She had once enjoyed Society gatherings. Paris had been full of life and possibility and excitement. She’d imagined herself making a wonderful match that would bring her happiness. And she’d been afforded ample time for playing her violin.
None of those things were true any longer.
In anticipation of whatever whirl she was to attend that night, her hair was tended to and she was dressed in one of her finer gowns. As she slowly took the stairs to the first floor, she firmed her determination to endure her brother’s company.
Her path crossed, instead, with Julia and Nicolette.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
Julia, in a tone of undeniable conspiracy, whispered back, “We are undertaking your rescue.”
Nicolette slipped her arm through Céleste’s and walked with her toward the parlor, Julia on her other side. When they stepped into the parlor, Marguerite was there already.
“Excellent,” Julia said quietly. “We had hoped to find her alone.” Obviously, they already had a plan.
“Lady Lampton.” Marguerite looked both surprised and pleased.
“Oh, we had hoped to find you at home still.” Julia managed to sound truly delighted at the discovery while not saying anything untrue. She crossed to Marguerite. In friendly tones, Julia said, “You will not mind if we borrow your sister-in-law for the remainder of the evening.”
“She is to attend a gathering with us,” Marguerite said.
“And we do regret upending your plans, but we simply couldn’t bear the idea of not having Céleste with us for a time. We have been here for two days now and have had so little time with her.”
Marguerite was clearly vacillating. Céleste knew enough not to jump into the discussion.
Julia continued as the exclusive discusser of the situation. Nicolette’s established connection to Céleste would likely undermine the new countess’s ability to use her standing to persuade Marguerite. It was an excellent strategy.
“It is so good of you to allow us to have her with us for an evening,” Julia said. She even went so far as to reach out and squeeze Marguerite’s hand in the way one would a friend who had just offered a tremendous kindness.
Marguerite was clearly a little bit confused but also excessively flattered. “I suppose an evening with our English visitors could be permitted.” It was more progress than Céleste had made in ages.
“Should anyone wonder where Céleste is,” Julia said to Marguerite in conspiratorial tones, “you need simply tell them she is spending the evening with the son of the Duke of Hartley and the Earl and Countess of Lampton. That will impress the curious.” Though Julia didn’t wink, Céleste had the distinct impression she was tempted to take her playacting to such lengths.
Marguerite’s uncertainty gave way to a smile. “I believe I will enjoy telling people that.”
“Do,” Julia said. “And we, in turn, will tell everyone who asks how much we have enjoyed spending time with Mlle Céleste Fortier.”
“Perhaps you could tell people that at the ball tomorrow,” Marguerite suggested.
Julia nodded eagerly. “We most certainly will.” She squeezed Marguerite’s hand one more time. “We will not keep you from any remaining preparations for this evening.”
With an amusing degree of haste, they quit the room and rushed from the house. They were in the carriage and well on their way before any of them seemed to so much as breathe.
“Julia quite neatly accomplished that rescue. Don’t you think?” Nicolette asked with a laugh.
“I will never again doubt the Countess of Lampton.”
Julia smiled. “Most people do not do so twice.”
That set them all laughing. There’d been so few reasons for happiness these past two years. Céleste meant to cherish the coming hours. That would help when Jean-François inevitably made her suffer for it.
When they stepped inside the rented lodgings that Henri and his friends had secured for themselves while in Paris, Lucas was first to spot them. He greeted Céleste with a bow so overdone and regal that she might have been royalty. She offered a curtsy in return that matched the one she hadperformed during her one and only audience with the King and Queen. Lucas laughed, just as she’d hoped he would.
These friends of Henri’s were wonderful. They made her feel welcome and wanted, something she hadn’t experienced in two very long years.
Henri pulled her into a hug. How she’d missed his hugs.
Aldric appeared in the doorway of what was likely the drawing room. “I see our confidence in the ladies was not misplaced.”
