Winds of the Storm (7 page)

He left, and Archer closed the door.

Domino had a small smile on her beautifully masked face. “How long has he worked for you?”

“On and off for almost a decade. When he's not eavesdropping, he's rather efficient.”

Archer found no fault with André's curiosity. Were the shoe on the other foot, Archer would have been the one falling into the room. He wondered if she affected all men this way, then decided the answer was undoubtedly yes. The intrigue she exuded was hard to ignore. “André mentioned a business proposition.”

“Yes. I'm in need of a caterer for the house's opening night. I'm told that your staff is one of the best in the city.”

“We are indeed. Tell me what you have in mind.”

While she talked, Archer listened, took notes, and discreetly studied the mesmerizing woman on the other side of the desk. She had a mouth as
sensual as a French courtesan. The front of the gown buttoned high on her neck, but a diamond-shaped cut in the bodice offered the male eye a teasing view of the swells of her breasts, accented by a short ruffle of black lace. Her hair was covered by an elaborately rendered head wrap, the color of which matched her gown.

“So, do you think you can accommodate me?”

Archer looked up from his notes. The question had such a tantalizing undertone that it made him speculate on whether the double entendre had been intentional. Holding her eyes, he responded, “Accommodating a beautiful woman is one of my specialties.”

The smile she gave him in response was slow and secretive.

Conscious of the lust humming in his blood, Archer heard the doorknob turn, and he watched André enter the room carrying a tray. On it sat a small teapot, cups, and a small cup of café. André set everything upon the edge of Archer's desk, nodded at Domino, and withdrew soundlessly.

“Shall I pour?” Archer asked.

“Please,” she replied.

Zahra took her now filled cup, and in the moments of silence that followed admitted that although he was as handsome as she'd remembered, she'd not been truly prepared to confront him in the flesh. His skin was the color of African gold and he had entered the room with knowing eyes and kisses for the back of her hand. The touch of his lips, though fleeting, had sent warms tendrils of response up her arm, and his pointed gaze had warmed the rest of her. He exuded the aura of a
man who enjoyed women and Zahra sensed that very few told him no. Over her raised cup she discreetly studied his attire. The first time they'd met his clothing had been as filthy as Crete's barn, but today Le Veq's well-formed frame was set off by a black frock coat, white shirt and red paisley vest. Like most men of the day, he wore brown trousers and buttoned his coat only at the top to better display the vest and the expensive looking gold pocket watch chained to it.

“Much is being said about your arrival in the city,” he said to her after a few moments.

“Hopefully the talk is positive,” she responded.

“Very much so.”

“Then that pleases me.”

What else pleases you?
Archer wanted to ask, running appreciative eyes over her loveliness. “Where's home?”

“Here and there,” Zahra replied with intentional vagueness. He was making no attempts to hide his interest and the secret call in his gaze was sinuously worming its way through the defenses she'd set around herself.

“A lady of mystery.”

She sipped. “Not really. Most men seem more interested in my
present
than in my past.”

“I'm not most men.”

Her eyes raised to his. “No?”

“No. You will find that I am most distinctive.”

Try though she might Zahra could not ignore his effect on her senses. He made her so warm she wanted to pick up some of the papers on his desk and fan herself. “How so?”

“In how I please a woman.”

His voice sent another ripple through her, and her chin rose in response as if the gesture might somehow counteract the spell being woven around her. She tossed back amusedly, “I'd heard that you Black Frenchmen hold a high opinion of yourselves.”

“Only because it is well earned.”

“Or because you are legends in your own minds.”

Archer smiled. “You are a very intriguing woman.”

“In my profession, that is how it should be,
non?
”

“And generally, how much will such intrigue cost a man?”

Zahra paused for a moment to weigh him and her answer before looking directly into his glittering eyes to reply, “The common man need not ask because I am unavailable to him, but for a man who matches me in strength and purpose—there is no cost.”

The black velvet voice coupled with her sultry eyes rendered Archer instantaneously hard. “Then I will make it my business to meet the test.”

“Is that a gauntlet I hear?”

“It is.”

“And your mistress?” she asked easily. “What will she say? A man as
distinctive
as you claim to be, surely has one.”

