Philippe made a face and turned toward the door. “I’ll go get them. By the way, I caught sight of a deliciously robust servant girl as we came into the inn. I don’t suppose you’d object if I invited her to occupy my bed while I’m waiting here for you to recover?”
“Not as long as you use discretion and don’t offend Catherine. The woman’s name is Germaine.”
Philippe opened the door. “Have you tried her?”
“When I first came to the inn. Pleasant, eager, but boringly docile.” Jean Marc’s lips twisted ruefully. “Needless to say, I’ve not been tempted to repeat the experience in my present state of health.”
“I’ve no objection to docility.” Philippe grinned as he started to close the door. “And I enthusiastically embrace eagerness.”
Juliette closed the door of Catherine’s chamber and turned to face the upset girl. “Sit down over there.” She gestured to the chair across the room. She gazed at Catherine’s flushed face. “Your color is better.”
Catherine sat down in the chair. “I feel as if my face is on fire. I’m so ashamed.”
“Why?” Juliette plumped down on the bed. “Because you were idiot enough to let yourself be too tightly laced into your corset?”
“And because Jean Marc and Philippe must surely think ill of me.”
“It’s done now.” Juliette crossed her legs tailor-fashion and tilted her head critically. “You don’t bear any resemblance to either Jean Marc or Philippe Andreas.”
“We’re only distantly related.”
“You’re a handsome family. He’s quite beautiful. I’d like to paint him.”
“Philippe?” Catherine nodded eagerly. “Oh, yes, I’ve never seen such a handsome man. His hair is as golden as sunlight when it’s not powdered. And he’s very kind too, he’s never impatient and sharp with me as Jean Marc sometimes is. Philippe once brought me a lovely pair of scented gloves from Vasaro when he came to the Ile du Lion.”
Juliette shook her head. “Not Philippe. I was speaking of Jean Marc.”
“Jean Marc?” Catherine looked at her in disbelief. “But Philippe is much finer-looking. Why would you want to paint Jean Marc?”
Why would she not want to paint him? Jean Marcwas mystery cloaked in his black velvet, cynical wisdom, wicked wit, and, infrequently, a gentleness all the more precious for its rarity. Juliette realized she had scarcely noticed Philippe Andreas while he was in the same room with Jean Marc, and now she had to struggle to recall what he looked like. “Your Philippe is comely enough, I suppose.”
“He’s much handsomer than Jean Marc.”
“Where is this Ile du Lion?” Juliette asked in order to change the subject.
“It’s in the Golfe du Lion, off the coast of Marseilles.”
“It’s your home?”
“No, my home is in Vasaro, near Grasse.” A note of pride sounded in Catherine’s voice. “Perhaps you’ve heard of Vasaro? We grow flowers for the making of perfume. Philippe says Vasaro is quite famous for its essences.”
“I’ve never heard of it.” Juliette glanced back at Catherine and grimaced. “But that’s not unusual. The ladies and gentlemen of the court seldom converse about the outside world. They gossip only about themselves.”
“I hear Versailles is the most beautiful place on the earth,” Catherine said softly. “How lucky you are to live with such magnificence.”
“If your home is in Grasse, why do you live at Ile du Lion?”
“My parents died of smallpox when I was four and Jean Marc’s father brought me to live with him and Jean Marc on the Ile du Lion. I’ll live there until I’m old enough to manage Vasaro myself. They have a splendid château that’s much grander than the manor house at Vasaro.” She hurried on as if afraid she had hurt Juliette’s feelings. “But, of course, I’m sure your home at Versailles is much nicer than the château or Vasaro.”
“Home?” Juliette experienced a sense of loss that startled her. What would it be like to have one settled place in which to live, not to have to travel from Paris toVersailles to Fontainebleau and all the other royal residences at the whim of Her Majesty? “I have no home there. We occupy a small apartment in the palace.” She shrugged. “Not that it matters. I have my paints.”
“I noticed your painting when I first came into Jean Marc’s chamber. It’s quite wonderful. You are very clever.”
“Yes, I am.”
Catherine suddenly laughed. “You shouldn’t agree with me. My governess says a young lady should be modest about her accomplishments.”
“But we’ve already discovered what a fool your governess is.” A twinkle appeared in Juliette’s eyes. “You should have learned your lesson not to pay her any heed.”
