Page 14 of The Last Warrior

Suzette raised an eyebrow. “An American Indian?”

“I met him in Washington, D.C., at the White House, when I was there to perform for the President. Oh, it was years ago, I admit. I was much younger then. But he was…handsome. He was such an honorable man, placing the welfare of his tribe before his own needs, and we… I didn’t mean to fall in love with him, but it had been so long since there had been a man in my life, your grandfather having died much too early.”

“I understand. I think.”

“I did not even know I was in love with him until it was too late. By the time I realized it, he was gone. I did try to find him, but no one seemed to remember him, and his name I could not pronounce, nor did I know the translation for it.” She grimaced. “I tried again to find him a few years ago, when I sailed to the United States. These searches, however, proved useless.”

“What makes you think you will have better luck now?”

“Suzie,” Irena began, her voice breathless, “there is someone here who reminds me of the man I fell in love with. Their likeness is uncanny. As though it could have been my own love as he was as a youth.”

“Huh! This seems to me to be very little to go on.”

“You are right, it is not much. But it is exciting nonetheless, and at my age, I think I can be forgiven for trying once more to recover my love.”

“Oh.” A silence fell between the two women. “Still,” said Suzette at length, “to travel with this show. Isn’t it unnecessary? Why not hire this young man who reminds you so much of the one you seek? Why not ask him to help you?”

“Do you think I have not tried?”

“And what happened?”

“Firstly, he would not be bought, at least not by a woman. Secondly, it appears that he is, himself, on a quest of his own.”

“Then hire someone else to find this man. Would it not be better than chasing after someone who… Pray, forgive me, Irena, but if this man had wanted to be with you, would he not be trying to find you?”

“Would he? He, too, seemed to be involved in a deed of some importance. And besides, if my instincts are right, I think this young man, the one I have only met tonight, will lead me to the one I seek. I feel it, Suzie. I feel it is right.”

“But to give up everything because of a mere instinct…”

Irena smiled. “Perhaps when you reach my age, you will understand why it is necessary.”

A lengthy silence ensued. At last, Suzette said, “All right. If you are determined to do this, then I cannot and will not stand in your way. But I will ask one favor of you.”

“Yes?”

“You must take someone with you. A maid, a bodyguard. You must hire someone to look after you and be as a guard for you.”

Irena hesitated. “I could do this. Yes, I could do this. Perhaps this young man…” She frowned. Clearly, an idea had suddenly occurred to her.

“And you will? You promise?”

“I promise.”

“Very well, then,” said Suzette, with a long look at her grandmother. “But I will miss you.”

“And I will miss you.”

Chapter

Five

Lady Blair, the Earl of Lankersheim’s mother, was a woman of some weight. Both socially and literally. At five foot two and weighing perhaps two hundred and fifty pounds, her small frame was inclined to teeter beneath the extra poundage. But here any impression of frailness ended, superseded by the lady’s voice, which was moderately pitched but coarse and loud.

Suzette had always gotten on well with the woman and found her visits with Lady Blair enjoyable. There was no reason to suspect this particular call would prove to be any different.

With William at her side, Suzette swept into the parlor and smiled cheerily at the lady. “Lady Blair,” she said, with a dainty curtsy. “How happy I am to see you again.”

“And I you. Please, will you not be seated?” Lady Blair gestured toward a chair, where Suzette obliged her by gracefully descending into it. “William, please fetch one of the servants. I think tea and crumpets are in order.”