Archer was struck speechless for a moment, then said with a cool voice, “I wouldn't think that a man's mistress would be a barrier for a woman like you.”

She gave him a knowing smile and said pleasantly, “For all your legendary expertise, Mr. Le Veq, you know nothing about a woman like me, so, shall we return to the business at hand?”

Archer got the distinct impression that he'd offended her.
An offended whore?

They spent a few more minutes firming up the details of her dinner and the costs. When the negotiations were completed, he said to her, “I'll have André draw up a contract and have it ready for your review tomorrow morning if that's agreeable?”

“It is.” Zahra wondered what it was about this man that made her so aware of him. Even though he was seated on the other side of the desk she could feel his heat, making it difficult for her to hold his assessing gaze for longer than a few seconds. Deciding that a retreat might be in her best interest, she gathered herself, looked away from what she swore was amusement in his eyes, and slowly stood. “I should be getting back. Thank you for the tea and for your time, Mr. Le Veq. I'm looking forward to working with you.”

“I am as well.” And because Archer was not ready to relinquish her just yet, asked, “May I walk you out?”

“No, that won't be necessary. I remember the way.” With a brief parting smile and the rustling of silk she was gone.

Archer rose and stepped to the window of this office that looked down onto the busy street. It didn't take long for her to appear below. With appreciative eyes, he watched her walk the short distance to the ruby red carriage. It was his
first look at the storied conveyance and he noted that it sparkled like a jewel in the sun, but it was the lush-mouthed Domino who filled his mind. Who was she really? He'd encountered very few women with the power to instantaneously ensnare him the way she had. Just thinking about her now tightened his groin. The coach's well-dressed driver, a man the size of Goliath, held open the door. Once she entered, the giant took his seat behind the reins and they drove away. Archer went back to his desk chair and for a moment sat there musing on the woman in the mask and his desire to see her again as soon as it could be arranged.

On the ride back to the house with Alfred, Zahra reviewed the encounter and wondered if marching into the dragon's den had been such a good idea after all. In reality she could have sent Alfred or one of the other staff members to the hotel to handle the hiring and maybe not have had to personally encounter Le Veq ever, but she'd admittedly been curious as to whether he really was the man in the barn, and that had been confirmed. On another level the visit had been necessary to prove that her reaction to him that night in Georgia had been a fluke. As if just waiting to bedevil her, the memories of the rescue's aftermath rose and she relived how Le Veq's distracting nearness had affected her hold on the canteen. Then came her fumbling attempts to rectify the mess which resulted in her being so unnerved by the warmth of his skin and his unfathomble eyes, she'd gone immediately still. In the silence that followed something passed between them that
she'd had no words for then or now; something that had stayed with her for weeks after she'd ridden away and something that had been rekindled this morning when he brushed his lips against the back of her hand.

Shaking off the echoing effects, she turned her mind back to the matter at hand. Other than verifying Le Veq's identity, this morning's visit had proven that her reaction to him back in '63 hadn't been a fluke. Then as now, she was attracted to the Black Frenchman, but even more worrisome was the knowledge that he was very attracted to Domino as well.

Later, Archer met Lynette for lunch in one of the hotel's small private dining rooms. It was a standard appointment, but today, Archer couldn't seem to concentrate on Lynette or her conversation.

“Did you hear me, Archer?”

He shook himself away from the fantasy of removing Domino's mask, then apologized. “I'm sorry, I didn't. What did you say?”

“I said, I purchased the tickets for the opera for New Year's Eve.”

“I can't go.”

She observed him over her small blue bowl of bouillabaisse. “And the reason?”

“Work. The staff is catering an event that evening.”

“Where?”

“At the former Pierre House.”

“The new brothel?”

He nodded.

“I hear the madame rivals Miss Sophie herself.”

Sophie's beauty and her well-run, clean house were without parallel. Until now.

Archer shrugged. “It's hard to tell with the domino she wears, but she is very intriguing.”

Lynette met his eyes and studied them as if looking for something, then sighed, “All right, we'll attend the opera another night, but for the postponement you owe me one new gown, Archer Le Veq.”

The small pout on her face made him smile. “That is a small price to pay. Thank you for understanding.”

“Just as long as your working for her pertains only to business.” Then she added with mock warning, “I am a descendant of Marie Laveau, you know.”

