you, she would regret ever sending you to that school.”

“
Maman
had her life. I have mine. If it is too conventional for you, that is your problem, not mine. I choose to wait for love, not its tepid cousin lust.”

With a laugh, he swept his arm around her and tugged her into his arms. “Tepid? How did you get the idea that lust is tepid? It eats like an ulcer within you until you can think of nothing but soft lips and softer curves. In the middle of the night, you wake to think of eyes as ebony as the shadows clinging to the corners of your lonely bed. Unable to sleep again, you ache for those eyes looking up from beneath you as sable hair covers your pillow. Are those tepid symptoms,
Liebchen
?”

“You are talking nonsense.”

“Am I?”

His mouth pounced on hers, and she put up her hands to push him away. Her fingers spread across his waistcoat when he deepened the kiss. His arms cradled her as his tongue slipped along her lips before delving within. When his mouth glided along her face toward her ear, she trembled with the longing that refused to be silenced. Her uneven breath pulsed through her, a counterpoint to her fiercely beating heart.

“Do you want me to show you more?” he whispered. “To show how I want to touch every inch of you with my fingers and my lips? To warm your skin with mine? To be a part of you at the very moment you learn what ecstasy truly is? To—”

“No,” she said in a moan, “don't say anything else.”

He nibbled along her neck until she steered his mouth back to hers. She needed to taste his lips, to have them burn into her with their delicious fire.

Slowly he released her. “As you can see,
Liebchen
, there is nothing tepid about the longing that sends a flame along your skin.”

“Alexei—” She bit back the rest of her words when he turned away and stared out the window.

Every time she was certain she was learning something about him, she discovered that she knew nothing of him. She was beginning to fear she never would find the single clue to explain why he treated her as he did, bringing her into his arms one minute, then pushing her away the next. Had he been honest about the dress? Did he really believe some man might try to lure her away from him? And had that been jealousy she had seen in his eyes when he talked about another man coming into her life?

She shivered. He had spoken often of the debt he owed her mother, a debt he would repay by protecting Sophie D'Orage's only child. She looked from the ring on her hand to his back.

One thing was certain. As he had from the beginning, he intended to keep her away from the truth concealed behind his too charming smile.

Chapter Eight

Michelle stretched to reach the buttons in the middle of her back. She had not guessed her new clothes would be a problem. The heavier buttons on her dresses from St. Bernard's had been simple to close, although Elfie and she always helped each other dress. These ethereal gowns might look like a summer cloud, but they were vexing when she did not have help getting dressed.

You need someone to help you dress
, Liebchen.
We shall have to think about finding you a husband
.

She scowled, not wanting to hear Alexei's jesting tones in her head. Him find her a husband? She thought not! He probably would approach that as if it were another hoax he could perpetrate on her. For the past week, he had delighted in shifting her hairbrush on her dressing table to let her know whenever he wandered into her room. She had ignored it, hoping he would stop. That had been useless, for he enjoyed jesting about everything.

Her hands fell to her sides as she sighed. No, Alexei could be serious about his work, and she suspected he would be equally grave about finding her a husband. She did not want a husband.
Maman
might have been right. No ties to a spouse, so she could live the life she wanted.

With a hushed whisper from her dress, Michelle sat at the dressing table and put her fingers on the hairbrush. It was impossible, but she could almost believe the heat from Alexei's fingers remained on it.

She had anticipated this new wardrobe almost as eagerly as she had waited for
Maman
to come to visit St. Bernard's. Alexei and Rusak went out night after night to call on other delegates to the Congress. She could not accompany them while dressed in her clothes from St. Bernard's. Finally she could be free of her prison, but how could she leave the apartment with her dress half-hooked?

Frustrated, she pulled off the gown and surged around the dressing screen Alexei had found for her. She hung the dress back in the armoire. There must be another she could manage alone. Peering into the wardrobe, she tried to decide which one would be best.

“Nothing to wear? I find that hard to believe,
Liebchen
.”

Whirling, she kept the door of the wardrobe between her and Alexei. “How dare you come in without knocking?”

“I did knock.”

She tried to ignore how handsome he appeared in his new clothes. His stylishly tied cravat was as white as his trousers. The green of his waistcoat deepened the color of his eyes. He pushed back his tousled blond hair to a rakish angle as he stepped closer.

“I did not hear you,” she said, tightening her grip on the door, “and I certainly did not grant you permission to enter.”

“I thought you might want to show me what Frau Lepper sent over along with her bill.” His gaze dropped, and she realized her legs were visible below the door. Her chemise reached only to midcalf, so he was offered a splendid view. He grinned. “I like what I see so far. Why don't you let me see the rest?”

“Get out!”

“Now, now,
Liebchen
. Is that any way to say thank-you?”

“Alexei, I am not properly attired. Please leave.”

“I assume you need help hooking up.”

Recognizing defeat, she sighed. He was correct. She could not manage these new dresses alone. Pulling the one she had already tried on out of the wardrobe, she dropped it over her head. She drew on the short, puffed sleeves and smoothed it along her. Holding the back closed, she kept the neckline from drooping to reveal the top of her chemise.

“Will you hook me?” She kept her back to him to avoid meeting the amusement in his eyes. She did not want to think of what else would be glowing there, but she sensed his eagerness in the tips of his fingers as he closed the small buttons. “I need a maid to help me dress.”

“I know, Michelle.” At his abrupt seriousness, she looked at him. “Stand still,” he ordered, before continuing. “We need someone to help you and to manage this household. You shall be too busy now to tend to the apartment.”

“I do not mind the cleaning.”

