AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Two
Versailles 1789
Angelette enjoyed dining alone. She’d risen early so she might have some solitude before her guests joined her, which meant she was not pleased when her butler announced the arrival of a Viscount Daventry.
With a pained expression, she’d dabbed at her mouth. “Show him in.”
The English had no manners. Not only was the man a full two days late to the house party, he had the gall to arrive at the ungodly hour of half past seven. She never should have invited him. She’d only done so because her sister had written to her and begged a favor.
Thérèse was in London and had met and befriended the viscount, who was apparently an avid importer of French wines. When he’d said he was traveling to France on business, Thérèse had invited him to stay with her and her husband, the Marquis de Beauvais, at their château and vineyard. Thérèse hoped the viscount would consider importing the de Beauvais family wines to England. But Thérèse had written to say the marquis’s business in England had taken longer than expected. Would dear Angelette extend the viscount an invitation to her house party? Angelette had done so, and now the man himself had deigned to make an appearance.
His footsteps echoed on the marble floor as he followed the butler to the dining room. The door opened and she rose, smoothing her pale pink skirts. After wearing black for so long, it still seemed strange to look down and see color. But she was not in mourning any longer.
“Madame, Lord Daventry.”
She looked up and into the handsome face of the man standing in her dining room entry. He sported wavy brown hair, which was bare of both a wig or powder and which he’d pulled into a short queue and fastened with a plain black thong. No ribbon of silk for him. His eyes were blue, not dark blue like hers but the clear, bright blue of the cornflowers that dotted the fields near the château in the spring. He was neither plain nor too handsome, his face oval with prominent cheekbones and a straight nose. He looked fit and trim in his coat and waistcoat the color of champagne. His breeches fit snugly, showing his muscled calves to advantage.
He bowed when he entered, his eyes never leaving hers and his mouth lifting in a mischievous smile that made her breath catch in her chest.
No, she definitely should not have invited him.
“Bonjour,Madame la Comtesse.”
“Good morning, Lord Daventry.” With a nod, she dismissed the butler. “Won’t you join me for breakfast, my lord?”
“English!” He took the chair a footman pulled out directly across from her. “It’s music to my ears.”
She lifted her cup. “Most people find French the more melodic of the two languages.”
“I find French the more annoying of the two languages.” He nodded to the footman who approached with a cup. “I don’t suppose you have tea.Une tasse de thé?”
“Oui, monsieur.”The servant stepped away to prepare it.
“It’s been an age since I heard English or drank tea.”
“You are not much of a traveler, I suppose,” she said, sipping her coffee.
“I do a fair amount of traveling, but I like my little pieces of civilization.”
She raised her brows, amused despite herself. “And coffee is not civilized.”
“It’s a bitter and foul brew, and those who drink it have personalities to match.”
She lifted her cup and sipped.
“What are you drinking?”
“The bitter and foul brew.”
He laughed. “I’ve only just arrived and have already managed to insult you. You must forgive me. I haven’t slept in three days.”