He did. Leveau was New Orleans's most famous priestess of
vodoun.
Personally he put little stock in the cult's spells or its supposed power over people and nature, but Lynette was a firm believer. She was convinced that her
magic
was the reason the two of them had been together these past five years. “The last thing I want is one of your spells hanging over my life.”

She smiled prettily and went back to her lunch.

After seeing Lynette off with a passionate kiss, Archer summoned André to his office to inform him of the contract for New Year's Eve. “Madame Domino has hired us to handle the catering for the opening of her house.”

“Oh, really?” Unlike his earlier appearance at the door, André seemed to have regained his sense of formality.

They then discussed what would be needed, the logistics around deliveries, setup, and the like. “Would you draw up a contract? I'd like to take it to her tomorrow,” Archer stated.

“Of course,” he replied. Then he asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Yes. Find out what you can about her. I'd like to know who I'm really dealing with. I'll do some inquiring on my own, as well.”

“All right. I'll get started on the contract.”

“Thank you.”

T
hat evening, Archer stopped off at his mother's. Seeing his brothers' carriages parked on the street outside the gate made him remember this morning's visitor. As he entered the parlor, he tossed his hat, cane, and coat onto an empty chair and greeted everyone, then announced, “Philippe, I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm catering Madame Domino's opening affair.”

Every eye in the room swung to his face.

Juliana stared. “Oh, Archer, how could you? The
good
women of this city are not happy with these new doxies at all.”

Archer took a seat on the edge of her chair and kissed her cheek in greeting before saying, “I'm sure they aren't, but this is business, Mama. I stand to make a tidy profit.”

Juliana still looked displeased. “Couldn't you have sent her to someone else?”

He smiled. “No.”

Philippe asked, “Have you met her?”

“Oh, yes.” Then he added, “I believe I offended her, though.”

“Mama, cover your ears,” Drake instructed before asking his brother, “How do you offend a whore?”

Archer shrugged. “That's what I asked myself. Out of respect for the lovely Juliana I won't go into detail, but yes, I think I offended her.” Archer was still thrown by that. He inwardly admitted having been caught off guard by her pointed question about Lynette and that he'd replied with the first words that came to mind but how was he supposed to know she had sensibilities; the woman made her living on her back for heaven's sake.

Beau asked him, “So will you be there opening night?”

“Yes, to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

“What are you going to do about the opera you're supposed to be taking Lynette to that night?” Drake asked over his wineglass.

“We'll go some other time. Lynette was very understanding about the whole thing.” He then drawled, “You know, brother, if you had a mistress of your own, you wouldn't have to be so concerned with mine.”

“Ouch!” Beau winced aloud.

Philippe eyed the simmering Drake. “Are you going to take that sitting down?”

Juliana studied her brood. “If you two are going to fight, please do so outside. If I have to replace even one more piece of china, you'll be banned from my home permanently.”

Over the years Juliana's rambunctious boys had cost her much in broken china, vases, furniture, and lamps, but because her sons knew a real threat when she uttered one, the two brothers glowered silently at each other but said no more.

“Did you see to the convent's leaky roof, Drake?” Juliana asked, hoping to defuse the grumbling by changing the topic of conversation.

“Yes, I did. The repairs shouldn't take much time.”

“Good. I heard the sisters were having to put out buckets when it rains,” Juliana said. “The newspapers are reporting more lynchings.”

“More and more people are being terrorized by the Leaguers and Kluxers. Something has to be done.”

“What are the Republicans going to do?” Beau asked.

Archer replied with disgust, “They're so busy fighting with each other, the whole population could vanish overnight and they'd not notice.”

Archer was becoming more and more disillusioned with both the Republicans and politics as a whole. In Louisiana bribes and patronage ruled. Bills were passed to raise the pay of everyone from the governor down to the postmaster, but bills designed to ban the noxius Black Codes languished like a spinster at a dance. On the House floor the other day, he'd watched representatives shout themselves hoarse in attempts to get some meaningful legislation passed, but to no avail. In
the face of all the deaths caused by the supremacists, and the indifference shown by the powers that be, many of the Black Civil War vets were of a mind to leave the talk behind and take up a gun to protect their families; Archer was in full agreement. He and other Republicans were patrolling nightly in hopes their presence would deter the actions of the night riders but they weren't being very successful it seemed.

