Read Online Daughter of Silk by Linda Lee Chaikin - Free Book Online Page A

in one hand, the other laid against his frilled silk shirt.
    Maurice Beauvilliers. She tightened her mouth and straightened
    from the desk, throwing back her shoulders.
    “What bonne luck. So we meet once again, Mademoiselle Macquinet. May I suggest, ma cherie, I call you Rachelle and you call me Maurice?”
    She lifted a brow. “I think not, Monsieur le Comte.”
    His sensuous lips turned upward in a narcissistic smile, his almond- shaped eyes wandered over her. “I am devastated, Mademoiselle.”
    “I hardly think so, Monsieur.”
    Rachelle could not fathom why the belles dames at court found him attractive. She was sure the attention he received harmed him, and with his mother, Marquise Françoise Dangeau de Beauvilliers, adding rein- forcement, Maurice expected that such attention was wholly deserved and should be returned by all mademoiselles, including herself.
    “You do not approve of me, Mademoiselle. Why?”
    “I assure you, Monsieur, I have not considered one way or the other
    — I have too many important matters on my mind to attend to such thoughts.”
    “Mon Oncle Sebastien is someone we share in common, is that not so? Then should you not be ma petite amie?”
    Rachelle ignored the underlying suggestion. “I am looking for Comte Sebastien. Is your oncle resting perchance?”
    Maurice sprawled into a brocade chair and sipped his wine. He held up the goblet and peered at the ruby color through the light.
    “Non. He is not here, I confess. I do not know where he is.” How much did he know? Was he aware of Maître Avenelle?
    He looked at the hat she was returning to Sebastien. He grimaced. “Such weak taste in fashion, do you not think so, Mademoiselle
    Macquinet?”
    She did not particularly like Sebastien’s hat, but she would not agree with Maurice. “Who can say? It is for him to choose.”
    Maurice touched lean, tanned fingers glittering with jewels to the Alençon lace waterfall at his throat. His gaze roved over her.
    She narrowed her eyes. “Then, Monsieur, since you do not know where he is, or when he shall return, I shall bid you my adieu .”
    Maurice straightened swiftly from his chair.
    “Na, na, na. Ha, m’amie la belle, do not run away.” He waggled his long fingers, his polished nails catching the light. “I have my suspicions of where our Sebastien may be. I may confide them in your petite ear, ma cherie, if you will but trust me.”
    “ Ah, ça non ! Monsieur, I bid you adieu.” She whirled on her heel and made her exit, shutting the door firmly behind her.
    That rapscallion Maurice!

    The news that Sebastien appeared to be missing evoked consternation when Rachelle returned to Grandmère and Idelette.
    “The fact that Monsieur Maurice is also looking for his oncle does not bode well,” Idelette said.
    Grandmère turned again to Rachelle. “You are most sure Monsieur Maurice gave no hint of what may have happened to his oncle?”
    “He admitted his suspicion, but he would not speak plainly. He does not appear to take the matter seriously, I assure you. He is a wastrel.”
    “Where might Sebastien be?” Idelette said.
    “And what if he has already been arrested by le Duc de Guise?” Rachelle said.
    Grandmère clasped her hands as though in anxious prayer. “We can- not risk sending a message to Duchesse Xenia. She will hear of this soon enough, but somehow we must notify Prince Condé.”
    “Prince Condé is in Moulins at the Bourbon palais,” Rachelle said. “Or even as far north as Chatillon with Admiral Coligny. Even if we managed to send a messire with a letter, it would take many days.”
    “Still, we must do something. Who could go to Moulins without detection? Perhaps Andelot?” Idelette looked from one to the other.
    Rachelle’s heart warmed affectionately at the thought of Andelot Dangeau, whom she knew from the silk chateau at Lyon. Andelot was also a nephew of Sebastien, but one in poor stead with the Dangeau family due to the scandal surrounding his