Spring Fires (8 page)

Although they had reached the CoffeeHouse, the brothers remained standing outside in the fine, cold mist. The noise of horses and wagons and boisterous shouts had nearly drowned out Nicholai's bitter voice, but Alec was mesmerized, staring at his younger brother in awe and fascination. "I can scarcely take it all in," he murmured. "Now I know what has caused the change in you. I sensed that it was more than simple maturation. You've been hardened by these last years in France."

Nicholai shrugged, his expression poignant with weary pain. "In a world of insanity and meaningless killing, one either grows hard or is crushed."

* * *

Inside the CoffeeHouse, Lion Hampshire withdrew his pocket watch to note the time. At nearly half-past twelve, he began to wonder if Alec had forgotten their appointment.

Restlessly, the handsome senator surveyed the smoky, crowded room. At the center stood the coffee urn, where men borrowed money and traded goods. Behind the cage of his bar against the east wall, James Stringfellow watched the movements of each person, all the while keeping up a fast and frisky repartee with anyone who came near. Cheerful fires blazed in the two mammoth hearths, and the sprawling room was made cozier by the voices of men who enjoyed gossip and the lively art of conversation. By the time several prominent citizens had waved at Lion, inviting him to move to their tables, he was beginning to feel foolish for turning them down.

Suddenly, Alec and his brother appeared, working their way between the tables and pausing to answer the greetings of old friends.

"At last!" Lion said, uncharacteristically annoyed.

Alec and Nicholai looked at each other and laughed, then slid into the bench opposite Lion. "That's exactly what Sacha yelled into my face when I opened my front door this morning," the younger Beauvisage explained. "I apologize for our delay, Senator. I was telling Sacha the tale of my years in France and I fear I grew rather long-winded."

The amazed expression returned to Alec's face. "You cannot imagine what he's been through, Lion—what has been going on over there—"

Nicholai held up a hand, looking weary. "Sacha, if you don't mind, I'm rather fed up with the entire subject, and I'm certain the senator has more pressing matters to discuss."

Lion studied the younger Beauvisage more closely. There was no doubt that his charismatic good looks equaled Alec's, but there was something else about him that Lion couldn't label. There was a natural confidence in his bearing and voice, and a cynical gleam in those striking green eyes that belied his polite charm... Lion sensed a steel edge beneath the pleasant smile.

"Nicholai, I insist that you call me Lion. I've been your brother's friend for years and I hope to be yours, too."

Before he could reply, Hyla Flowers appeared beside their table, asking what the gentlemen would like to drink. Instead of her usual gaily striped frock, she wore one of dismal gray, and her puffy face was unpainted and pinched.

"Hyla," Lion chided, "you look as if you've lost your best friend! Cheer up, woman! By the way, where is Lisette today? I haven't seen her once since I came in."

"Don't you know that her father died last night?" Nicholai put a hand on Lion's arm. "I'm amazed that the CoffeeHouse is open at all today, and I'm sure we'll not see Mistress Hahn in our midst for a long time."

"This man—Mr. Beauvisage, ain't it?—speaks the truth about Master Hahn," Hyla said, her voice shaking, "but he's all wrong about our Lisette. She's a fighter, as you well know, Senator, and her work will be what sees her through her pain. Stronger than a dozen of you men, she is!" Hyla finished with a venomous glare at the stranger whom she imagined had taken advantage of Lisette's grief and shock. Hyla had been wide awake when her young mistress crept up the stairs before dawn, though she knew better than to mention those lost hours to Lisette, ever.

Lion Hampshire looked stunned. "I—I cannot believe it! This is very sad news. So that's what became of Lisette last night...." His face tightened with genuine sorrow and pain. "She must be hurting terribly."

"You know my mistress, sir—she doesn't let on. There's even oxtail soup and warm gingerbread with raisins and hot lemon sauce. I told her she didn't need to fix nothin'...."