 

Zahra and the girls were enjoying the breakfast provided by a local woman hired yesterday to be the house's cook. While the girls chattered around her, Zahra's mind was on Archer Le Veq. He'd promised to bring the catering contract over this morning and she found herself anticipating the visit.

”Are you listening, Domino?”

Zahra swung her attention to the twin voices of Salome and Naomi. They spoke in tandem most of the time, a practice Zahra and the other girls found quite amusing. “No, I wasn't. My apologies. What did you say.”

“We said, we want to work the voyeur room opening night. That is if it's okay with you and everybody else.”

Hiding her surprise behind her raised coffee cup, Zahra looked around the table at the smiling women dressed in their wrappers and morning growns. “Does anyone have any objections?”

There were none.

Later that morning, Zahra was in her office
composing a letter to her parents. She missed them dearly and wanted to let them know. A knock on the door caused her to look up. “Come in,” she called, and slipped the letter beneath some papers on the desktop.

It was Alfred. “Mr. Le Veq's downstairs. Shall I send him up?”

“Yes, please,” she managed to say easily. “Thank you, Alfred.”

He departed and Zahra used the time alone to pull on a pair of crocheted gloves to hide her still tingling hands and to compose herself. The moment Alfred announced Le Veq's arrival her heart had begun pounding, but she was determined to maintain control and not let his charm and golden good looks render her as nervous as they had yesterday. She hadn't known what to expect then, but she did now.

When he entered the office, she stood. He was again well dressed and his eyes met hers with a sparkle that seemed to look past her mask and into her true self.

“Good morning, Domino.”

“Mr. Le Veq. Please, have a seat. Would you care for refreshments?”

“Café would be fine, if it's not too much trouble.”

Noticing Alfred standing on the threshold for the first time, and the displeasure on his face as he studied Le Veq, Zahra said to her giant driver, “Would you have one of the maids bring us some café, please.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

As he turned to depart, Zahra made a mental note to speak with him later. He apparently didn't care for the Black Frenchman, and Zahra wanted to know if he had a legitimate reason, because if he did, she needed to hear it. “Thank you for coming.”

“You're welcome. Your décor downstairs is quite…stimulating.”

“It is what we are about, after all,” she stated more easily than she felt. “When we're done here, I can give you a tour if you'd like.”

He inclined his head. “I'd like that. Would you care to see the contract now?”

Zahra studied the clauses and terms while they awaited the coffee. The maid Suzette delivered the brew a short time later, and once she withdrew, Zahra set the contract aside and asked him, “Shall I pour?”

“Please.”

Cognizant of his interest and doing her best to appear nonchalant, Zahra stood and poured the dark liquid from the pot into two cups. Cognizant also of his nearness, she congratulated herself on completing the task without incident. Handing him one of the cups her fingers brushed his and only Zahra's discipline kept her from overtly reacting to the sweet shock that erupted from the accidental touch. He was watching her too and seemed well aware of the effect he was having on her. Her sense that he was secretly amused by that knowledge made her all the more determined to maintain an outwardly show of calm even if she was becoming a wreck on the
inside. Taking her seat, she picked up the contract and began reading again, hoping it would give her something to concentrate on besides him.

Archer sipped from his cup and was admittedly taken by her beauty. She was in red today and her matching domino was piped in gold. The deep cut of the gown's bodice showed off the comely swells of her breasts and he wondered if her brown skin would be as soft to the touch as it appeared. Forcing his attention back up to her face, he took in the outline of her jaw, the sensuous slope of her throat and decided that no matter how long it took, she would be his, willingly, even if only for one night. Her pull on his senses was too strong, her aura too captivating not to pursue. “Are the terms to your liking?”

“They are. It may be necessary for me to extend the contract if I can't find a suitable chef to hire soon. Would that create problems for you?”

“Not in the least. We can alter the arrangement at any time. Just let me know.”

Satisfied with his answer, Zahra picked up a pen and signed her name. “While that dries would you care to see the house?”

Archer drained his cup, then stood. Bowing gallantly toward the door, he said to her, “After you, madam.”

