quartet for a waltz. The more I wandered toward the music, the more I got myself lost. This must be why they were so confident I wouldn’t escape.
It took me a good fifteen minutes, but I finally found where everyone was. Beyond huge double doors was a ballroom the size of a football field with yet another giant chandelier hanging overhead. I felt as if I had accidentally walked into another casting call. The room was filled with beautiful men and women of all ages. A butler and a full battalion of servants did their best not to intrude upon the many conversations of the guests they served, but even they were just as striking as the rest of the crowd. Marble columns around the room reached up to an exposed second floor, where balconies held even more party guests.
Noah was lounging up on one of the balcony railings chugging wine from a bottle. Even at rest, his intimidating presence made him stand out.
I caught a glimpse of Vivian among the party guests chatting with another young woman. The other woman’s back was turned to me, but I could tell there was something special about her. She was dressed in an elegant cascading ball gown made of purple silk. Long brunette hair highlighted with lavender flowed into a theatrical spool on each side of her head, like something from a high-fashion runway show.
Vivian noticed me watching and gave a coy smile that made my whole body tingle. As if in response to her silent command, the crowd between us parted to form a path.
“Oh, Dorian!” she said, and beckoned. “I wish to present you to our hostess and master of the house.”
As I walked up to Vivian, the lady in purple turned to us. After meeting Vivian, I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to surpass her beauty, but this new woman was in a completely different league. My heartbeat quickened with every step closer. It was more than just her flawless physical appearance or angelic features that drew me in. The woman’s mesmeric radiance was such that it created undeniable sensations of pleasure.
“Aurelia de Saint-Pierre, may I present Monsieur Dorian Benoit, our guest this evening?” I heard Vivian speaking, but I was finding it challenging to concentrate in this other woman’s presence.
“How do you do?” Aurelia smiled warmly and offered her hand in greeting. “It is a pleasure to welcome you into my home.”
Her accent was a blend of English, French, and possibly something else. She watched me intently with gorgeous hazel eyes. I looked down, noticing that her nails were meticulously painted to match her gown. I don’t know what came over me, but I took her hand and leaned in to kiss it, almost passing out the second we made contact.
There was no way she was human. Aurelia was a mere five foot six at most. Even without her elaborate hairstyle, which must have weighed more than she, she was still shorter than I, yet her presence was so electrifying all attention was inescapably drawn to her.
“Thanks, it’s nice to meet you. I have to be honest though, I’m not sure why I’m here, wherever here is,” I said as politely as possible.
Vivian excused herself from the conversation with a bow and disappeared into the crowd. Nobody seemed to mind that we were standing in the middle of the dance floor. The guests continued around us, orbiting Aurelia like she was their sun.
“Why, you are in France, of course, just a short way from Paris. Your life was in great danger,” Aurelia spoke with grave concern. “I sent for you to be rescued and brought to my chateau where you would be away from harm.”
France? That lunatic knocked me out cold for an entire transatlantic flight?
“Rescued from whom? I thought the guy you sent was trying to kill me. He knocked me out in an airport. Not to mention murdered a whole bunch of people.”
“How uncouth! I apologize for Noah’s brash behavior. His social graces may be lacking, but his speed is invaluable in such situations. I assure you there is no further
It took me a good fifteen minutes, but I finally found where everyone was. Beyond huge double doors was a ballroom the size of a football field with yet another giant chandelier hanging overhead. I felt as if I had accidentally walked into another casting call. The room was filled with beautiful men and women of all ages. A butler and a full battalion of servants did their best not to intrude upon the many conversations of the guests they served, but even they were just as striking as the rest of the crowd. Marble columns around the room reached up to an exposed second floor, where balconies held even more party guests.
Noah was lounging up on one of the balcony railings chugging wine from a bottle. Even at rest, his intimidating presence made him stand out.
I caught a glimpse of Vivian among the party guests chatting with another young woman. The other woman’s back was turned to me, but I could tell there was something special about her. She was dressed in an elegant cascading ball gown made of purple silk. Long brunette hair highlighted with lavender flowed into a theatrical spool on each side of her head, like something from a high-fashion runway show.
Vivian noticed me watching and gave a coy smile that made my whole body tingle. As if in response to her silent command, the crowd between us parted to form a path.
“Oh, Dorian!” she said, and beckoned. “I wish to present you to our hostess and master of the house.”
As I walked up to Vivian, the lady in purple turned to us. After meeting Vivian, I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to surpass her beauty, but this new woman was in a completely different league. My heartbeat quickened with every step closer. It was more than just her flawless physical appearance or angelic features that drew me in. The woman’s mesmeric radiance was such that it created undeniable sensations of pleasure.
“Aurelia de Saint-Pierre, may I present Monsieur Dorian Benoit, our guest this evening?” I heard Vivian speaking, but I was finding it challenging to concentrate in this other woman’s presence.
“How do you do?” Aurelia smiled warmly and offered her hand in greeting. “It is a pleasure to welcome you into my home.”
Her accent was a blend of English, French, and possibly something else. She watched me intently with gorgeous hazel eyes. I looked down, noticing that her nails were meticulously painted to match her gown. I don’t know what came over me, but I took her hand and leaned in to kiss it, almost passing out the second we made contact.
There was no way she was human. Aurelia was a mere five foot six at most. Even without her elaborate hairstyle, which must have weighed more than she, she was still shorter than I, yet her presence was so electrifying all attention was inescapably drawn to her.
“Thanks, it’s nice to meet you. I have to be honest though, I’m not sure why I’m here, wherever here is,” I said as politely as possible.
Vivian excused herself from the conversation with a bow and disappeared into the crowd. Nobody seemed to mind that we were standing in the middle of the dance floor. The guests continued around us, orbiting Aurelia like she was their sun.
“Why, you are in France, of course, just a short way from Paris. Your life was in great danger,” Aurelia spoke with grave concern. “I sent for you to be rescued and brought to my chateau where you would be away from harm.”
France? That lunatic knocked me out cold for an entire transatlantic flight?
“Rescued from whom? I thought the guy you sent was trying to kill me. He knocked me out in an airport. Not to mention murdered a whole bunch of people.”
“How uncouth! I apologize for Noah’s brash behavior. His social graces may be lacking, but his speed is invaluable in such situations. I assure you there is no further
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