Woman King (42 page)

“I need a bath,” I said, fluttering my
eyelashes. “Care to join me?”

“Darlin, it would be my pleasure,” William
said. “But you go without me. I should pay a visit to our concierge
to let her know we’re settled. I phoned her before we left, which
is why we arrived to find things so civilized. When you’re
finished, meet us on the deck for a drink.”

Before leaving, he walked me into the master
bedroom. Spacious, its walls painted in royal blue, a wooden
four-poster bed dominated the room, with a chandelier hanging above
it. If Lily were here, she’d have said the room was something
straight out of a romance novel. Too true, I agreed, as I gazed
around at the antique chests along the wall, and then slowly I ran
my fingers along the chocolate brown linen duvet and matching
pillows that covered the bed. I was no stranger to money or
elegance, but living for centuries seemed to provide an advantage
when it came to meaningful, timeless décor.

I entered the bathroom and studied the
porcelain knobs on the bath as I ran the hot water. While the tub
was filling, I decided to call my mother’s hotel and let her know I
was in town. Explanations would be in order for arriving early, but
as I dialed her number at the Ritz, I decided that sticking with
the truth—that we’d had an opportunity to come earlier by private
plane—was the best idea. Any deviation, however small, and she
would certainly detect it. I was spared putting my theory to the
test, however, when I was informed that my mother was out at her
gallery for the afternoon, so I left word with the front desk.

Near the tub was a large glass jar with bath
salts. I removed the lid and inhaled, delighted by the scents of
geranium and rose oil. I sent a generous scoop cascading into the
steaming water and prepared to settle in. Once submerged, I let out
a grateful sigh as the heat soaked through my bones and muscles,
dissolving the stiffness brought on by travel and fatigue. I closed
my eyes and let my mind wander, lulled by the quiet. I drifted
away, pulled into a dreamlike state as I inhaled the perfumed oils.
I would have gladly stayed that way were it not for Josef’s voice
breaking the spell.

“Be careful now… you might drown,” he said,
regarding me lazily from the doorway.

“Go away,” I said, sending him my fiercest
gaze. “I would never have pegged you as a peeping tom. How long
have you been standing there?”

“Long enough,” he said, waggling his
eyebrows. “I came in to check on you, it was so quiet. I feared you
were about to fall asleep.”

“Unlikely, but thank you, mission
accomplished,” I said. “It seems your work is done here.”

Josef didn’t budge. Instead he regarded me,
and I mean all of me, silently, the two of us staring at each
other. Locked in his gaze, it occurred to me that this was a test;
it was always a test with him. For my part I refused to play the
prude; showing any discomfort would only bring him pleasure.

“Out with you,” I said, my voice made of
sterner stuff this time, while flicking water at him from the tub.
“You may go and let your brother know I’ll join you both for drinks
shortly.”

Josef grinned, amused at my firm rebuke. “As
you wish, my lady,” he said bending at the waist, before turning
out of the bathroom.

After he’d gone, I rose from the tub and
wrapped a towel around myself. I dried off and returned to the
bedroom to find my suitcase. As I crossed the room to get my
things, I noticed that my leg felt much better, most of the
stiffness gone. It was amazing that I could walk at all, and I
marveled at how William’s blood had saved my life. My life was
becoming more interesting than any science fiction novel I’d ever
read.

I pulled on a black woolen sweater-dress and
paired it with suede boots and a brown-and-black leopard print
pashmina shawl. I’d vacillated about whether to bring the boots.
Being in a hurry usually means packing light. But this was Paris,
and I was loath to arrive underdressed for the most elegant city in
the world.

I gave myself one last look in a small mirror
on a table and went in search of William and Josef. As I progressed
down the hallway I popped my head into each of the apartment’s
rooms again, admiring the décor along the way. I found the two
brothers seated outside on the terrace, a bottle of red wine
decanting in a glass vessel on a table next to them. Next to the
wine, apple slices, bread and a small selection of cheeses had been
arranged on a wooden tray. Heaters were set up around the
furniture, making the outside temperature comfortable. I looked up
at William, who winked at me, “
Bon appétit, ma chère.
”

“
Merci pour l’aperitif. C’est très
charmant
,” I said, thanking him for a lovely meal. I was
famished, having eaten little in the days prior to our trip. It
felt good to sit and eat, to drink French wine, and gaze across the
rooftops. For a few moments, I pretended that none of the memories
I was carrying existed. No danger pending, no death, no mourning,
no loss. It was a selfish thing, burying them away. But for a few
seconds, I wanted to feel happy, not be obligated to carry the lost
and the dead with me in my heart.

