Jean Marc grimaced and shook his head. “I have no idea. I’ll have to explore the situation and then think about it.”
“Think?Dosomething.”
“I’ve already done something. I’ve sent for Etchelet.”
She hesitated and then gave up the battle. “Call me when he arrives. I have to go to Catherine. She didn’t touch her breakfast again this morning, and I must coaxher to eat something.” She turned away and then abruptly whirled again to face him. “Why did you keep it?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“My painting of the Wind Dancer.” She gestured to the corner of the salon, where the painting hung. “Oh, not that it isn’t excellent, but it lacks the mastery of the other paintings in this room.”
His gaze went to the painting across the room. “I like it. It pleases me to see it here whenever I come to Paris.”
“Because it’s a painting of the Wind Dancer?”
“Perhaps.” He smiled faintly. “Maybe beneath my ‘mirror’ I’m as sentimental as my father regarding the family treasures.”
She looked at him skeptically.
“You don’t believe I have a sentimental soul?”
She ignored the question and moved across the salon to stand before the painting. “Where is it now?”
“The statue? No one knows. It disappeared mysteriously the day the royal family was forced by the mob to quit Versailles for Paris. Rumor has it the queen hid it somewhere in the palace or on the grounds rather than have it fall into the hands of the revolutionaries.”
“Well, why shouldn’t she?” Juliette demanded. “It belonged to the queen. They took everything else from her. Why shouldn’t she be allowed to keep the Wind Dancer?”
“Let’s say, it didn’t improve her position in the eyes of the assembly. I understand some of those good gentlemen wished to use the Wind Dancer as a symbol of the revolution.”
“They have enough symbols. She has nothing now.”
“Still loyal to the monarchy?” His smile faded. “That, too, is a dangerous position today. I’d reconsider if I were you.”
“I care nothing for either the monarchy or the republic. I care nothing for politics. I would have been quite happy to have been left alone at the abbey if those murderingcanailleshadn’t seen fit to descend upon us.”
“I can’t envision you donning a wimple and scapular.”
“I didn’t say I wished to be a nun. I wanted only to be left in peace without—Oh, you’re laughing at me again.” She turned away from the painting. “You don’t appear to be upset that the statue has disappeared. Don’t you want it any longer?”
“I want it. I promised my father before he died that I’d see to its return to the family.” He paused. “But I’ve learned if I’m patient, I usually get what I want.”
“I’m not patient. I hate to wait for things to happen.”
He smiled. “Ah, and so do I,ma petite. But one must weigh the value of what one desires against the irritation of waiting for it.”
She felt suddenly breathless as she realized he was no longer speaking of the Wind Dancer. She desperately veered back to the primary subject. “It’s foolish not to realize that Catherine needs something done now.”
“You never give up, do you? In spite of what you deem my ‘foolishness,’ I’ll continue on the course I’ve set.” Jean Marc smiled ironically. “I regret I can’t take your excellent advice. How delightful it must be to know you’re always right.”
“I’m not always right.” She turned and walked across the salon toward the door.“Almostalways, however.”
“What is this?” Juliette gazed in bewilderment at the pile of packages Robert carried into Catherine’s chamber three hours later.
“Clothing. Monsieur Philippe has returned and is in the gold salon with Monsieur Etchelet.”
“Philippe!” Catherine’s gaze flew to Juliette. “You didn’t tell me Philippe was here.”
“I was going to tell you later.”
