Read Online The Chevalier (Châteaux and Shadows) by Philippa Lodge - Free Book Online
Authors: Philippa Lodge
Tags: Historical, Scarred Hero/Heroine
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the weather clears today, I will leave for Versailles tomorrow morning. You will stay here and recuperate. We will reunite you with my mother when we are sure you are well.”
Mademoiselle de Fouet sat up straight, her expression stubborn and angry. “I am eager to rejoin your mother as soon as possible.”
“If I do ride out tomorrow, the roads will still be muddy. In better conditions, it would be a quarter day’s drive in the carriage. It’s not even six leagues.”
“ Quand même , I should come with you. The baronesse will need me.”
Manu bit back a retort—hadn’t Mademoiselle de Fouet said during the journey that the baronesse didn’t need her for anything? Her rosy cheeks were feverish, not blushing.
He shook his head. “Quand même, my mother would be quite angry with me if I put you in danger of another relapse by bringing you to Versailles now.”
“I am well enough, Monsieur Emmanuel. I will be sitting in a coach, not pulling one.”
They smiled together at her wit, the moment of harmony stretching between them. “Anyway, it looks as if it will rain all day. If it does, I won’t leave either.”
Her eyes widened in mocking surprise. “Are you no longer in a hurry, then, Monsieur Emmanuel?”
He looked around the room, not sure how to answer. “My mother didn’t wait for me either at my father’s country home or here in Paris. Even if she didn’t know for sure I was coming, she could have waited for an answer of some sort. I have traveled for more than a week. The roads into Versailles are terrible when they’re wet. In fact, if the king is not already there, he might get distracted and decide to stay at the Louvre for a while longer. It might be my mother who will be hurrying back here when the roads clear.”
Most of all, he was tired of chasing his mother, who would not welcome him. He thought briefly of his father’s list of eligible ladies who might be desperate enough to marry a fourth son with nothing but a few horses. If he was to have any success with any of them, he would keep it a secret from his mother and all her entourage.
His mother would welcome Mademoiselle de Fouet. He wondered if his mother had some idea of pushing him together with the lady. And he wondered… “Why did Maman leave you behind, Mademoiselle?”
****
Catherine’s heart sank. She leaned back again on the pillows, deciding on an answer. She gave the most honest one: “I don’t know.”
“Had you argued with her? Contradicted her?” Monsieur Emmanuel smirked slightly. They both knew the baronesse did not stand for contradiction.
If the baronesse dismissed her outright, her circle of friends would refuse to help Catherine, not only because they followed the baronesse’s lead but because it would be awkward to take her in. She had moved from one patroness to another smoothly because one fell ill and another was going to be away from the court for a long time. “Would it make you happy if she got rid of me because I was contrary?”
Something—Gloating? Or was it anger?—flashed across Monsieur Emmanuel’s face, but he sighed and rubbed his mouth. “It would have nothing to do with me, Mademoiselle de Fouet.”
“Not even to make you glad you weren’t the only one your mother rejected?”
He was angry. Why was she goading him? She opened her mouth to apologize, but Monsieur Emmanuel turned his back.
“Don’t forget: my mother rejects everyone eventually, Mademoiselle.”
She had been with the baronesse for years and never ever forgot. The lady had far too much power over her.
He stepped out into the hall, and turned around, his face neutral and polite again. “I wish you a speedy recovery, Mademoiselle de Fouet. I will keep you apprised of my movements. Today, I think I will visit my brother’s manufactory and play with his children. I’ll dine with my family this evening.”
Catherine stiffened. Was he mocking her? Or rubbing it in that he had a family? Even without his mother
Mademoiselle de Fouet sat up straight, her expression stubborn and angry. “I am eager to rejoin your mother as soon as possible.”
“If I do ride out tomorrow, the roads will still be muddy. In better conditions, it would be a quarter day’s drive in the carriage. It’s not even six leagues.”
“ Quand même , I should come with you. The baronesse will need me.”
Manu bit back a retort—hadn’t Mademoiselle de Fouet said during the journey that the baronesse didn’t need her for anything? Her rosy cheeks were feverish, not blushing.
He shook his head. “Quand même, my mother would be quite angry with me if I put you in danger of another relapse by bringing you to Versailles now.”
“I am well enough, Monsieur Emmanuel. I will be sitting in a coach, not pulling one.”
They smiled together at her wit, the moment of harmony stretching between them. “Anyway, it looks as if it will rain all day. If it does, I won’t leave either.”
Her eyes widened in mocking surprise. “Are you no longer in a hurry, then, Monsieur Emmanuel?”
He looked around the room, not sure how to answer. “My mother didn’t wait for me either at my father’s country home or here in Paris. Even if she didn’t know for sure I was coming, she could have waited for an answer of some sort. I have traveled for more than a week. The roads into Versailles are terrible when they’re wet. In fact, if the king is not already there, he might get distracted and decide to stay at the Louvre for a while longer. It might be my mother who will be hurrying back here when the roads clear.”
Most of all, he was tired of chasing his mother, who would not welcome him. He thought briefly of his father’s list of eligible ladies who might be desperate enough to marry a fourth son with nothing but a few horses. If he was to have any success with any of them, he would keep it a secret from his mother and all her entourage.
His mother would welcome Mademoiselle de Fouet. He wondered if his mother had some idea of pushing him together with the lady. And he wondered… “Why did Maman leave you behind, Mademoiselle?”
****
Catherine’s heart sank. She leaned back again on the pillows, deciding on an answer. She gave the most honest one: “I don’t know.”
“Had you argued with her? Contradicted her?” Monsieur Emmanuel smirked slightly. They both knew the baronesse did not stand for contradiction.
If the baronesse dismissed her outright, her circle of friends would refuse to help Catherine, not only because they followed the baronesse’s lead but because it would be awkward to take her in. She had moved from one patroness to another smoothly because one fell ill and another was going to be away from the court for a long time. “Would it make you happy if she got rid of me because I was contrary?”
Something—Gloating? Or was it anger?—flashed across Monsieur Emmanuel’s face, but he sighed and rubbed his mouth. “It would have nothing to do with me, Mademoiselle de Fouet.”
“Not even to make you glad you weren’t the only one your mother rejected?”
He was angry. Why was she goading him? She opened her mouth to apologize, but Monsieur Emmanuel turned his back.
“Don’t forget: my mother rejects everyone eventually, Mademoiselle.”
She had been with the baronesse for years and never ever forgot. The lady had far too much power over her.
He stepped out into the hall, and turned around, his face neutral and polite again. “I wish you a speedy recovery, Mademoiselle de Fouet. I will keep you apprised of my movements. Today, I think I will visit my brother’s manufactory and play with his children. I’ll dine with my family this evening.”
Catherine stiffened. Was he mocking her? Or rubbing it in that he had a family? Even without his mother
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