“Did you reach your mother?” William
inquired, pulling me back to earth.

I looked over and gazed at my future husband,
pale and lovely in the dusk. My heart did a little flip in my chest
watching him; he was mine and I was his, our blood mingled in our
veins. William smiled at me, clearly hearing my thoughts. His smile
was small and private, and I knew that he understood.

“I didn’t reach her but left a message,” I
said. “She’s out at her gallery, so I don’t expect to hear back
from her until tomorrow. She’ll work until very late and then go to
bed. I was planning on inviting her to meet us tomorrow for drinks
at a café nearby.”

“Do I get to meet your mother?” Josef asked,
a petulant tone attached to the question. “Are you introducing the
whole family?”

Good question, I mused.
Hello, Mom, meet
your new sons-in-law, they’re vampire brothers.
But how could I
not? In for a penny, in for a pound, I decided. “Yes, of course.
After everything we’ve been through, I’m not hiding anything from
my mother.”

That brought a rare, joyful smile from Josef.
We passed the next hour amicably, making small talk while I nibbled
away at the bread and cheese. Not long afterwards, it was decided
that we needed to experience Paris nightlife. William suggested an
old jazz club in the Latin Quarter, where he knew a full bar and
reliable musicians could be found. There was a taxi stand near the
apartment and within minutes we’d secured a cab. Josef slid in
first, giving the driver directions in impeccable French.

“Did you speak French before the war?” I
asked.

Josef looked over at William, a private
memory shared between them. “No,” he said. “I spoke Czech
primarily, a bit of Hungarian…a little German and English. French
is something I acquired in my second life.”

The cab made its way toward the Latin
Quarter. We were heading to a club located underground that didn’t
open until 10 pm, wouldn’t really be in full swing until midnight,
and closed only when the sun began to rise. The doorman greeted
William and Josef by name, sending us inside with a hearty
bonne
soirée
and a pat on the back. A helpful but flirtatious woman
brought us to a table in the rear of the club. Drinks were promptly
served and we sat back to enjoy the music.

A lone pianist under a spotlight began to
play a sad, crisp lament that seemed to pay tribute to some far off
place. Soon, a man appeared with a bass, then another with a
trumpet, and
voila
, we were treated to a blues trio.

A few numbers into their set, William excused
himself from the table and disappeared. He did not return again
until he appeared on stage, a guitar in his hand. I watched,
amused, as he and the pianist opened up a spirited rendition of
“St. James Infirmary,” the piano grinding out the notes against an
upright bass and guitar. I closed my eyes, listening as William
played. He remained on the stage for a few more numbers and then
finally set his guitar against the wall and returned to our
table.

“Play here often?” I teased.

“A bit,” he said. “I know most these guys, a
few of them are vampires, so it’s always easy to ask if I can sit
in when I’m in town.”

Good music and an abundant list of drinks
helped the night pass quickly. Eventually, I grew weary, jet lag
finally catching up with me, and I asked if we could make our way
back home. Josef scowled at first, clearly intent on staying until
dawn.

“Feel free to stay,” I said. “I don’t want to
be responsible for killing your fun.”

“I’ll see you both home and then go on from
there,” he said, picking up my wrap and handing it to me.

****

Josef proved as skillful at hailing a cab to
get us home, as he was in jumpstarting our evening. I was beyond
exhausted and allowed myself to be led out of the taxi and into the
building.

