Caroline (16 page)

"Hello, Natalya! I have heard a lot about you, and I—"

"Ladies, I hate to interrupt this meeting of the minds, but it grows dark and I don't know why I should stand in the walk all evening when there is a perfectly good house only a few yards away."

He grasped Caro's arm with one hand and Natalya's with the other and led them through the front door. Caro spent the next few minutes looking around the first floor of Belle Maison and falling in love with it.

The entrance hall was laid with English brick running in a diagonal pattern and there was a graceful arch with double doors which led to the stair hall. Two lovely parlors opened on either side of the hall.

Caro found that though the rooms were rather sparsely furnished, each piece was perfect. Her favorite room in the house was the north parlor, which was exquisite in its very simplicity. The furniture was all beautifully carved Queen Anne, principally a graceful wing chair embroidered with green, yellow, and brown crewelwork and a lovely settee upholstered in rich yellow damask. The recessed windows had interior shutters, and to Caro's delight, window seats.

Alec and Natalya finally persuaded her to visit her new bedchamber and freshen up before continuing the tour. Natalya led her up the wide, curving stairway and down the hall, seeming to open a door at random. Caro stood on the threshold of her new bedroom and drew in her breath at the sight of a large Sheraton field bed with an ivory net canopy that looked as though it were fashioned of a million tiny snowflakes. The furniture was lovely, upholstered in a soft moss green, and even the white china pitcher and bowl were sprigged with delicate green flowers.

"This room once belonged to the wife of the man who built Belle Maison," explained Natalya. "He planned and furnished it for her while they were still betrothed, so I suppose that is why there is such an aura of love here."

"But no one sleeps here now?"

"I imagine I would, but I like my own chamber farther from Sacha's, and everything in it is blue. That is my favorite color."

Caro smiled. "It suits you!"

"Thank you!" Natalya spread her skirts and sat up on the high bed, slender ankles showing. "You must know that I am consumed by curiosity! But before I start asking questions, I thought you might like to know that my brother told me you will be staying here until my parents return, and that won't be for months! Of course, it's terribly improper for you to be here in the house with Sacha, but there seems to be no alternative. Isn't it exciting? We shall have such fun!"

Caro bit her lip, uncomfortably conscious of the wave of euphoric relief she felt at the news that she would not be parted from Alec.

"I imagine your brother is quite put out. You can't know how anxious he was to deposit me with your parents. I have been a terrible trouble to him."

"Really? How lovely! It is such fun to bother him, for he has a marvelous temper. He is always so cool, so witty and ready with a set-down that it becomes a challenge to try to unnerve him. Of course, because he knows Grandmere and me so well, we are often unsuccessful."

Natalya's beaming face was so open and friendly that Caro felt instinctively drawn to her.

"He has told me that you are a mischief-maker," she smiled. "However, I could hardly credit that the things he said of your grandmother are true!"

"I'm certain that they were. She is such fun—I would have adored knowing her in her youth. Of course, Papa was a rakehell himself in his younger days, and I suppose such things are inherited. Sacha and Nicholai certainly fit the family mold!"

"I heard how your parents met!" Caro paused, laughing in remembrance. "As a matter of fact, I was afraid that Alec was a pirate himself. I even asked him, and he found that terribly amusing."

Natalya clapped her hands together, laughing with delight. "Oh! I wish I could have seen that! Did you truly imagine that he was a pirate?"

"Well, yes. It is easy for you to see the humor in it, but to a person who does not know Alec he appears terribly dark and lawless. I wasn't really afraid of him, but he just seemed to fit the part. I can still see him—bearded, his shirt open—so hard and handsome..."

Caro was looking into the distance as she spoke. Natalya slid off the bed and crossed the room, touching her shoulder.

"Say, you aren't in love with Sacha, are you?" she asked in a tone that managed to sound frank and gentle all at once. Caro started at her words, then laughed nervously.

"Goodness, no! Nothing could be farther from the truth! I am far too intelligent to lose my heart to a—a—scoundrel! I have only sympathy for any woman who falls in love with him."

Natalya eyed her shrewdly before replying, "I certainly meant no offense. It's just that I like you so much, and what you said just now is God's truth. Sacha breaks girls' hearts like pieces of fine china. He has lost respect for females over the years, I suppose. He will never marry, and it is just as well, for he could never love any woman for more than a week." She paused, watching Caro's eyes cloud. "I meant no offense. I simply was terrified at the thought of you losing your heart to him, for it would be hopeless—a tragedy! Especially for a girl as pretty as you are. I can feel that you will be a huge success!"

Caro attempted an unconvincing smile. "Yes, that's what Alec keeps telling me."

"Well, he is right. Now, let us speak of other matters. Where are your gowns?"

"I didn't bring very many. I believe that your brother intends that I should have some new ones made here."

"Really? That's awfully thoughtful of him. A lucky thing, too, for fashion is altering quite rapidly. I believe that we are finally getting caught up with all the changes that took place in Europe during our war. Skirts have risen to the ankle, paniers are a thing of the past, and everyone is bringing down their hair from those great heights. Frizzing is in vogue now, but it takes some getting used to!"

At that moment, there was a tapping on the wall, and Caro looked across the room in surprise. Before she could speak, an entire panel slid back and a tiny old woman appeared.

