The Queen's Consort (4 page)
Read The Queen's Consort Online
Authors: Leia Rice
Just as Arabelle decided to step forward to break away from the scandalous court that she served and make her own escape, a firm hand grabbed her by the arm, almost forcefully so. François leaned over Arabelle and kissed her here in the palace hall, unguarded, free for all to see. Arabelle passionately kissed him back, and as she parted from his lips, Christine peeked from behind François and smiled as she exclaimed, “Look who I found!”
Arabelle smiled in return and looked up at François. “François, I am withâ”
“Yes, I know, ma chérie. Your Christine told me as we ran around the palace looking for you.” François wrapped his arm around Arabelle's waist possessively and pulled her in for another heady kiss. When the kiss ended, he whispered urgently, “Come. I know a way out of here to a man who will get us somewhere safe. It pays to be the queen's consort.” A devilish grin pulled at François's lips then. “And a revolutionary spy.”
Christine giggled somewhere behind François, since nothing royal could be taken seriously with the revolution hanging over the French people's heads. “Ah, he is
dangerous
and
mysterious,
as well, Arabelle. You've caught yourself a fine, fine Frenchman.”
Arabelle smiled sweetly up at her François and pressed her fingers against his lips. “A spy? I fucked a spy?” She laughed dangerously. “Oh, the poor, lust-starved queen. What she did not know.” Pressing the tips of her fingers into François mouth, Arabelle whispered, “Now I can be your queen. And Christine shall be our consort.” The former lady's maid smiled back at her friend, who giggled once more. “And we can both have you when we please, without any worry of taxes and royal accounts, or sneaky, handsome spies peeking up our skirts and threatening us with the guillotine.”
“Vive la révolution,”
François mused, and then kissed both of the women fiercely as they turned to flee the licentious palace of Versailles, leaving behind the heads of less careful lovers to roll.
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-7885-5
The Queen's Consort
Copyright © 2011 by Leia Rice
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