Read Online By Fire and by Sword by Elaine Coffman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elaine Coffman
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their ruling passion.
Jean-Claude arrived home, and entered the room as vain as a peacock, with his strutting walk, his sword tasseled and hanging to his side. Immediately, Kenna realized Sophie had described him perfectly, right down to the bright red tassel.
When Kenna saw his saber, she said, “ Monsieur , I thought gentlemen in Paris were not allowed to wear swords about.”
“ Oui, mademoiselle , what you say is true, but due to my position of importance with the government, I am permitted to wear a sword.”
Upon further questioning, she discovered, too, that he had never used it, nor would he be so obliged, as he put it. “It is the effect of the sword, mademoiselle , that attracts attention, not the using of it. It is much more fashionable to display ornamentation, rather than running around brandishing a sword at each and every person you meet.”
Madame Guion added, “Jean-Claude is so trustworthy that he is the receiver of the tithes of the clergy in our district. It is an office that gives him command of a great deal of money.”
After she had finished dinner, Jean-Claude devoted himself to boring Kenna to death in the parlor, with mind-numbing descriptions of his uncle’s château in the country; intentionally dropped hints of the fortunes that should have been settled upon his maiden aunts; boasted of his connections at court; and assured her, “It is not for money that my mother lets their lodgings, but more for ‘the pleasure of enjoying the companionship of such lovely and well-connected persons such as yourself.’”
Kenna smiled inwardly as she remembered what Sophie said: “He will tell you of his connections at court, but I must warn you that they are confined to a clerk in the secretary’s office, with whom he corresponds by virtue of his employment.”
Jean-Claude went on to tell her of his accomplishments with the fairer sex, and when his mother left the room for a moment, whispered that he did, indeed, keep a fille de joie . In his best, broken English, he also admitted, “Can you believe mademoiselle , that in the past year alone, I have fathered six bastards…and all boys.”
Thankfully, Jean-Claude was human enough that he had to eat, and when he went to the kitchen, Kenna hurried up to her room and locked the door.
She was up early the next morning, and after her toilette, she dressed and sat down to write a note to theComte Debouvine, by way of a petite poste. She included the letter of introduction Sophie had written to him.
She received a reply two days later, hand delivered, with an invitation to dine with the comte four days hence. He would send a carriage for her.
Because she had brought only a small amount of clothing with her to France, Kenna did not have a large number of gowns to choose from. She decided to enjoy not having to waste a great deal of time making a decision about which dress to wear. The riding suit was out, so that left only three choices. She easily selected a silk gown of deep, burnished gold, trimmed with dark brown, braided cord. She was aware that she would become very tired of this dress and the others she brought with her, and reminded herself to find a seamstress.
Kenna believed clothes possessed a very powerful influence, and to know she was dressed well gave her a sense of peace and well-being. With her gaze focused on the standing oval mirror in the room, she turned from side to side, and gave herself a critical going-over. The gown was both elegant and simple, and the braided cord added a jaunty military air. Yet, it needed something, and she settled on her mother’s pearls.
When she had finished paying great attention to the smallest detail, she gathered her cape and was about to go belowstairs to await the comte’ s carriage, but before she had her hand on the door, she heard the clatter of carriage wheels.
A quick peek out the window and she caught sight of the comte’ s carriage, its brightly polished brass lanterns all aglow
Jean-Claude arrived home, and entered the room as vain as a peacock, with his strutting walk, his sword tasseled and hanging to his side. Immediately, Kenna realized Sophie had described him perfectly, right down to the bright red tassel.
When Kenna saw his saber, she said, “ Monsieur , I thought gentlemen in Paris were not allowed to wear swords about.”
“ Oui, mademoiselle , what you say is true, but due to my position of importance with the government, I am permitted to wear a sword.”
Upon further questioning, she discovered, too, that he had never used it, nor would he be so obliged, as he put it. “It is the effect of the sword, mademoiselle , that attracts attention, not the using of it. It is much more fashionable to display ornamentation, rather than running around brandishing a sword at each and every person you meet.”
Madame Guion added, “Jean-Claude is so trustworthy that he is the receiver of the tithes of the clergy in our district. It is an office that gives him command of a great deal of money.”
After she had finished dinner, Jean-Claude devoted himself to boring Kenna to death in the parlor, with mind-numbing descriptions of his uncle’s château in the country; intentionally dropped hints of the fortunes that should have been settled upon his maiden aunts; boasted of his connections at court; and assured her, “It is not for money that my mother lets their lodgings, but more for ‘the pleasure of enjoying the companionship of such lovely and well-connected persons such as yourself.’”
Kenna smiled inwardly as she remembered what Sophie said: “He will tell you of his connections at court, but I must warn you that they are confined to a clerk in the secretary’s office, with whom he corresponds by virtue of his employment.”
Jean-Claude went on to tell her of his accomplishments with the fairer sex, and when his mother left the room for a moment, whispered that he did, indeed, keep a fille de joie . In his best, broken English, he also admitted, “Can you believe mademoiselle , that in the past year alone, I have fathered six bastards…and all boys.”
Thankfully, Jean-Claude was human enough that he had to eat, and when he went to the kitchen, Kenna hurried up to her room and locked the door.
She was up early the next morning, and after her toilette, she dressed and sat down to write a note to theComte Debouvine, by way of a petite poste. She included the letter of introduction Sophie had written to him.
She received a reply two days later, hand delivered, with an invitation to dine with the comte four days hence. He would send a carriage for her.
Because she had brought only a small amount of clothing with her to France, Kenna did not have a large number of gowns to choose from. She decided to enjoy not having to waste a great deal of time making a decision about which dress to wear. The riding suit was out, so that left only three choices. She easily selected a silk gown of deep, burnished gold, trimmed with dark brown, braided cord. She was aware that she would become very tired of this dress and the others she brought with her, and reminded herself to find a seamstress.
Kenna believed clothes possessed a very powerful influence, and to know she was dressed well gave her a sense of peace and well-being. With her gaze focused on the standing oval mirror in the room, she turned from side to side, and gave herself a critical going-over. The gown was both elegant and simple, and the braided cord added a jaunty military air. Yet, it needed something, and she settled on her mother’s pearls.
When she had finished paying great attention to the smallest detail, she gathered her cape and was about to go belowstairs to await the comte’ s carriage, but before she had her hand on the door, she heard the clatter of carriage wheels.
A quick peek out the window and she caught sight of the comte’ s carriage, its brightly polished brass lanterns all aglow
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