Page 33 of Their Courtesan
“We all have our hobbies.”
“What are yours?”
“I should be asking you that.”
“I asked first.”
Judith gazed at the large maze growing in the backyard. Carefully groomed hedges created walls taller than a man, and even in the dark, Miguel could see stone benches and tiny fountains in this corner and that dead end. The center hosted the largest fountain at the Château. The whole thing was devoid of life, save for perhaps a few insects. Sconces provided illumination, but most of the light came from the full moon above them. No wonder the lovebirds on the other side of the balcony were playing with a telescope. The night sky hadn’t been this clear in a while.
“I like to read. I suppose that’s what everyone says.”
“Just reading?”
“I like traveling and shopping and all that. Not much opportunity for that up here, though.”
“You don’t get to leave?”
Judith laughed. “We can leave whenever we want as long as we don’t have work to do, but we’re so far removed from civilization and none of us have a car. We rely on our patrons taking us out or Monica letting us borrow a car. Anyway… my only other real hobby is sex.” Her eyes were cool in his direction.
“So happens that’s one of mine as well.”
“And?”
Miguel mused that over. “I’m a hobby yachtsman. Thinking about purchasing a vessel.”
“A refined man of the sea. Do you do much of that in Monaco?”
“Of course. It’s a way of life there. You can’t buy a condo or an apartment without a view of the marina. It’s not worth it.”
Judith gestured to the maze beneath them. “Let’s go for a walk down there. Tell me all about Monaco. I’ve never known someone from there before.”
They put their glasses away before taking a small staircase down to the grounds. Judith did not touch him as she led him to the entrance of the maze, but she did assure him that she knew it inside and out and would not lead him astray. Apparently, every girl spent considerable amount of time in the hedge maze in the pursuit of peace and quiet.
Miguel didn’t often get to talk about his homeland. In Europe, everyone he conversed with either knew Monaco intimately or had been there enough times to not need his insider’s opinion on it. Americans didn’t give a shit unless he was talking about Monte Carlo, and then they wanted tales of disastrous gambling. Occasionally a man or woman asked about the sailing and shopping, but for the most part, they couldn’t be assed to hear about the culture, the language, how did people speak and act as compared to neighbors France and Italy. Such people either didn’t care or were ignorant enough to think it was all the same thing.
“You ever see Grace Kelly?” It was such an American thing to ask, but it made Miguel laugh as they turned the first corner in the maze.
“She was before my time,” he said. “I’ve had dinner with various members of royalty many times, though.”
“Really?” Her shock was real, and palpable.
“Yes, really. You have to understand that it’s a way of life in Monaco. It’s a small country, and, quite frankly, contains very rich families. We may not be on the same level as royalty, but we have many connections from every corner.”
“And no taxes.”
“There’s that, too.” Miguel grinned. “Although I have properties all over Europe and now in America, so I do pay a good share of taxes toothercountries.”
“Good citizen.” Judith dragged her rose along a hedge, one petal falling to the stonework beneath them. “Think of all the schools and roads your money goes toward.”
“And other things.”
“We don’t discuss the other things around here.” Judith returned to him, rose hitting the tip of her nose. “Unless you want to.”
“I’d rather not.” Miguel flicked the other side of the rose. “I’d rather talk about other things. Like you.”
“Me?”
He dared to slip his arm around her waist. She let him. The softness of the cashmere threatened to do him in.When do I get to have you?Someone was waking up between his legs. “Yes, you. Tell me about yourself, Judith. Tell me the truth, tell me a lie… it doesn’t matter. But if you lie, it better be a good one.”
