Page 64 of Angel's Flight

“Yes, I know intimately now how much my late brother assumed, as you seem to, that we needed only to spend money and not worry about the maintenance of it,” Raoul grumbled.

“It’s your brother that brings us here, Monsieur,” Meg piped up and received a doubtful frown.“I found this, you see, in the cellars.”

Meg produced the gold watch from her pocket.It was a lovely piece; she would have to ask Shaya where he had procured it.

“And she showed it to me and I recognized it, I’m sure,” Blanche added.“I’m Blanche Carcaux.You may remember me.I was a friend of Philippe’s.”

“You mean of Sorelli’s.”Raoul corrected, unimpressed.“You do look vaguely familiar.”He looked over Meg with a combination of boredom and disdain.

“Margaret Giry.I’m called Meg,” she answered with a polite smile.

“Giry.I know that name from somewhere,” Raoul muttered, peering more intently at Meg.She had to ball her hands into fists to keep herself from squirming.

“Her mother was the ghost’s box keeper,” Blanche interjected, to Meg’s horror.It was a mistake for Blanche to say that because the Comte’s expression changed from annoyed to thunderous.

“Your mother ran errands for that horrid demon, and you come to me with a watch you conveniently found in the Opéra?”he asked, a threat in his tone.

“Only because Blanche encouraged me!”Meg squeaked.“She recognized the watch!”

“So you were going to keep such a treasure for yourself before an honorable young woman forced you to return it?”Raoul shot back.Blanche looked horribly pleased by the backhanded compliment.

“No, Monsieur!I knew it had to belong to someone important and I showed it to friends to see if they recognized it,” Meg protested.“Which brought us here.We would have sought you out at the Opéra, but I was given to understand you have withdrawn your family’s patronage.”

“Yes, we’ve had to cut a great many frivolous expenses, but that one was a pleasure to eliminate,” Raoul replied.There was something truly vicious about the way he said it.

Blanche wasn’t deterred.“Oh, that’s such a tragedy, Monsieur le Comte!We all so enjoyed your visits.”

“Show me the watch, girl,” Raoul snapped.

Meg handed him the timepiece, proud that her hand remained steady as she did.He took it and examined it carefully, eyes narrow.

“This does look familiar,” the Comte said, much to Meg’s shock.His eyes fell on her again, scornful.“I supposed you’re expecting some sort of reward.I know they don’t pay you anything at your level in the corps.”

“We couldn’t—” Meg began.

“But we accept, that’s so very generous of you,” Blanche interrupted.

“I have money in my office: come along,” the man ordered, placing the watch in his pocket.Meg was flummoxed.It wasn’t his brother’s, but he had taken it – why?She looked around the house as they made their way through to a study.There were very few ornaments decorating the place – no fancy vases or candlesticks, and not even many pictures, but space remained where Meg knew in her gut those things should be.

He was going to sell the watch for money like they had done half the furnishings of the house.

The Comte’s study was chaotic, with piles of ledgers and papers all about.At least it lent credence to the idea that he was untangling some financial mess his brother had left them.

“Will five francs be sufficient?”Raoul muttered as he rummaged in a drawer.As soon as he rewarded them, he would see them out, and Meg had not learned enough.

“May I use the washroom?”Meg blurted out.

“Meg!How improper!”Blanche chided, swatting her on the arm.“Monsieur le Comte, I apologize for my companion.She’s young and has never learned manners.”

“It’s true, Monsieur,” Meg lamented.“But there’s no public places anywhere in the Faubourg and—”

“Jesus.It’s upstairs.Be quick about it,” Raoul sighed.

“I’ll make sure to keep you entertained,” Blanche said and shot Meg a wink.

Meg wondered how blatant Blanche’s flirtations would be and if they would get her anywhere.Hopefully, they would keep the Comte amused and distracted while Meg got to work.

She sped up the grand staircase of the manor and onto the upstairs level.To be fair, Raoul hadn’t told her where exactly the powder room was, so it was completely understandable for her to open all the doors to look.

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