Inès stood there, her mind reeling, her body weaving until she finally sat down once more. “You can’t tell me,” she whispered to Giselle. “I understand. I give you my apologies. But more I give you my sincerest sympathies for what you have endured.”
Giselle squeezed both her hands. “I am safe now. We have guards.” She glanced at Gus and Amber. “All of us.”
“You as well,” said Gus.
Inès fell back to her chair. Exhausted, overwhelmed, she was at once terrified but also relieved. She had protection. Herfriends knew she had done something for the cause, because whatever it was, it merited protection. “I have never seen them.”
“They have extensive training!” said Amber with a grin.
“How many?” asked Inès.
“Never ask,” said Gus.
“True. Such a waste of time,” Amber added. “And now, having said that, we will admit we each have our pasts to ponder or forget,” she continued with a toss of her vibrant red hair. “It’s helpful to remember all the good. Defeat the bad memories with the joys.”
Inès snorted. If only she could do that! But her challenge was much the same as that which Giselle had faced when she first came here. The very reason she was here in London, in this house, among this Society of her friends and their social connections to theton, was because of her past. Her very sordid past.
She inhaled, her purpose driving her on. “You are right. Of course you are. Now it is a time and place to smile.”
“Madam?” Friendly presented himself with a trembling smile. “Baron and Baroness Fournier.”
Inès rose with Gus to greet them. The lady was a gorgeous blonde, tall and stately, and now married to the Englishman who had helped her escape Bonaparte’s claws. “I am thrilled you are here, my lady,” Inès said.
“I am Elizabeth, as I hope you are Inès to me.”
Inès agreed with a nod.
“I must introduce you to my husband.” Then Elizabeth drew near a tall, slim, elegant creature who gazed at his wife with the possession of a man in love.
“I hope you will come visit us in the country, mademoiselle,” he said.
“My lord, your wife has just informed me we are on a first-name basis, so I am Inès to you.”
“And I am Dirk to you, lovely Inès.” He kissed her hand in the Continental manner.
Elizabeth grinned at her husband. “Inès once worked in Paris, did you not?”
“That is true.” What more could she say? They both knew the rules of the game.
The game. Mon Dieu!So many here knew the game, played it. Inès glanced around, struck by the number of her friends and acquaintances who were involved in defeating the French madman. Fully one-third of the number of guests could be suspected of playing that game.
Then Friendly appeared once more at the door. “Madam, the Countess Halsey, Lady Jessica Ranelagh, and Lady Felicia Mannerly.”
Inès met the violet gaze of the older woman, the mother of the man whom she alternately saw in her daydreams or walked with in her restless nighttime reveries. He was not with them.Why not?
After all she had done, planned, decided about how she would treat him as merely a good friend, she nonetheless felt the stab of disappointment at his failure to attend. Still, she drew upon her duties to greet them and welcomed the family with gusto. “My lady, thank you for coming. We are very honored you have come and brought your daughters. Lady Ranelagh and Lady Felicia, please join us.”
The Countess Halsey, whom Inès had met at the music store, was a charming lady with stark white hair and a tall, elegant figure. She wore a lorgnette on a string about her neck and used it as a tool to emphasize her spoken words. After Gus’s welcome, Inès greeted her, and the lady was most gracious. “Jessica, Felicia, and I were honored to be invited. We would not miss good company on a lovely afternoon.”
Inès appreciated her kindness. An older woman’s approbations were worth much to establish oneself among London Society. This one’s blessings were worth gold.
“I do bring apologies from my son, Lady Ashley. Halsey was suddenly detained on a business matter, but he assures me he shall arrive as soon as he can get away.”
Gus shook her hand. “We are happy to welcome him whenever he can appear. I know you are acquainted with most of these ladies, countess. Do come; I will help you renew your friendships.”
The others received the elder lady and welcomed her with varying degrees of acquaintance and affection.
Inès allowed herself the freedom to enjoy the afternoon.
