AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He snorted. “Not the euphemism I would have chosen, but yes.”
“And you’re such a masterful lover.”
“It just so happens that I am. The world’s best.”
“Of all the arrogant... you’re a jackass, you know that?” she sputtered.
They marched side by side, separated by a gulf of tension. Their world order restored. Slinging barbs and sexual innuendoes.
He declares himself to be the world’s best lover. She calls him an arrogant arse.
“I think you’re wrong about Beauchamp,” said Indy as they walked back on the rue du Fauborg Saint Honoré. “I think we can safely cross him off our list. Whoever stole the stone was the same one who stole the lion’s-paw chair.”
“The odds are good,” he said grudgingly.
“So what else has been stolen? That’s the question. We should find out whether anything else is missing from other museums in other countries. This could point firmly in the direction of your antiquities thief, Mr. Le Triton.”
“Or not,” said Raven. “It could be anyone, really. Especially the Russians. We’ll be able to make subtle inquiries at the diplomatic event tomorrow evening.”
“What event?”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“No, you did not.” She stopped walking. “What event?”
“Sir Charles is hosting a small gathering of diplomats tomorrow and I said you and I would attend.”
“Well thank you for accepting the invitation without telling me about it.”
“It slipped my mind.”
“I’ve nothing to wear to an affair of state.”
“It’s Paris. You can purchase something ready-made.”
“A duke’s sister does not wear ready-made,” she said disdainfully.
“Then have a seamstress make you something.”
“Overnight?”
“I’m relying on you to gather intelligence on our suspects.”
She walked in silence for a few moments, resentment simmering. If she was attending an affair at Sir Charles’s house tomorrow evening there was no point in moving to a lady’s school or hotel. “I suppose I could make a new list of suspects and we could start crossing them off tomorrow,” she said.
“That’s the spirit.”
When they arrived back at the house, Lucy was waiting in ambush. “Oh there you are! I have a surprise for you. Madame Victoire is here to garb you for the soiree tomorrow evening!”
A slender woman in an elegant jet-black silk dress came forward. She curtsied to Raven. “Your Grace, it would be such an honor to dress your future duchess.”
“She also has several sketches for your wedding costume,” Lucy enthused. “And don’t worry, there are still mounds of frills, just artfully arranged.”
Raven grinned at Indy. “Problem solved, my dear.” He turned to Madame Victoire. “Lady India was just bemoaning her lack of a suitable gown to wear tomorrow and I said she should purchase something ready-made.”
“Ready-made,” huffed Madame Victoire. “Certainly not. I do have a dress made already, but I will modify it entirely to suit your queenly figure, my lady. And as for the wedding costume, I have several sketches already complete. If you’ll perhaps consider a softer gold instead of the canary...”
“I’ll leave you ladies to your work,” said Raven, making a hasty departure.