Out in the hallway, Zahra led him from her second-floor office and around the balcony that overlooked the large downstairs room. “Do you like to gamble, Mr. Le Veq?”

“Depends on what's at stake. Are you the prize?”

She looked up. “No.”

“Pity.”

She shook her head with amusement. “I asked that because we have a room for the gamblers and I wanted to get your opinion.”

“And I asked because I'd wager my hotel to win you.”

She stopped. “Really?” The skepticism in her tone matched her pose. Before he could form an answer, she asked, “What sound-minded woman would believe such poppycock?”

The golden lips twitched with amusement. “Let's just say, you'd be amazed.”

Zahra enjoyed the smile gleaming in his eyes. It was apparent that he was a man who also liked to play. “How about we go and see the gambling room?”

His attraction to her growing by leaps and bounds, Archer nodded and let her lead the way.

He found the gambling room much to his liking. The dark wood tables and chairs gave the place a masculine feel. There appeared to be ample space to get up and stretch one's legs and the French doors would allow access to fresh air for those who needed it.

“So what do you think?” she asked him.

“Of the room, or present company?”

“The room, Mr. Le Veq,” she replied with mock exasperation.”

“I'd much rather offer my opinion of you.”

His soft-toned response rippled over Zahra like a breeze in summer. “You're very persistent.”

“With you, any man must be.”

“Astute and handsome. That's quite the combination.”

“They serve me well.”

Zahra was enjoying the banter more than she cared to admit. A woman would have to be mentally adept to stay ahead of him, but she considered herself well qualified for the challenge.

Archer stared down at her masked face. He was enjoying her very much. “The gamblers will find this room most suitable.”

“Good. Would you like to view more?” Upon seeing the light of mischief glittering in his dark eyes, she added quickly before he could respond provocatively, “See more of the house.”

That appeared to please him, “You're learning quickly, madam.”

“A necessity I'm finding.”

Archer let her show him the rest of the place and he had to admit he'd never seen so such naked flesh in his life. Nudes were everywhere, but none held his interest for long. No matter how provocative the surroundings, his attention kept returning to Domino.

She then introduced him to her girls. Philippe had been correct, they were all very lovely, but in Archer's opinion none could hold a candle to the lady in the mask. She finally led him back to the office and he folded up the now-dry contract and slipped it into his coat pocket.

She said to him, “Thank you again.”

“You're welcome, and thank you for the tour.”

“Shall I walk you downstairs?”

“I'd enjoy that.”

Zahra escorted him out of the office and then down the staircase where Adam and Eve stood posed in perpetual rapture.

He said to her, “Quite a statue.”

“It is that.”

She could feel him watching her, but Zahra pretended not to notice so she wouldn't have to meet his eyes, or say more.

At the door, Alfred was waiting like the doorman at a hotel and as soon as she and Le Veq approached he opened it as if signalling the Frenchman not to delay his departure. Zahra shook her head. “Alfred, will you go see if the cook needs anything before you and Suzette head off to the market.”

It was a nonsensical request, and both she and Alfred knew it, but she couldn't have him glaring at the man who would be providing the food for their opening gala.

After Alfred's departure, Archer asked, “Is he just protective or in love with you?”

“The former.”

“Then tell him he's doing a damn good job because he scares me to death.”

She chuckled. “I will let him know.”

Archer liked seeing her smile. “What excuse shall I use to call on you again tomorrow.”

“I'm certain you will think of something,” Zahra replied in a voice far quieter than she'd intended. She extended her hand. “Thank you again.”

“My pleasure.” He took her hand and raised the fingertips to his lips. The faint pressure coupled with the lure in his eyes was just enough to
make her knees weaken, and when he let her go, her heart was racing.

“Until tomorrow,” he promised, and then he was gone.

 

That evening, Chloe asked, “Do you have a program for opening night worked out, Domino?”

Zahra did not. She hid her ignorance of whorehouse etiquette by saying, “I'd hoped we could come up with a plan as a group. Any ideas? You all know your strengths better than I. What would you be comfortable doing?”

“Besides back work?” Stella Summers, the oldest of the women, asked.

They all chuckled.

Chloe said, “Well, I play the piano and have a passable voice.”