“Jean-François does seem to argue less with you than he does with most people,” Céleste said.
“Because he’s not afraid of most people, I’d wager,” Lucas said. “Buteveryone’s afraid of Aldric.”
Aldric didn’t counter the assertion.
“I’m not afraid of him,” Céleste said.
She didn’t know what response she expected to that declaration, but seeing Aldric grin proved an utter delight. He had a wonderful smile, made even more delightful by how rare it was.
The remainder of the evening was spent playing games and enjoying lively conversation. A note was penned by Julia and sent to Marguerite, a brilliant bit of strategy suggested by the General. Céleste didn’t doubt she would be permitted to remain and that no note of objection would be received from her brother.
But at some point, the bill always came due. Jean-François would know she had done something without first securing his approval. Worse, in his mind, it was something that would bring her a bit of happiness. It was a dual transgression he would not ignore.
She would enjoy herself as much as possible over the next twenty-four hours. Then she would brace herself for what came next.
Chapter Ten
Aldric was not, by anyone’sestimation, a person who was easily impressed. He wasn’t a cynic or a snob. It simply had never been in his nature to be in awe of people or places. But there was something in the meticulous opulence of the Château de Versailles that astounded even the unastoundable.
The view from the terrace above Latona Fountain stopped the entire group. The fountain itself, with its many tiers of sculptures, all but the topmost gold-leafed, and spraying elegant arches of water over the marble sculpture at the center, would have been impressive enough. But it was merely the first in an unending line of exquisite sights: tall hedges, grand trees, more fountains and statues, water and paths, and manicured grounds as far as the eye could see. One could easily forget that the cramped streets of Paris weren’t terribly far away.
“Oh, Lucas. It is stunning.” Julia had that almost magical combination of extensive intellect and soul-deep appreciation for beauty. Lucas seemed even more interested in watching her than he was the grounds.
Aldric’s mother had been well-known by the royal family and loved by the other members of the court. She’d even lived in the palace for a time before her marriage. But it was the grounds she’d spoken of most. That was the part of this enormous royal estate that spoke most to Aldric’s heart.
And it was here that she had left him her last offering of love.
Céleste stood next to him, looking out over the expansive grounds, clearly pleased with the beautiful picture they painted. “The Fortiers have been welcomed to Versailles a number of times, but it steals my breath away no matter how often I see it. And even though I find it slightly intimidating, the urge to explore grows by the minute.”
It was a rather perfect description. He motioned with his head toward a few different groups of people milling about or sitting at their leisure. “The gardens are calling to a few hearts this morning.”
The corners of her mouth tipped upward. “I thought my brother was supposed to be the poet among you, Aldric.”
“I have my moments.”
He offered his arm to assist her down the first of the stone steps. A gentleman found himself in exactly that arrangement countless times, oftenmore than once in a given day. Never before had Aldric’s heart hiccuped at the commonplace touch of a lady’s hand on his arm. The sensation was as pleasant as it was confusing.
His gaze continually returned to Céleste as they made their way around the magnificent fountain. There was a serenity to her, though amazement was the more common response to Versailles. She was intriguing.
And in that moment, surprisingly alluring.
He forcefully dismissed that thought. This was Céleste. Henri’s sister. Aldric needed to pull himself together.
As they reached the courtyard beyond Latona Fountain, Lucas tugged Julia toward a break in the precisely manicured wall of shrubbery to the right, beyond which one could see the tops of endless trees.
“This is the Dauphin’s Grove,” he said. “Flora Fountain is at the center. I think I remember how to find it.”
Nicolette stepped through an identical opening in the shrubbery to the left, which led to the Girandole Grove. At its center was the Girandole Fountain. Scattered throughout both groves, along intersecting paths of parallels and diagonals and right angles were statues and nooks and a great many places to explore.
Aldric pulled his arm back, allowing Céleste the freedom to choose what she meant to do. She met up with Henri just as both of them reached the same break in the shrubbery that Nicolette had passed through. They continued on into the grove maze.
Aldric could have chosen a path on his own without causing offense or drawing undue attention. But his feet followed her—followedthem—without his mind giving the directive. He told himself he simply wanted to pass a quiet and enjoyable day in this beautiful place, that he needn’t rush to his task. But he knew that was not at all the entirety of his reasoning.
The paths cut through trees planted so close and so thickly that one couldn’t see anything beyond. The angles and bends could be confusing, though it was not a maze in the strictest sense of the word. Many a wanderer found himself needing to turn about and retrace steps, trying again to choose the right path. But Nicolette navigated directly, without correction or hesitation. The rest of the group had difficulty keeping pace with her.
Aldric followed them to an intersection of tree-lined paths where three life-sized statues stood guard, each depicting a different figure from Roman mythology. At the base of the one in the middle, Minerva, stood the Marquisde Lafayette. His was an air of adventure and spontaneity, but there was also undeniable intelligence and determination.
Nicolette stepped up to him with all the confidence of an equal, something even a Peer would struggle to manage. He was a legendary war hero in the newly formed United States of America. Even in England he was considered quite impressive and important. And here, in France, he held the ear of a tremendous number of influential people. He was so trusted by and accepted amongst the royal family that he might as well have been royalty himself. Yet he somehow managed not to be as disliked as the King and Queen generally were.
