Caroline (13 page)

Alec's renewed laughter only served to increase Caro's frustration. She stroke over to him, pushing at his chest to gain his attention. "I am pleased that you find my vexation such a good joke, sir!"

He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling with enjoyment. "You are adorable when you are angry. Please, tell me now who has been calling you 'your ladyship'?"

"Some poor little maid who obviously thinks you are God!"

He suppressed a fresh burst of laughter with an effort and Caro raised her chin even higher as she added: "You may find all this very amusing, but I do not enjoy the prospect of spending the rest of my time here with that fawning serving girl curtseying at me every time I turn around. It's just not right!"

"Don't continue to upset yourself. I shall simply tell Shillingsworth that you do not require a maid." Then, with an irrepressible grin, he added, "I am perfectly capable of fastening your gowns."

Caro tried to look stern, but the light in his eyes was impossible to resist, and she soon found herself laughing along with him. "Alec, you are a devil! However, I would be so pleased if you could manage to rid me of that maid. Servants make me nervous—even Mary at the Van Der Pats'. I feel uncomfortable with someone pretending to be my inferior."

"That's quite admirable, but you may as well get used to the idea of having a maid, for you shall have one all your own after we arrive in Philadelphia. Let me assure you, however, that my parents' employees are friendly and quite informal. No one will be calling you 'your ladyship'!"

"Will you kindly tell me why everyone in this place is in such awe of you," Caro demanded. "It's positively indecent!"

Alec quirked an amused eyebrow. "That bad, eh? Actually, you needn't think that I have been courting this extravagant treatment. My father has been coming to this inn for many years, so that is part of it. As for the rest—well, let us just say that I have acquired something of a reputation over the years..."

"Of course – a reputation for being an infamous rake who will go to any lengths to avoid being classified as a gentleman!" Caro interrupted with a rueful smile.

Alec flashed a white grin. "
Touché!
And enough said on this matter. I suggest that you take comfort in the fact that you are being well cared for, and be grateful that I have not torn your clothes from your body and proceeded to ravish you with great pleasure. Now then, I suggest that you return to your room and dress properly before—"

There was a short knock on the door, and then it opened partway.

"M'sieur? It is I, Pierre!"

The man who appeared in the doorway was smiling broadly, trying to look nonchalant at the sight of Alec and Caro, both in various stages of undress.

"Ah!" he exclaimed cheerfully, "I see that you are engaged, m'sieur. Kindly excuse me, and accept my apology for the intrusion." His bright dark eyes twinkled knowingly. "I should have expected—"

Alec sighed in mock exasperation. "Will you come in here and stop that babbling, Pierre? Close the door! Where have you been the past hour?"

"I am very sorry that I was not present to greet you, m'sieur," Pierre replied humbly as he closed the door. "However, I hope that you will endeavor to understand my predicament when I explain that Maurice and I repaired to Fraunces Tavern in Pearl Street earlier this afternoon, where we became involved in a game of faro. A sum of money changed hands, and—"

"Come to the point, man!" Alec demanded, barely repressing a smile at the Frenchman's long-winded speech.

"Maurice was obliged to play two more games than we had planned in order to win back my losses, m'sieur." Pierre was beaming with all the charm of an errant child who is confident of forgiveness.

"Which I trust he managed to do?"

"But of course!"

"Fine. I am happy to hear that the episode is ended!"

Pierre smiled back imperturbably. "It is good to see you, m'sieur! I trust that you have had a pleasant journey?"

"Pleasant is hardly the adjective that comes to mind, but I suppose that in a queer sort of way it fits. Now, Pierre, permit me to present to you Mademoiselle Caroline Bergman. She will be with us in the future."

"Congratulations, m'sieur!" Pierre ejaculated. "Ah,
mon Dieu!
If you will permit me to say so, I was beginning to doubt that this happy day would ever occur!"

Alec cast his eyes heavenward, raising his hand to silence his valet.

"Enough! I am sorry to dash your hopes, but I am afraid that you must retain those doubts a while longer. Miss Bergman is my ward. She is Josef Bergman's daughter."

Pierre rushed over to Caro, bowing before her. "Mademoiselle, please pardon my outburst. How could I have been so impetuous? May I say now that I am very pleased to make your acquaintance—and allow me to add that you have a great man as your guardian."

"She has a somewhat lower opinion of me, Pierre, so you should temper your compliments."

Alec's tone was affectionately brusque, and Caro found herself charmed by the tiny man who was bowing before her. The white, curled wig he wore made him look quite old, and she was still certain that Pierre was at least many years Alec's senior. Barely as tall as she and only slightly heavier, there was an extravagant warmth and cheerfulness in his impish face.

"Please stop bowing!" Alec exclaimed. "Miss Bergman feels that everyone is her equal, so you must not act so subservient toward her. Now then, Caro, this is Pierre DuBois, my valet and self-appointed guardian angel. He seems to feel that I cannot exist without his services and relentless advice."

Caro's face was alight with the smile she turned on Pierre.

"Mr. DuBois, I am so happy to meet you! Alec never mentioned you before, so your existence is a pleasant surprise to me. I have a feeling we are going to be good friends!"

Alec interjected dismally, "That is what I am afraid of!"

* * *

It was nearly time for Caro to dress for supper when there was an unexpected tapping at her door. She was in the process of bathing as best she could from the shallow basin, and bristled at the interruption which obliged her to don her robe and go to the door. Certain that it was the little serving girl again, she was surprised to see Alec standing on the threshold with a woman. His companion was tall and voluptuous, with brilliant red hair arranged in an intricate style that drew Caro's eyes irresistibly.

Alec chuckled. "Don't tell me you are at a loss for words for once? Please don't stare—it is uncommonly rude even though Madame Vontaine's beauty is obviously fascinating. Colette, allow me to present Caroline Bergman."

