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Authors: Kristabel Reed
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now.
The door almost instantly opened, the genial butler offering a half-bow when he recognized her. Ushering her into the front parlor, he promised to fetch Margaux and Antoinette as well as a pot of tea.
Stomach rebelling at the thought of any refreshment, Gabrielle forced herself to remain calm on the settee. Her hands twisted together in her skirts, a gown she’d left at the Club two years ago. It hurt to breathe, but she had to do this.
It didn’t matter what arguments her lovers offered, it didn’t matter how accurate those arguments might be, Gabrielle needed to see the Fortier sisters one last time.
As she waited, bare moments only, it surprised her how much she’d miss them. For a brief moment she contemplated offering to bring them to England, but knew that was foolish. They’d never go, and to offer would put her in more danger than this visit already did.
She heard them in the foyer and resisted looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows in search of Eric. André had stayed in the Club to finalize their escape, gathering clothing, making sure all their valuables were well hidden in her cloak and the hems of her gowns. He’d said something about searching out le Comte de Courville, but Gabrielle hadn’t asked why.
Their footsteps sounded rushed on the foyer floor and it was then Gabrielle realized she should have planned this better. It had been over an entire day since she’d snuck out of Theodore’s townhouse and spent the night in the park awaiting Eric. Of course Theodore had confronted Annette and Margaux as to her whereabouts.
“What’s happened, Gabrielle?” Margaux asked, breath short as she raced into the parlor.
Annette, right beside her sister, looked as worried as the elder Fortier woman. “We’ve been mad with concern. Where had you disappeared to?”
She’d prepared for those questions, but that didn’t stop the guilt Gabrielle felt. “I see Theodore has already been here to alarm you.”
“He’s beside himself with worry!” Margaux insisted.
Gabrielle didn’t doubt that one bit, but knew Theodore’s worry over her had less to do with her whereabouts than who she may have been with. Had, indeed, been with.
“I couldn’t stay with Theodore a moment longer,” Gabrielle said quietly, so no servant overheard her. However, both women listened intently. “But I had to see the pair of you. My visit must be brief,” she said and wondered if Theodore had any of the Fortier servants on his payroll.
“But you must know how much I care for the both of you.” Gabrielle crossed the few feet between them and took their hands, squeezing tightly in true affection. “And how much I have long appreciated your kindness and welcome.”
“You’re our family now, Gabrielle,” Margaux insisted. “What’s this about?”
“Have you quarreled with Theodore?” Annette demanded, but didn’t release her hand as if she feared doing so would see Gabrielle lost. “If you have, if you feel you can’t stay with him a moment longer, you are always welcomed here.”
“Yes.” Margaux nodded. “We don’t want you wandering the streets.”
“Theodore has lied to me.” Gabrielle’s words were flat and harsh in the bright fall sunlight. “Someone I had long believed dead was not.”
No surprise shone on either sister’s’ face. However, neither looked happy with her revelation, either.
“Is it that merchant we met on the street?” Margaux demanded. “He isn’t good enough for you, Gabrielle. He can’t take care of you as Father will,” she leaned closer, intent on making Gabrielle see reason. “As we will. Theodore must have had his reasons for his lie.”
Annette was nodding in agreement. “You’re safe with us,” she insisted. “Isn’t that worth more than a poor man’s handsome face?”
“Father,” Margaux said in a whisper, looking at Annette who nodded. “Father won’t care if you’re ruined. He wants only you; as do we as part of our family.”
“A
The door almost instantly opened, the genial butler offering a half-bow when he recognized her. Ushering her into the front parlor, he promised to fetch Margaux and Antoinette as well as a pot of tea.
Stomach rebelling at the thought of any refreshment, Gabrielle forced herself to remain calm on the settee. Her hands twisted together in her skirts, a gown she’d left at the Club two years ago. It hurt to breathe, but she had to do this.
It didn’t matter what arguments her lovers offered, it didn’t matter how accurate those arguments might be, Gabrielle needed to see the Fortier sisters one last time.
As she waited, bare moments only, it surprised her how much she’d miss them. For a brief moment she contemplated offering to bring them to England, but knew that was foolish. They’d never go, and to offer would put her in more danger than this visit already did.
She heard them in the foyer and resisted looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows in search of Eric. André had stayed in the Club to finalize their escape, gathering clothing, making sure all their valuables were well hidden in her cloak and the hems of her gowns. He’d said something about searching out le Comte de Courville, but Gabrielle hadn’t asked why.
Their footsteps sounded rushed on the foyer floor and it was then Gabrielle realized she should have planned this better. It had been over an entire day since she’d snuck out of Theodore’s townhouse and spent the night in the park awaiting Eric. Of course Theodore had confronted Annette and Margaux as to her whereabouts.
“What’s happened, Gabrielle?” Margaux asked, breath short as she raced into the parlor.
Annette, right beside her sister, looked as worried as the elder Fortier woman. “We’ve been mad with concern. Where had you disappeared to?”
She’d prepared for those questions, but that didn’t stop the guilt Gabrielle felt. “I see Theodore has already been here to alarm you.”
“He’s beside himself with worry!” Margaux insisted.
Gabrielle didn’t doubt that one bit, but knew Theodore’s worry over her had less to do with her whereabouts than who she may have been with. Had, indeed, been with.
“I couldn’t stay with Theodore a moment longer,” Gabrielle said quietly, so no servant overheard her. However, both women listened intently. “But I had to see the pair of you. My visit must be brief,” she said and wondered if Theodore had any of the Fortier servants on his payroll.
“But you must know how much I care for the both of you.” Gabrielle crossed the few feet between them and took their hands, squeezing tightly in true affection. “And how much I have long appreciated your kindness and welcome.”
“You’re our family now, Gabrielle,” Margaux insisted. “What’s this about?”
“Have you quarreled with Theodore?” Annette demanded, but didn’t release her hand as if she feared doing so would see Gabrielle lost. “If you have, if you feel you can’t stay with him a moment longer, you are always welcomed here.”
“Yes.” Margaux nodded. “We don’t want you wandering the streets.”
“Theodore has lied to me.” Gabrielle’s words were flat and harsh in the bright fall sunlight. “Someone I had long believed dead was not.”
No surprise shone on either sister’s’ face. However, neither looked happy with her revelation, either.
“Is it that merchant we met on the street?” Margaux demanded. “He isn’t good enough for you, Gabrielle. He can’t take care of you as Father will,” she leaned closer, intent on making Gabrielle see reason. “As we will. Theodore must have had his reasons for his lie.”
Annette was nodding in agreement. “You’re safe with us,” she insisted. “Isn’t that worth more than a poor man’s handsome face?”
“Father,” Margaux said in a whisper, looking at Annette who nodded. “Father won’t care if you’re ruined. He wants only you; as do we as part of our family.”
“A
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