Read Online His Dark Desires by Jennifer St Giles - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jennifer St Giles
Ads: Link
ended up with a lung ailment that took months to recover from, and my brother bore the brunt of the criticism for our folly." His voice roughened. "It changed everything in our lives." Then he shook his head, as if he'd spoken too long.
"Things we experience when we are young can affect us forever," Ginette said softly, her eyes shadowed with what appeared to be pain. I wondered if she referred to the war, the years of it and how its aftermath had stolen our youth.
Andre frowned. The idea that a childhood jaunt could have long-lasting consequences did not sit well with him. Again, in just a few words, Mr. Trevelyan seemed to convey what I had been trying to get Andre to understand for years.
"My apologies. I did not mean to put a damper on the evening. Do you know I have never been to a carnival?"
"Never?" Andre sounded as surprised as I was. With Mardi Gras celebrated every year, carnivals were the flavorful spice of New Orleans's charm. A life without that taste seemed unimaginable.
"Then you are in for a treat," I said.
"I hope so," he murmured, his voice vibrating over my senses and heating my cheeks.
"You must let us show you all of the fun things to do, right, Mère! " Andre said, dispelling my hopes of escaping from Mr. Trevelyan's seductive presence.
Still, I tried to save myself. "I'm sure Mr. Trevelyan would—"
"Like nothing better than to have your company for the evening."
"Perfect," Mignon said. "Ginette can chaperone me with Monsieur Davis, and Andre can accompany you and Monsieur Trevelyan."
I shot Mignon an admonishing look. She knew very well Andre would likely run from one attraction to another so quickly that Mr. Trevelyan and I would often be alone. But there was little that I could say to change the arrangements without seeming contrary.
The music coming from Jackson Square reached us before the sights and smells did. We exited the carriage near St. Louis Cathedral. Mignon's dress caught on the carriage door, and Mr. Trevelyan helped free her.
I gazed over the square, waiting for them. The cool breeze off the Mississippi softly brushed my face as the passion of the celebration captured my blood. Musicians belted out a lively tune, garish clowns mingled with the crowd, and men and women shouted for the revelers to sample their wares or play their games.
"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten," Mr. Davis said, quickly approaching. He interjected himself between Mignon and Mr. Trevelyan, who'd just joined the rest of us. "I am so pleased that you came," Mr. Davis said, taking Mignon's hand.
She slipped her hand from his, but smiled. "It was a wonderful idea."
I introduced Mr. Davis and Mr. Trevelyan.
"Where did you say you were from, and your business?" Mr. Davis asked Mr. Trevelyan.
"I didn't," Mr. Trevelyan replied. "Nice evening, isn't it?"
Mr. Davis sighed, inching his spectacles further down his nose. "A hot evening, but nice. And nicer still now that the DePerri beauties are here."
I hid a smile. Mr. Trevelyan had politely curbed Mr. Davis's nosiness in one exchange, whereas Mignon, Ginette, and I hadn't been able to in two months. I wondered how effective Mr. Trevelyan would be in curtailing Mr. Latour's persistence in trying to buy La Belle .
"On that we can agree," Mr. Trevelyan said.
" Mère , I must try and win that bag of candy," Andre said, pointing to a nearby booth for tossing rings.
"Excellent idea," Mr. Davis said. "Meanwhile, I'll show Miss DePerri some jewelry. The necklaces are so colorful. Several would go well with your cream gown." He held his arm out to Mignon.
"We'd love to see them," Ginette said, taking Mignon's hand in hers.
After a moment's hesitation, Mr. Davis apparently resigned himself to having a chaperone and offered my sisters each an arm. "It will be an honor to escort two lovely ladies tonight. There's a green necklace that will match your dress perfectly," he told Ginette.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned to find Andre had already dashed
"Things we experience when we are young can affect us forever," Ginette said softly, her eyes shadowed with what appeared to be pain. I wondered if she referred to the war, the years of it and how its aftermath had stolen our youth.
Andre frowned. The idea that a childhood jaunt could have long-lasting consequences did not sit well with him. Again, in just a few words, Mr. Trevelyan seemed to convey what I had been trying to get Andre to understand for years.
"My apologies. I did not mean to put a damper on the evening. Do you know I have never been to a carnival?"
"Never?" Andre sounded as surprised as I was. With Mardi Gras celebrated every year, carnivals were the flavorful spice of New Orleans's charm. A life without that taste seemed unimaginable.
"Then you are in for a treat," I said.
"I hope so," he murmured, his voice vibrating over my senses and heating my cheeks.
"You must let us show you all of the fun things to do, right, Mère! " Andre said, dispelling my hopes of escaping from Mr. Trevelyan's seductive presence.
Still, I tried to save myself. "I'm sure Mr. Trevelyan would—"
"Like nothing better than to have your company for the evening."
"Perfect," Mignon said. "Ginette can chaperone me with Monsieur Davis, and Andre can accompany you and Monsieur Trevelyan."
I shot Mignon an admonishing look. She knew very well Andre would likely run from one attraction to another so quickly that Mr. Trevelyan and I would often be alone. But there was little that I could say to change the arrangements without seeming contrary.
The music coming from Jackson Square reached us before the sights and smells did. We exited the carriage near St. Louis Cathedral. Mignon's dress caught on the carriage door, and Mr. Trevelyan helped free her.
I gazed over the square, waiting for them. The cool breeze off the Mississippi softly brushed my face as the passion of the celebration captured my blood. Musicians belted out a lively tune, garish clowns mingled with the crowd, and men and women shouted for the revelers to sample their wares or play their games.
"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten," Mr. Davis said, quickly approaching. He interjected himself between Mignon and Mr. Trevelyan, who'd just joined the rest of us. "I am so pleased that you came," Mr. Davis said, taking Mignon's hand.
She slipped her hand from his, but smiled. "It was a wonderful idea."
I introduced Mr. Davis and Mr. Trevelyan.
"Where did you say you were from, and your business?" Mr. Davis asked Mr. Trevelyan.
"I didn't," Mr. Trevelyan replied. "Nice evening, isn't it?"
Mr. Davis sighed, inching his spectacles further down his nose. "A hot evening, but nice. And nicer still now that the DePerri beauties are here."
I hid a smile. Mr. Trevelyan had politely curbed Mr. Davis's nosiness in one exchange, whereas Mignon, Ginette, and I hadn't been able to in two months. I wondered how effective Mr. Trevelyan would be in curtailing Mr. Latour's persistence in trying to buy La Belle .
"On that we can agree," Mr. Trevelyan said.
" Mère , I must try and win that bag of candy," Andre said, pointing to a nearby booth for tossing rings.
"Excellent idea," Mr. Davis said. "Meanwhile, I'll show Miss DePerri some jewelry. The necklaces are so colorful. Several would go well with your cream gown." He held his arm out to Mignon.
"We'd love to see them," Ginette said, taking Mignon's hand in hers.
After a moment's hesitation, Mr. Davis apparently resigned himself to having a chaperone and offered my sisters each an arm. "It will be an honor to escort two lovely ladies tonight. There's a green necklace that will match your dress perfectly," he told Ginette.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned to find Andre had already dashed
Similar Books
