Read Online Summer of the Moon Flower (The de Vargas Family) by Annie Seaton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Annie Seaton
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Café
Schwarzenberg , crossing the great Ringstrasse boulevard which was in
the midst of construction.
She pushed open the door and smiled at the
seated cashier who was flirting coquettishly with a young man in a kilt. Sofia
closed her eyes. The city is full of Scots today.
“ Willkommen.” The booming voice of
Herr Hochleitner greeted her. “Madame de Vargas. It is such a pleasure. We have
not seen you for a few weeks.”
Sofia glanced across at the young man
staring at her with his mouth open, before she reached across and took Herr
Hochleitner’s arm. “Yes, Hans. The salon has been busy and I have come to say
farewell before I depart for the Alps to take some mountain air.”
She watched curiously as the young man
scurried into the gambling room at the back of the coffee house. Herr
Hochleitner smiled down at her affectionately before leading her to the special
lady parlour.
“Now tell me what has your dear wife
prepared today?” she asked as she slid into a single bench along the window.
“An egg in a glass, or a sweet perhaps?” he
asked. “Maria has made some Buchtein this afternoon with jam from the
spring plums in our garden.”
“Then I must sample one,” she replied.
Settling back against the timber-lined wall, she positioned herself where she
could observe the evening crowd who would soon be making their way to the
opera. It was early and she was the first customer in the parlor. The gilt
edged mirrors reflected the candlelight coming from the many ornate chandeliers
hanging low from the high ceiling. A low buzz of noise drifted from the smoky
atmosphere of the gambling room across from her. She glanced across to the
room; it was full of men, lounging around on the padded seats or leaning over
the pool tables.
Sofia turned her attention to the street as
a carriage hovered past outside the window. A footman ran forward and pulled
down the steps and she smiled as she recognized an evening gown from her salon.
Business had been brisk over the past few weeks as local society prepared for
the spring launch of the musical season. The Vienna State Opera hall had
recently been commissioned by the Viennese City Expansion Fund and would
provide further opportunities for her salon once completed.
Sofia sighed. As soon as her staff had
completed the creation of the elixir from this expedition to the Alps, she was
going to hand the research over to Ernst and Johann. It was time—
“A penny for your thoughts, Madame?”
The warm rolling words of a deep Scottish
brogue interrupted her thoughts. She turned slowly from the window, knowing
before she looked up the voice belonged to the Earl of Rothmore.
“Sir.” She nodded to him. “It is a surprise
to see you so soon.”
“It is a pleasure to see you again too,
Madame.” The earl slid onto the bench beside her.
“You are unaware, sir, this is the ladies parlor?”
She was determined not to let the warmth of his thigh pressing against her leg
affect her and she moved away. “Are you with your wife? I trust she has
recovered?”
Dougal reached across and held her chin
gently with his hand. “I know it is the ladies room. However when my manservant
told me you had entered the establishment, I could not resist coming in to see
you.” The warmth from his strong fingers travelled down her neck and lodged in
her chest, just above her fast beating heart.
“And your wife, sir?” she repeated.
He looked at her with a strange expression
on his face and did not answer.
“I am not a courtesan, sir. I may be
liberal and forward minded, however I am not in the habit of partaking of a
dalliance with a married man,” she said firmly. “However flattered I am by your
attention, it is unwelcome. I am about to partake of my meal. It has been a
long day and I am tired.” She turned and waited for him to leave but the grip
on her chin tightened and the first prickle of unease flickered across her
skin.
“Sofia?” His voice was soft. “May I call
you
Schwarzenberg , crossing the great Ringstrasse boulevard which was in
the midst of construction.
She pushed open the door and smiled at the
seated cashier who was flirting coquettishly with a young man in a kilt. Sofia
closed her eyes. The city is full of Scots today.
“ Willkommen.” The booming voice of
Herr Hochleitner greeted her. “Madame de Vargas. It is such a pleasure. We have
not seen you for a few weeks.”
Sofia glanced across at the young man
staring at her with his mouth open, before she reached across and took Herr
Hochleitner’s arm. “Yes, Hans. The salon has been busy and I have come to say
farewell before I depart for the Alps to take some mountain air.”
She watched curiously as the young man
scurried into the gambling room at the back of the coffee house. Herr
Hochleitner smiled down at her affectionately before leading her to the special
lady parlour.
“Now tell me what has your dear wife
prepared today?” she asked as she slid into a single bench along the window.
“An egg in a glass, or a sweet perhaps?” he
asked. “Maria has made some Buchtein this afternoon with jam from the
spring plums in our garden.”
“Then I must sample one,” she replied.
Settling back against the timber-lined wall, she positioned herself where she
could observe the evening crowd who would soon be making their way to the
opera. It was early and she was the first customer in the parlor. The gilt
edged mirrors reflected the candlelight coming from the many ornate chandeliers
hanging low from the high ceiling. A low buzz of noise drifted from the smoky
atmosphere of the gambling room across from her. She glanced across to the
room; it was full of men, lounging around on the padded seats or leaning over
the pool tables.
Sofia turned her attention to the street as
a carriage hovered past outside the window. A footman ran forward and pulled
down the steps and she smiled as she recognized an evening gown from her salon.
Business had been brisk over the past few weeks as local society prepared for
the spring launch of the musical season. The Vienna State Opera hall had
recently been commissioned by the Viennese City Expansion Fund and would
provide further opportunities for her salon once completed.
Sofia sighed. As soon as her staff had
completed the creation of the elixir from this expedition to the Alps, she was
going to hand the research over to Ernst and Johann. It was time—
“A penny for your thoughts, Madame?”
The warm rolling words of a deep Scottish
brogue interrupted her thoughts. She turned slowly from the window, knowing
before she looked up the voice belonged to the Earl of Rothmore.
“Sir.” She nodded to him. “It is a surprise
to see you so soon.”
“It is a pleasure to see you again too,
Madame.” The earl slid onto the bench beside her.
“You are unaware, sir, this is the ladies parlor?”
She was determined not to let the warmth of his thigh pressing against her leg
affect her and she moved away. “Are you with your wife? I trust she has
recovered?”
Dougal reached across and held her chin
gently with his hand. “I know it is the ladies room. However when my manservant
told me you had entered the establishment, I could not resist coming in to see
you.” The warmth from his strong fingers travelled down her neck and lodged in
her chest, just above her fast beating heart.
“And your wife, sir?” she repeated.
He looked at her with a strange expression
on his face and did not answer.
“I am not a courtesan, sir. I may be
liberal and forward minded, however I am not in the habit of partaking of a
dalliance with a married man,” she said firmly. “However flattered I am by your
attention, it is unwelcome. I am about to partake of my meal. It has been a
long day and I am tired.” She turned and waited for him to leave but the grip
on her chin tightened and the first prickle of unease flickered across her
skin.
“Sofia?” His voice was soft. “May I call
you
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