Soon, I found myself squeezed into the
elevator with both of them. It might have been fatigue, the tight
space, the dim light of the
ascenseur
, perhaps even the vast
amount of Champagne I’d drunk, but whatever the cause, I leaned
back on both men, pressing my body against them as we rode to the
top floor. I turned my head to rest on William’s shoulder, taking
in his scent. Josef meanwhile began to do the same, leaning in to
inhale me at the place where my pulse beat strong in my neck. I
could feel the electricity of his lips hovering above my skin. He
pressed himself against me, so that I was folded neatly between
them.

I felt the question in my bones before it was
asked, but I wasn’t sure of the answer. I briefly thought of Lily
and wondered whether Josef meant something to her. I picked my head
up to face William. He kissed me deeply, his thoughts clear that it
would be my decision. I turned toward Josef, knowing what he
desired. I leaned in and kissed him as well, too curious not to
have a taste. He raised his hand to cup my face as our lips met.
His hands were as cold as William’s, but did not feel the same upon
my skin. William, meanwhile, was holding my hand, a reminder that
he was by my side.

The elevator door opened as, absorbed in our
own world, we spilled out into the entryway, an unruly threesome.
Composure regained, we strode out and approached the door, silent,
focused on what would happen next. William reached into his pocket
for the key and opened the door to the apartment. We stepped inside
and I turned to William and kissed him again. Josef stood behind me
running his hand along my spine. Together they removed my dress so
that I was standing between them in little more than my suede
boots. William slowly began to caress my arms, moving his hands
along my shoulders, then down my back and along the curve of my
backside. Josef, ever impatient and hungry, bypassed the niceties
and slid his hand between my legs. His hand grew wet within
seconds, my body eagerly responding. He easily tempted my body, and
he knew it. Like a hungry cat playing with its prey, Josef fixed me
with a ravenous stare.

It was the ferocity of his gaze that brought
me out of my trance. Two vampires and one woman, not to mention a
best friend back home…I recognized it as the recipe for a melodrama
I didn’t want to partake in. I smiled at Josef and placed my lips
gently against his before speaking.

“I can’t do this,” I said. “I am attracted to
you, I won’t deny it, but…”

“But you love my brother,” Josef said
gruffly.

“Please don’t paint me so provincial,” I
scolded. “You know I want you, but I am not ready for that kind of
life.”

“Another time then, perhaps,” Josef said,
kissing me again on the lips. I let him, drinking in his lust.
There was a part of me that regretted sending him away, but I knew
I’d made the right decision.

Not long afterwards, Josef left the
apartment, no doubt in search of someone to relieve his tension.
William and I quickly fell into bed, making furious love to each
other. Later, as I was on the edge of sleep I asked him, “Did you
expect me to refuse him?”

“I hoped,” he whispered in my ear, spooned up
against me.

“It wasn’t a hard decision,” I said, and
drifted away.

The next afternoon, the aroma of freshly
baked
pain au chocolat
lulled me out of a deep sleep. I
turned over to find William’s side of the bed empty, but I hadn’t
expected him to stay the night.

Too much Champagne, combined with jet lag,
made my exit from bed a slow affair. Eventually I tumbled out and
threw on a beautiful grey cashmere robe that had been left nearby
on a chair. It was a lovely gift, made sweeter because I hadn’t
asked for it. I tied the robe at my waist and walked into the
hallway, on alert for the prowling brother. I was hoping he had
gotten what he wanted the night before. I strolled into the kitchen
and found the plate of
patisserie
. William had set a note on
the platter, along with an apartment key, letting me know he was
out for the day to run some errands. There was no sign of Josef. I
grabbed the key and a croissant and went back to our room to
dress.

It was time, I decided, for me to find
Gabriel, return to work, and locate Aidan’s killer.

Museums, it seemed, were the location of
choice for the Council. The satellite office, as Gabriel had called
it, was located inside the Musée de l’Orangerie, a small, but
remarkable impressionist gallery located in the Jardin des
Tuileries. It is a memorable destination for a number of reasons,
but for me it is because it is home to the “
Nymphéas
,” the
eight legendary murals featuring water lilies by Monet. As I
strolled out of the Concorde metro station adjacent to the
Tuileries at dusk, I was looking forward to seeing the muted tones
of the paintings again, set as they are in twin oval-shaped rooms
with nothing to distract you from their peaceful views.