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Quietly, she says, “It’s all right.”
“So you’re two hundred years old?” says Candy.
“I’m afraid so,” Liliane says.
“Holy shit.”
Allegra puts out her hand.
“Hi. I’m Allegra. Another friend of Eugène’s,” she says a little stiffly.
Vidocq drops Liliane’s hand and takes Allegra’s.
“Remember, dear? I told you about Liliane.”
“I remember. I also remember you said you killed someone because she died. Only it looks like she didn’t.”
That shuts everyone up. Vidocq’s shoulders sag. Liliane takes hold of his sleeve. She says something to him in rapid French. He answers her the same way and they keep on like that for a couple of intense minutes. The conversation goes from grim whispers to quiet shouts, then back down again to smiles and awkward laughs.
Liliane touches Vidocq’s face.
Finally, he turns back to us.
“Liliane and I knew each other back in Paris. She worked with me as I delved into the alchemical arts.”
“Kind of like you and Allegra now,” says Candy, I think trying to remind him who he came with tonight.
The look Allegra gives her is as hard as the six inches of steel I imagine she’s imagining sticking in Vidocq’s back right now.
He speaks French with Liliane, gesturing at Allegra. She crosses her arms. Shifts her weight. I know she must have picked up some French over the last year, but there’s no way she’s keeping up with Vidocq and Liliane’s pillow talk.
I say the only useful thing I can think of.
“You want a drink?”
She nods. “That would be very nice.”
“You stay here with her,” I tell Candy.
She gives me a look somewhere between abject fear and fuck you.
Brigitte follows me to the bar.
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispers. “I had no idea. Really.”
“I believe you. I’m more worried about Allegra.”
“The poor thing. Her lover pining for another woman for two centuries and here she is. What can she be thinking?”
“She’s wondering if it’s cheaper to buy two caskets or one big one.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Should I do something? Drag Vidocq outside by his baguette?”
She sighs.
“It’s too late for that. The damage is done. None of them will be getting much sleep tonight, I think.”