"
Bon soir, mes filles!"
she called in a cheerful, charmingly accented voice. "Sacha has asked me to request your presence downstairs for supper
.
I thought that I would give you a surprise!"

Natalya laughed in delight as she went to help her grandmother.

"Thank goodness we warned Caro about you, Grandmere. You could have frightened her badly!"

Alec's grandmother looked remarkably well for her age. Caro could see that she was very wrinkled and had thin white hair, but she exuded an aura of vitality and happiness that made her seem young. Her hair was tucked beneath a lace cap, and her petite, agile form was clad in a lovely gown of aqua watered silk. Diamonds sparkled at her throat and wrists, but her brilliant blue eyes seemed to shine even more as she smiled at Caro.

"
Bon soir
to you, little Caroline. My grandson has told me a great deal about you, and I have confidence that we are to be friends. Would you consent to call me Grandmere?"

Caro grasped her outstretched hands in impetuous affection.

"I would be most honored—Grandmere."

The old woman turned her sharp eyes on Natalya then, declaring, "Sacha spoke at some length about our Caroline. She has made an unusual impression on him!"

She blushed. "He found me to be quite a tiresome irritation, if that is what you mean. I believe I nearly drove him to distraction these past few days."

"
Oui,
and I imagine that he found one easily enough," murmured Grandmere as she cocked an eyebrow.

"Grandmere," Natalya ventured, "Caro has yet to have a moment's peace since she walked into Belle Maison. Why don't we let her freshen up before supper?"

"
Bien sur!
We must not tire her out with our chatter. Let's go back through the passageway. We shall send Sacha up to fetch Caro. Would a half hour be long enough,
ma chere?"

"That would be fine. Thank you." After the panel had clicked shut behind Natalya and Grandmere, Caro went over to the basin. Picking up a piece of scented soap, she put both hands into the warm water. She stood there then, merely moving her fingers idly, Natalya's question ringing urgently in her mind: "You aren't in love with Sacha, are you?" Her new friend had given voice to the strange, conflicting turmoil of emotions that she had been half afraid to analyze. Her forehead puckered in a frown and she whispered aloud, "No! It cannot be that. I will not allow it to be!"

She could hear Natalya's voice again and her heart ached warningly.

"It would be hopeless," she had declared. "A tragedy!"

Chapter 12

Alec's familiar knock sounded at the door as Caro was putting the finishing touches on her hair. Having changed into the new cream-and-green gauze gown that had attracted so many admiring looks in New York, she felt her spirit lighten somewhat. When she opened the door to admit Alec, she saw his eyes darken in the silent compliment she'd come to recognize. She felt herself blush and instinctively put her hands up to her hot cheeks.

Alec smiled ironically.

"Are you warm,
cherie?"

"No—yes—that is..."

"Your conversation is unusually stimulating this evening! Do you mind if I come in?"

"But—"

"I assure you, neither my sister nor my grandmother will spread any tales to soil your reputation. Luckily, they do not suspect that even I would stoop to ravishing my innocent ward," he said with biting irony.

Caro watched him enter and close the door. His lean face was unusually tense, his voice more cynical than ever. He was looking exceedingly handsome, however, clad in a wine-hued velvet coat over a dark waistcoat and white shirt, all of which fit without a wrinkle on his perfect physique. When he approached, she caught a breath of his appealing masculine scent and felt slightly faint.

"Caro" he commented more gently, "you seem unusually quiet tonight. I hope no one has upset you."

"No, no—on the contrary, your sister and grandmother have been extremely kind to me. They have both made me feel very comfortable."

"Then perhaps I do not?" he inquired, raising a black brow.

"Why do you say such a thing?"

"Because I sense that you are ill at ease in my presence. I had come to believe that you were a female not given to either stammering or coyness."

"When have I ever been coy to you?" she queried hotly.

Alec's eyes sparkled in approval. "That's better." He reached out and tipped her chin up so that he might look into her eyes. "How do you like the idea of living here?"

"I should be asking you that question, Alec! You were so elated at the prospect of being rid of me, and now here I am like a great millstone hanging around your neck!"

He laughed suddenly and his hand moved down to curve around her warm neck. "I can think of worse millstones,
ma petite.
Although I'll admit frankly that this whole situation is damned awkward."

Caro could scarcely breathe beneath the touch of his hand. "Yes," she heard herself reply, "I suppose that I shall put a damper on your love life—being in the way in your bachelor household and all."

"On the contrary," he answered. "It is I who will be putting a damper on your love life. My parents' house in town would have provided a much more advantageous spot from which to make your debut in the social world. My own reputation is less than chaste, and this location is, at best, remote...." He paused, puzzling at the sudden light in her warm eyes. "However, I am certain that with all your attributes you shall have no problem attracting suitors."

The light dimmed. Alec stood there then, looking down at her silently, fighting an impulse to kiss her delicious-looking lips. Why couldn't he get the memory of her kisses out of his head? A muscle tightened in his jaw, and when he spoke again, his voice was more caustic than ever.

"Let me offer you my arm and let us hasten to the supper table. I fear that the wine will go warm in my absence."

* * *

For Caro, the evening meal alternated between great gaiety and extreme awkwardness. All of them, Grandmere included, consumed no small amount of wine, and neither Natalya nor Caro was capable of handling it gracefully.