Page 56 of A Noble Affair
“I’m glad you were able to get back for the weekend, Isabelle. If you and Samuel don’t have anything particular you wanted to do, I’m sure Louis would be glad to see you. He’s outside helping the men who’re setting up the fireworks.”
“Sure. We’ll go. Maman, will you take my dress with you?” Isabelle handed the slippery bag to her mother, and she and Samuel went back outside.
“Addy, do me a favor and keep Maman and Eléonore occupied tonight, all right? I don’t want them to suspect that I’m…staying clear, but…”
“You’re staying clear,” his sister finished for him. “I can’t imagine why,” she teased.
“It’s so my date doesn’t get peppered with questions,” he retorted. “Jef, can you come with me? I want to show you where I want your men.”
“Date? It’s not Manon?” he heard his sister ask as they disappeared down the corridor leading to the basement.
“How many men do you have?”
“Three others besides myself,” Jef answered. “I was planning to cover the area in the ballroom—”
“—so you can dance with my sister. Why am I even paying you?” Charles shook his head, but a smile hovered on his mouth as they jogged down the stairs.
Jef was unperturbed. “For the three excellent security guys I’m providing.” Then, in a serious voice that years of friendship had taught Charles to ignore, he added, “Plus, you’re a socialist at heart, and you want to redistribute your wealth.”
“I don’t know why they let a scrub like you into Saint Thérèse,” his friend said amiably, heading over to the downstairs kitchen.
“It assuaged their guilty consciences for being so privileged.” Jef broke off suddenly. “Why do you want us down here? There’s no entrance.”
“I don’t think anything will happen here, but I just want one security guard to watch this back staircase coming off the kitchen, and I want another man to cover the door leading to the garden. You can put the third one wherever you see fit.”
Jef was examining the room, and he turned to look up the back staircase, now professional and fully focused. “I forgot this was here.” He started walking towards the door leading to the garden.
“No one is to come down here, except family and private staff,” Charles said, following him.
“I’ll take care of it.”
27
Chastity struggled to pull her zipper the remaining distance to the top of her dress. At the same time, she was reliving her difficult conversation with Marc last week when she broke it to him that their relationship would be nothing more than friendship. She knew she had to. Between her growing feelings for Charles—her heart pounded when she thought about seeing him—and the fact that Thomas had said point-blank he didn’t want to spend time with him, (she still needed to ferret out what that was about)—she knew this was not a relationship that could continue. Marc had not taken her refusal to let him be part of Thomas’s life well and had stormed off. There had been no word from him since.
When she finally got her dress properly secured, she forced her mind back to the present. She was ready. Her hair was pulled completely off her neck, with little rhinestone bursts clipped into the auburn curls, and she had spritzed perfume delicately behind her ears. Her eyes were more heavily made-up than usual, but in the soft lighting, it made them stand out. Now she had her rented designer black dress on with discreet slits up the sides, and spaghetti straps holding the bodice. She would take no chances with matching tableware this time.
She completed her toilette by clasping a thin, almost invisible gold necklace to the back of her neck, which held a garnet heart. Smaller matching hearts swung from her ears as she bent close to the mirror to examine her appearance.
“You look nice, Mom.” Thomas was sitting in his usual spot on the sofa when she walked into the living room.
“You do,” confirmed Elizabeth. “Charles will be proud to have such an elegant date.” As if on cue, the door buzzed.
“I can’t thank you enough, Elizabeth.” Chastity walked over to the buzzer. “You should be going to this thing. I should never have taken you up on your offer.” She spoke without conviction.
Elizabeth smiled and stood to put her arm around Chastity’s shoulder. “I’ve attended plenty of events like this. I’m glad to hang out with Thomas. He’s promised to show me the rock collection he’s building.”
“Oh, yes, he just got another shipment in the mail.” Chastity was distracted and breathless, waiting the interminable time for the elevator to arrive and the door to ring. She didn’t open the door until the bell chimed.
Charles was already smiling when she opened the door, but he sucked in his breath at the sight of her. He leaned in to kiss her on both cheeks and murmured, “You are beautiful.” She hoped her face was not as hot and red as it felt.
“Elizabeth.” Charles greeted her as he walked in the room. “Thank you. This is really kind of you to stay with Thomas.” He kissed her in greeting, a departure from their usual handshake.
“My pleasure. Besides I’ve been wanting to spend time with Thomas ever since he left the hospital.”
The young subject in question turned his eyes upwards and was regarding the viscount fixedly. “Docteur?” Charles came and sat down next to Thomas. “What is it?”
“Can I come visit your stables?”