Madame Vontaine's catlike green eyes seemed to slant even more dramatically as she smiled down at Caro.

"My dear, what a child! She appears so... so... virginal!"

Caro stared even harder, unable to speak.

"Are you saying that you cannot do it?" Alec inquired sharply.

"
Au contraire.
Dressing her will be a rare treat; I shall feel like a sculptor with fresh clay, or an artist with a clean canvas."

"Yes, well, that's all perfectly fine, but I just want it understood that you aren't to get too carried away by your creative instincts! Caro has no need of artifice to make her beautiful."

Madame Vontaine narrowed her eyes as though insulted. "You must trust me. I am an artist, and I have an inborn feeling for these matters. Now! Leave us,
s'il vois plait."

Alec was turning away when Caro found her voice. "Wait! Will you kindly tell me what is going on here?"

"You're getting some proper clothes," he replied. "You seemed so pleaed with that riding habit that I decided to expand your wardrobe so it won't be suspiciously scanty when we arrive in Philadelphia. My mother might wonder why you only own two gowns! Madame Vontaine is an—er, old friend of mine. She runs one of the last remaining women's clothing shops in New York town, which has become quite exclusive because of the mysteriously imported French fabric she sews with!"

Madame tilted up her nose with dignity and sniffed. "As an artist, I have become accustomed to the best."

"But," interrupted Caro, "how can you make dresses for me when we will only be here another day?"

"Happily," Alec responded, "Colette keeps a large number of sample gowns. It is our hope that some of them may be altered to fit you."

Suddenly he reached out and put his hands around her tiny waist, which had been hidden in the loose folds of her robe. "How does this look, Colette?"

"Exquisite!"

* * *

Two hours later, Caro descended to join Alec in the dining room of the inn. Madame Vontaine had kept her well occupied as she measured, then produced a large reticule filled with dozens of fabrics in every color. She had held them against Caro's skin, eyes, and hair, one by one.

By the time Madame left, Caro could not help feeling a trifle excited at the thought of a new wardrobe. She donned her wilted-looking yellow gown for supper, acutely conscious of her hunger.

Downstairs, Caro encountered Pierre immediately. It appeared that he was waiting for her.

"Hello, Pierre! It's so nice to see you again. I am simply ravenous. Alec must force them to feed me, for it is his fault that I have been closeted in my chamber all this time. Where is the tyrant?"

Pierre squirmed uncomfortably. "I regret to say that he is not here, mademoiselle. He had—ah, another engagement this evening. He waited until a short while ago to tell you himself, but he could tarry no longer." The expression of undisguised disappointment on Caro's face was heartrending to Pierre. "Please do not look so sad, mademoiselle! After all, I am here to keep you company. I am a sorry replacement, I know—"

"Oh, no, Pierre. Do not say so. As a matter of fact, I have been spending entirely too many hours in Alec's company. You will have noticed that we do not deal very well together, and I seem to be a frequent source of irritation to him. I'm certain that it is the best thing that he has gone out on his own tonight."

Pierre, though relieved, was unconvinced. He had not yet decided exactly what the connection was between his master and this lovely girl, but he was sure there was more to the situation than met the eye. The look on Caro's face when she learned of Alec's absence was far more eloquent than her earnest speech.

He sat with her while she ate, and noticed that her appetite was not as great as she had earlier proclaimed. Afterward, they adjourned to the taproom where they engaged in several lively games of piquet. By the end of the evening, Caro felt very close to the little Frenchman, and before retiring they sat before the hearth and talked. Pierre told her of his early life in France. He had been a cabin boy on Jean-Philippe Beauvisage's pirate ship and came to live in the colonies out of necessity, for he had been on Beauvisage's last voyage, when he had abducted Alec's mother.

"It was five years before Captain Beauvisage sailed again to France," Pierre explained. "Of course, he offered all his crew free passage home, but I was very young then and in awe of the dashing
capitaine.
I begged him to find me a position in his new household, and he did so. I have grown more devoted to the family with each passing year. Now, of course, I am the personal valet to M'sieur Alexandre." He smiled brightly. "I feel young all over again, for each day in his service is an adventure."

Caro smiled in spite of herself. "Yes, I have that same feeling! Tell me, though, Pierre, do you think that Alec's parents will not mind having me come to live with them?"

"Ah! So that is M'sieur's plan! But, You are sure to love them, and I know that they will welcome you with open arms if their son requests that you become part of the family."
non,
mademoiselle, do not be troubled. The Beauvisages are magnificent people.

At that moment the clock in the entry hall struck midnight and Pierre yawned with studied nonchalance. Caro cast one last despairing glance at the door before sighing:

"Well, I suppose I've kept you up quite late enough."

"Mademoiselle must be very tired after such a long journey." He paused then, before plunging on. "Besides, I feel certain that M'sieur will not be coming back anytime soon. And, if you will permit me to suggest it, he would not appreciate finding you here waiting for him."

Caro opened her mouth as if to protest her innocence, then seemed to think better of it. "I suppose I would be wise to listen to you, for certainly you must be closer to understanding Alec than I am. I was that obvious, then?"

Pierre's smile was compassionate. "I have been valet to M'sieur Alexandre for many years, and have witnessed the effect that he has on
les femmes
more times than I can count. Besides, I would be a fool to believe that a charming girl like you would spend so many hours with an old man like me out of choice!"

Caro retorted, "I must insist to you that I am not in love with Alec. I'll admit that I do seem to have some sort of jumbled feeling for him, which half the time seems to be anger! However, I will soon be meeting all manner of handsome young men in Philadelphia, and I won't have time to think about Alec. You are very much mistaken if you think I shall fall in line behind all the females you just mentioned, for I do not intend to let him, or anyone else, break my heart!"