Subdued, the men ordered food and hot coffee to fortify themselves against the wet, dark weather. Nicholai decided that he liked Senator Hampshire; the sincere emotion he'd displayed had been impressive.

"I feel odd, talking about my own problems in light of these events," Lion said, "but I don't want our meeting to be wasted for you, Nicholai. After I met you last night, I began to suspect that you could help me. Alec told me that you had returned to Philadelphia because of the situation in France and that he wasn't certain what course you would follow next. It occurred to me that my proposal might provide you with an interesting diversion while you reach a decision about your future."

Chastity put heavy bowls of soup on the table, then added pewter spoons, a loaf of warm bread, and a crock of butter. After pausing to taste the soup, Nicholai met Lion's gaze.

"You've intrigued me! The right diversion might be just what I need right now..."

"Good. Let me give you some background first. You see, I have a half-brother, Marcus Reems – "

Alec made a rude noise at the mention of the man who was more a nemesis than a brother to Lion and Nicholai glanced his way, arching a brow.

Lion ignored his friend. He went on to tell the story of his birth out of wedlock and the death of his mother when he was fourteen, after which he had gone to live in his father's home.

"Father discovered that I took after him more than his legitimate son, Marcus. He favored me after that and thus began my half-brother's consuming hatred of me. Our father died long ago but Marcus continues to try to eclipse me. He takes it all quite seriously, to the point where I have felt in danger."

"How bizarre," remarked Nicholai.

"Yes. He thought he'd won when he stole my fiancée away and married her—only to discover that I'd been in love all along with someone else. Now, since the election, I sense that his jealousy has reached new levels. Since his wife Priscilla died, tragically, in childbirth two years ago, he's begun to act rather deranged, and I never know what to expect."

"And how can I help you?"

Lion's smile warmed. "You are a new face in Philadelphia; no one knows where you stand or who you call your friends. To be blunt, you would be the perfect person to keep an eye on Marcus—"

"Spy
on him?" Nicholai pressed, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"A strong word—but apt." Lion's voice grew serious. "I sense that he is up to something; if you could learn what it is, there's an excellent chance it might save my life. I wouldn't put murder past him..."

Nicholai saw the sad regret in Lion's eyes and nodded slowly. "Certainly, I'll help if I can. As you said, it would be an interesting diversion."

Alec had been munching on a chunk of buttered bread and looking out the window, trying to seem inconspicuous while the other two men talked. Now he suddenly straightened. "Speak of the devil, he's on his way up the street and appears to be headed this way. You certainly don't want your '
spy
' to be seen with
you!"

"Thank God you were looking in the right direction," moaned Lion with relief. Standing up, he reached over to grasp Nicholai's hand. "Thank you. I'm going to be a father in a few months and I want to be here to see my child." He picked up his cape, slung it over one arm, and exited through the door that led to the kitchen.

"He seems to know his way around," Nicholai observed, remembering the way Hyla Flowers had alluded to Lion's familiarity with Lisette's nature.

Alec propped his booted feet on the empty seat and took a long drink of coffee. "I think he does. Lion was a friend to both Ernst and Lisette Hahn." He inclined his head toward the doorway. "There he is—Marcus Reems. The tall one with the black hair. Can you see his eyes?"

Nicholai watched as Reems passed in the company of two other men. When he was seated, safely out of earshot, Nicholai said, "His eyes looked
gold
to me. Strange!"

"Well, there's Lisette now," Alec said, staring past his brother. "The classic tragic beauty."

When Nicholai saw her, his breath caught for a moment, an occurrence so odd that he paused to wonder what was amiss with his body. She was crossing the large crowded room with a tray filled with plates of gingerbread. She wore her hair in a high braided crown that emphasized the graceful perfection of her face and neck, and even the severe cut of her dove-gray frock could not hide her lithe curves. As she set plates on tables and smiled at the patrons who offered expressions of sympathy, Nicholai was conscious of a sharp sensation in his chest. Unbidden, the memory of Lisette's hypnotic kiss invaded his mind and he saw her again, naked, clinging to him, begging him to... love her.

