Page 35

"I do not. You are right."

Charlotte, drily: "If Seraphine approves of your bodyguard, Vivienne, you may keep her."

"She is not mine to keep."

"Mm."

Isabella's eyebrow lifted a hair. Vivienne did not look at her.

"So," Isabella said, some time after eleven, in the tone that meant the next question had been waiting. "Leo. What is the opinion at Blackthorn on our Vivienne."

"Isabella." Vivienne’s voice was a warning.

"I am asking."

"You are being provocative." Vivienne corrected her.

"I am both. Cole?"

Leo's voice did not change. "Madame Strauss is not my opinion. Madame Strauss is my assignment."

"A diplomatic answer."

"The only one I have."

"That," Charlotte said, mildly, "is in fact an opinion."

"Yes."

Vivienne did not permit herself to react. She lifted her glass and drank. There was, at the base of her throat, the small wrong heat again.

"Viv," Sienna said. "There is a thing you are not telling us."

"There is."

"Is it about her?”

"Yes."

"Is it serious?”

"It is business?”

"Only business?"

"Only business."

"Mm."

Isabella's eyes, which had been on Vivienne, moved to Leo for a breath and back. She did not comment. She was going to comment later, in private; Vivienne knew the shape of an Isabella comment that was being saved.

At eleven-forty Vivienne excused herself. She went to the lavatory, which was at the end of a short dim corridor past the red lounge. Leo, without being told, followed at the correct distance, which was a distance that made sure no one between the lounge and the corridor was in a position to step in front of Vivienne. At the lavatory door, Leo checked the interior and then stood back, and Vivienne went in alone.

A minute later the door opened again and Leo came in.

The door closed behind her.

The lavatory at Maison Noire was small and elegant, oxblood walls, a single sink in black marble, a large mirror above it. Two sconces. Low light. No one else in the room. Vivienne was at the sink, her hands under the water, her rings cold against her skin. In the mirror she saw Leo close the door, glance into the open second stall, and stop.