“But you shall not have the time to tend to it.” His chuckle teased her ear as he latched the last few hooks. “The problem is that I need someone I can trust. There are certain things that I would not want a servant privy to.”

“Things?” She whirled to face him, not astounded to see the disquiet on his face. “What sort of things?”

“Just things.” He sat on the chair and held out her satin slippers. “Things you do not need to know about now.”

Her frustration sharpened. “One thing I do know. I do not want you barging in here whenever you want to.” She slipped her feet into the elegant shoes. “Don't think I will be insulted if you ignore me. I can assure you that the revulsion is mutual.”

Standing, he put his finger under her chin and tipped her head back gently. He smiled. “You do not find me repulsive,
Liebchen
. When I touch you, even accidentally, you soften. You want me to hold you.”

“You are flattering yourself.” She backed away from him before her hands could slide up his arms, proving her words were a lie. The upright of the bed halted her sharply, and she winced.

His hand settled on her shoulder as she clutched the tester behind her. So easily he proved her wrong. So desperately she wanted him to pull her into his arms and to his lips. As her fingers touched his face, he caught them and pressed them to his lips. She closed her eyes as he ran his tongue along one of her fingers.

“Do not be foolish,
Liebchen
,” he murmured. “Stay angry at me. That is much safer for you.”

“Alexei—”

“We must go,” he said quietly.

“Go?”

“Now.” Reaching into her armoire, he pulled out her new coat. The red velvet coat was edged with ermine at the hem and along the short cape over the shoulders. He handed it to her and pulled a hatbox from the top of the armoire. Tossing the top on the bed, he drew out a bonnet of the same red velvet, which was also lined with matching fur.

He put the bonnet on awry. Before she could straighten it, he took her coat and held it up. She slipped her arms into it and hooked the satin frogs at her throat. Tying the bonnet's ribbons beneath her chin, she followed him into the front room. He threw his cape over his shoulders, nearly striking her in the face.

“Watch out!” she cried.

“Don't stand so close then,
Liebchen
. Not only could you get hurt, but you are going to prove that you have not heeded a single word I just said to you.”

She reached to untie the satin ribbons of her bonnet. “If you think I am going anywhere with you when you are in such a churlish mood, you are wrong.”

“No,
you
are wrong.” He captured her hands and drew them away from her bonnet. “I have heard too many questions about you. You must come with me tonight.”

“What sort of questions?”

“Either someone saw us going to Frau Lepper's or gossiped with her about you. The curiosity is interfering with my work. People are more interested in discovering the truth about Count Vatutin's mistress than in discussing the news from the Congress.” Placing her hand on his arm, he tapped his hat onto his head. “'Tis time for you to go to work,
Liebchen
.”

“I understand.” She could not argue when this was part of what she had agreed to do. Yet she was troubled by making this masquerade public.
Did you have to play these games
, Maman? The only way to get an answer to that was to ask Alexei, and she did not intend to do that.

She should be grateful that they would be among a crowd. When they were alone, it was easy to let snarled comments cover dangerous emotions. And far too easy to drift into his arms.

Michelle could not help staring as Alexei led her into a grand house not far from their apartment. From the moment she had stepped out the door, she was certain she had entered a dream. The short trip here had shown her a part of Vienna she had not seen before. The street lamps had offered pools of light to match the glowing windows of the homes they passed. Unlike in Zurich, the houses of the wealthy were side by side with shops. On nearly every corner there was a church.

And now she was here in this house. Alexei had mentioned as he handed her out of the carriage that it was being leased by a German prince. She should have asked about the prince and his household, but the very idea of being in a prince's house made her as mute as Rusak.

As her coat and bonnet were taken by a footman, she was certain she had never seen so much gilt in her life. Even the servants' uniforms were trimmed with gold to match what was painted on the intricate wooden molding and the plaster medallions that seemed to be everywhere.

“Excuse me,
Liebchen
,” Alexei said, handing his hat to another footman.

“Alexei?”

“Go on in. I will be with you as soon as I can.”

Michelle started to protest, but he had vanished into the crowd of guests flowing toward a wide door. She clenched her hands. How could he be so inconsiderate? She knew no one here. With a sigh, she forced her fingers to relax. He was her employer. He had every right to tell her what to do. If only he could be less maddening and explain a bit more.

Alone, she wandered from the exquisite foyer into the parlor, where even more guests were gathered. They gossiped, their voices overwhelming the music. She saw more painted and gilded medallions on the walls and ceiling. Each one was identical, showing a stag standing in front of a tree.

Michelle accepted a glass of champagne from a servant who rushed over to her. She took a sip and smiled. She had heard about the bubbles in it, but never had had a chance to sample it. The flavor was as fun as she had guessed.

She edged to a spot near a tall window while she waited for Alexei. She listened to the conversations near her and swallowed her gasp when she heard famous names being bandied about with as much ease as she and Elfie would discuss the students. Never had she imagined she would be among such powerful people. This had to be a dream.

When Alexei motioned to her from near a hearth next to a table loaded with food, she hurried to his side. He put his arm around her waist and smiled. Yet, in his eyes, as he bent to brush her cheek with a kiss, she saw his intense expression, which warned her that something intrigued him about the man standing beside him.

The dark-haired man was rotund. Between bulbous cheeks, his nose was an afterthought. When his narrow lips pulled back over protruding teeth, he resembled a terrier.

“
Liebchen
,” Alexei said, “allow me to introduce Monsieur Bontretemps, a delegate from France. Monsieur, this is my dear friend Michelle D'Orage. Because of my ineptness with your language, I ask your forbearance in allowing Mademoiselle D'Orage to translate for us.” When she hesitated, Alexei added, “Now, Michelle.”