“Ah, the Fortiers.” Pierre offered the same slippery smile of greeting he had used the day before. “Such a glittering gathering as this would be rendered flat without this family’s presence.”
Jean-François dipped his head in acknowledgment of the compliment. He seemed genuinely pleased to hear it and not at all surprised. And the flattery didn’t sound as though it were offered from a place of worry or appeasement. Neither man showed the other any degree of distrust, though both warranted it.
The younger M. D’Aubert joined them in the next moment, arriving quietly enough to surprise Céleste. Her vision at night was not so terrible that she was often startled by people. But her worries over her brother and Pierre combined with the flares of light off the nearby multiarmed candelabra were giving her more than the usual difficulty.
“M. and Mme Fortier, Mlle Fortier,” M. D’Aubert greeted warmly. “I had hoped you would be in attendance this evening.” He offered a bow, which was returned by everyone, even Pierre, whom he hadn’t acknowledged.
“Always a pleasure to see you, M. D’Aubert,” Marguerite said.
M. D’Aubert’s eyes darted very quickly to Jean-François before settling on Céleste. “I hope you have dances yet unclaimed.”
“I do not know that I will be dancing this evening.”
That clearly surprised him.
Marguerite jumped in quickly. “You must forgive Céleste if she seems lacking in eagerness.” She looked at both the gentlemen standing with them.“Céleste spent the day at Versailles, as a particular guest of the Marquis de Lafayette.”
That brought looks of amazement to M. D’Aubert’s and Pierre’s expressions. Jean-François watched them both with a haughtiness that grated.
“Your family boasts very significant connections,” Pierre said. “Increasingly impressive ones these past years.”
Marguerite blushed a little and smiled with obvious pleasure. “The Fortiers are in great demand.”
M. D’Aubert was watching Céleste. “Versailles can be tiring even when one is in excellent health, but Mlle Fortier has been known to be easily wearied of late.”
Céleste offered a very quick and weak smile. “It was comparatively quiet there today.”
“That is not what the whispers hold,” Pierre said.
“What have you heard?” Jean-François asked, watching with rapt attention.
“His Majesty met with M. Necker today, and rumor has it the meeting was not an entirely blissful one.” Pierre’s recounting turned all their eyes to Céleste.
“I did not see M. Necker,” she said. “Nor did I see Their Majesties. I cannot say what transpired.”
“Let us hope,” M. D’Aubert said, “that all involved behaved wisely.”
“I have heard whispers,” Pierre said, “that M. and Mme Necker have left Paris, having been dismissed by the King.”
Good heavens, that would not be received well by the many people who supported Necker.
“These matters needn’t concern the young ladies.” Jean-François made the comment more pointedly to M. D’Aubert than to Pierre. Indeed, her brother’s interactions with the younger of the two gentlemen was more openly disapproving and dictatorial.
“I believe I see your brother, M. Henri Fortier.” M. D’Aubert motioned very gracefully to a group not far from them. Céleste couldn’t see if itwasHenri and the others.
“Yes,” Jean-François said, “our brother is visiting with several very important friends from England.”
Important friends.Mere hours earlier, he had spoken to this very group as if they weren’t important in the least.
“I am so pleased they are in attendance,” Céleste said.
That seemed to bring panic to Marguerite. “You simply mustn’t allow them to monopolize your time, especially with two agreeable gentlemen showing you such kind attention.” Marguerite was many things, but subtle wasn’t one of them.
Céleste offered M. D’Aubert a look of apology. To Pierre, she flashed a look of warning, which only managed to make him smile.
M. D’Aubert offered her a much-needed escape. “If Mlle Fortier is not engaged for this dance, I would very much like to request the pleasure of it.”
Jean-François eyed Pierre for the length of a breath. Whatever he’d been anticipating must not have been forthcoming. “Of course,” he said at last.