She was only a few feet away now and there were two plates left on the tray. Alec rose, extending his hand to Lisette, telling her how sorry he was to hear of her loss.

"Thank you, Mr. Beauvisage. I appreciate your kindness."

Nicholai stood next to his brother, expecting her to look up into his eyes, to say some small thing that he would understand. She carefully set the gingerbread and two forks on the table, but when she glanced at Nicholai, her eyes were as remote as a stranger's.

"Good day to you, Mistress Hahn," he said, thinking to be kind and break the ice for her.

Lisette had already begun to turn away when she answered, with cool finality, "Good day, sir."

Chapter 8

March 26, 1793

Nicholai wouldn't have allowed Lisette to get in the last word if Marcus Reems hadn't intervened.

"Mistress Hahn, may I have a word with you?" The tall man with the gold tiger eyes rose partway, smiling at Lisette as he gestured for her to come toward his table.

After sitting down again, Nicholai watched as Alec attacked the fragrant dessert. Lisette was only inches from Marcus Reems's face, bending closer to listen to him; Nicholai could almost smell the vanilla and butter that scented her skin, clothing, hair....

"Sacha, what the devil is the chit up to, now? First she pretends not to know
me,
and then she cozies up to the man I've just been told is the blackest of villains!"

Alec put another bite of gingerbread in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "I was going to ask
you
what happened to that blossoming friendship between you two..."

Watching Lisette return to the keeping room, slim shoulders straight, the golden crown of hair gleaming in the candlelight shed by tin chandeliers, Nicholai pondered his brother's gentle gibe. Though he was puzzled and vaguely annoyed, a spasm of fury twisted inside him when he saw Marcus Reems get to his feet, glancing furtively around to see if he was being observed, and follow Lisette's course toward the back of the building.

Not wanting to explain to Alec the stronger reason for his interest, he muttered, "For our friend Lion's sake, I believe I'll look into this a bit more carefully."

"But, Nicky," came the mock-plaintive protest, "don't you want your dessert?"

Nicholai pushed the plate over to Alec as he stood up. "Oh, I insist!" He grinned, then added, "Don't wait for me. I will see you and Caro and your entourage of children tonight at our parents'."

With that, he set off, toward the front door.

* * *

Leaning against the brick wall, Nicholai rubbed five knuckles over his stubbly jaw. He wished now that he had shaved again. Only a quarter hour had passed, but a clear veil of mist covered his hair and the cold seemed to seep closer to his bones by the minute.

What the devil was he doing in there?

As if in answer, Marcus Reems appeared from the CoffeeHouse's back door. The fact that he hadn't chosen to return into the public room merely confirmed Nicholai's suspicions. When Reems was safely out of sight, he started toward the rear door himself.

He entered without knocking, thinking to put her on the defensive, but as it turned out Lisette did not see him at all. She was pouring hot lemon sauce over two large pans of gingerbread while Purity lined the worktable with small plates. Hyla Flowers was dishing up oxtail soup from the pot over the fire, handing the full bowls to Chastity.

Nicholai paused for a moment. He was beginning to wish he'd never seen this enigmatic, beautiful girl. Had it been less than a day since they met? Not once in the intervening hours had she behaved as he anticipated; all of his considerable experience with women was going to waste in his dealings with the contrary Lisette Hahn.

"Do you mind, sir?" Her voice, cool and clear, broke into his thoughts. "I have a business to tend."

He met the challenge in her eyes and felt his self-assurance return. Who, for God's sake, did the wench think she was?

"I shall wait, mademoiselle, until you have a moment to spare me—as you had for Marcus Reems." Negligently, he took a rough-hewn chair far across the keeping room and leaned back, his eyes piercingly warm as they contemplated Lisette's face and form.