Nina nodded. “We practically grew up together. He used to come to visit us every other summer when I was little. He was like an elder brother to us, though to be fair, his playmate was my sister, Madelena. He is her elder by only a year and I was a small girl. Do you have any siblings?”
“None.”
“That seems odd. I have so many cousins, you’d need twice the fingers on your hands to count them all,” she said, and raised her hands as if counting them. “Most of us summered together and thus I had an unending pool of brothers and sisters. It is a rather noisy household. I suppose that’s what bothers me most about Gaetan’s home: It’s awfully quiet. You could hear a pin fall in the hallway.”
“A museum of a house.”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, delighted with the comparison. It did seem like a museum.
“It sounds like you miss your home,” he replied.
“I do. But my mother says the city will do me good. I cannot believe you hadn’t lived in Loisail before. How is that possible?”
“Must everyone live in Loisail?” he asked, and his voice was tinged with this delightful sarcasm she found refreshing.
The crushing blackness of his suit gave him a tragic air, and all put together she was impressed by the flesh-and-blood version of this man whom she had spied in posters throughout the city, spending an inordinate amount of time staring at his face on one occasion.
She decided then and there that she liked him.
“They tell me anyone who is anyone should,” she said.
“I’m afraid I haven’t been much of anyone.”
“You jest! Why, you have no equal except maybe for Abel Rezo. Levitation of a horse? I’d like Reisz or Pressner to attempt that.”
Hector frowned. “And you gleaned all this fromThe Gazette for Physical Research?”
“Not entirely. As I said, I’m interested in psychokinetics. Your name tends to pop up in that field. I’ve read a bit about you. More than a bit, perhaps,” she said, and wished she’d brought a parasol. It would have given her something to hold on to. She feared any second now she was going to send pebbles splashing into the water with the sweep of her eyes.
Hector gave her a half smirk and took out his pocket watch, sliding the lid open. “Psychokinetics. You’ll have to explain your interest in the subject when next we meet, but I should set off now if I want to make my appointment. It has been delightful speaking to you again.”
“Delightful as your time at the ball or truly delightful?” she asked, spotting Lisette, who looked irritated. Their time was about to be cut short one way or another, and she wanted to know.
“Truly delightful,” he replied.
“We may become friends, then.”
He looked at Nina, seeming to take the measure of her. Valérie complained that Nina lacked tact, always talking too much or too little. She wondered if he agreed with the assessment and was about to make a quick escape.
“Without appearing to impose myself, Miss Beaulieu, would it be acceptable if I paid you a visit on an afternoon of your choice?” he asked.
A visit. A gentleman calling on her! People called all the time on Valérie and Gaetan, but not on her. To be the focus of attention delighted Nina.
“I would not mind at all. You could call on us on Tuesday after two.”
“Though my psychokinetic powers may indeed be impressive, I have not yet grasped the art of reading minds. Where is this house that is a museum of yours?”
“At Lambal and Avil. It’s the blue house. You’ll recognize it rather quickly,” she said, extending her gloved hand so he might shake it. He kissed it instead. Of course he did. This was the proper way to greet and bid good-bye to a lady. Nevertheless, it seemed to her a wonderful gesture and she wished she had misplaced the gloves, as also happened often. She might have felt his lips against her skin instead.
“Thank you. I shall see you Tuesday, then.”
He gave her another one of those half smirks before turning around and walking away. Lisette arrived with a bag of crumbs and recriminations. Nina did not hear a single one of them.
Chapter 3
VALÉRIE WOKE EARLY NOT BYinclination but by force of habit. It was in her nature to remain languidly in bed until the sun rose high in the sky, but being a busy woman, she could not afford these luxuries on most days. There were always matters to attend to, and not only the amusements and diversions—shopping, eating, entertainment—a lady of her stature was expected to partake in, but also the myriad social gestures the wife of an important man must know. There was the running of the household, which should not be undertaken lightly, and as of late, the supervision of Antonina, Gaetan’s little cousin.
That morning, though, Valérie had a chance to indulge herself, dozing in bed until it was late, and missed her walk in the park. Slowly she dressed, slowly she placed pins in her hair, slowly sifted through her jewelry box.
