Sweet Bravado (8 page)

“There is no need, ma’am.”

“There is every need,” she informed him emphatically.

Noting the determined tilt of her head, Valentin acquiesced, saying, “Well, ladies, it seems I am dismissed. Until tomorrow,
goodnight.” He saluted smartly and escorted his mother from the room.

It was sometime later before Lady Eleanore returned to usher them all to bed. As Madame Lafitte helped Nicole
prepare for bed, she listened to the girl’s vehement outburst against the morals of the Viscount. Sighing heavily, madame
cajoled persuasively,
“Ma chérie,
it would not be wise to reproach him for the
faux pas
committed by that… woman.” She waved aside Nicole’s protest and continued, “She has much gall, that one, but remember you
are not his wife yet. You would only anger his pride and jeopardize your chances for winning his heart.”

“But, Fifi, it was his mistress who dared come here, insulting all of us.”

“And do you think to gain his love by storming at him of insults? No,
chérie,
a jealous rage now would only force him to defend his position. And the wedding only a few days away. Wait. Bide your time.
Once you have his love you will not suffer the burden of such women. So promise me, little one, to say nothing of this Von
Hoffman woman.”

Nicole flounced upon the bed and pursed her lips. “Fifi, he thinks I informed on him. I saw the accusation in his eyes. How
can I just ignore it?”

“Be assured Lady Eleanore has already straightened him out on that matter. Why do you think she accompanied him to the door?
The Viscount does not lack for sense, I think. The Von Hoffman woman will not intrude here again. Unless I am sadly mistaken,
she will be so informed shortly.”

Madame Lafitte could not have been more correct, for at that very moment the Viscount was mounting the stairs two at a time
to Tessa Von Hoffman’s boudoir. Without knocking he flung open the door and strode into the room. A startled cry sprang from
the flimsily clad woman reclining on the settee. She rose to a sitting position, clutching the diaphanous garment about her.

“Valentin, thank God! I thought you might be dead.”

“Damn you, Tessa,” he lashed out at her and crossed the room.

“What?” Her head flew back to meet the angry blue eyes. “I am frantic with worry for you,
mein Herz,
and you come storming in here to‘damn’ me!”

“How dare you go to my mother?” he roared.

“How dare I?” She rose from the settee, allowing her dark tresses to fall over her silken shoulders. “Do you think I am some
common tart from the streets that you speak to me so? You insult me!” She turned her back to him.

Reaching out and grasping one of those tawny shoulders, he swung her around to face him. Annoyance was still visible in his
set features. “My future wife resides there.”

“You led me to believe
I
would be the future Viscountess,” she snapped.

“Never!” he denied emphatically. “You knew from the beginning what our relationship would be. You never wanted or expected
anything more.”

“I could kill you for such indifference,” she stormed. What he claimed was once true, but no longer. She wanted him for her
own.

He chuckled softly. “Could you, love? Well, I could have almost killed you for upsetting my family tonight.” Encircling her
slender throat, he added half in jest, “Don’t ever put me in a spot like that again.”

Catching his change of mood, she playfully simpered, “Created something of a stir, did I?”

“Heed my warning, you minx,” he said ominously, but laughter was in his eyes.

“And if I don’t?” she taunted.

“Don’t tempt me too far.”

She moved closer to him, pressing her body against his and smiling temptingly up at him. The heat of her flesh
aroused his own sensual appetites. Crushing his lips to hers, he groaned, “You witch, it’s too bad I still want you.”

“Ah, Ardsmore, we both know what we want. You want my body, but I… I want all of you.”

“Liar,” he said softly and refused to listen -to any further protests as he carried her to the bed.

Much later, as Tessa casually stroked his muscular chest, she asked in what she hoped was a nonchalant tone, “This girl, the
one you are to marry, what is she like?”

Sitting up abruptly, he answered curtly, “She is what she ought to be.” He rose from the bed and began to don his clothes.

“That could mean many” things. I wish to meet her,” she stated flatly.

Before she realized what was happening, he was towering over her clasping one of her thin wrists cruelly.

“I wasn’t joking when I told you earlier to stay away from my family… especially her,” he threatened.

“Darling,” she cajoled, “you know I only wish to please you.”

“Let’s keep it that way.” He increased the pressure on her wrist.

“Valentin, you hurt me,” she cried.

His fingers relaxed. “Sorry, my pet, but let that be a reminder to you that I mean business.”

“You are terribly ferocious about this one,
mein Schatz.
Why? What does she have, I wonder?”

“Just leave her out of our discussion.”

“Ah, you are cruel. I fear this girl already has some hold on you. Perhaps she is the one to capture that elusive heart of
yours, eh?” There was a melancholy note in her voice, as if she were becoming aware of the fleeting hold she had on his affections.

“No woman will ever own that,” he joked. “But enough of this. I must be on my way.”

She clung to him.
Liebchen,
do not go yet.”

“But I must.” He removed her clinging arms from about his neck. “Now be a good girl,” he murmured.

“Will I see you soon?” she asked, sadly realizing their relationship was nearing its end.

He hesitated, then spoke rather sharply. “I doubt it. Certainly not before Vienna. The wedding is in a matter of days, as
you know.” Grasping his discarded coat, he bent quickly and kissed her cheek. For a moment he paused and regarded her fondly,
but the next second he straightened and, crossed to the door. He turned to look at her and said quietly, “Take care, Tessa,
my love.” And he was gone.

Sleep did not come easily to Nicole that night. Thoughts of her impending marriage harried her remorselessly. Could she honestly
convince herself that she would be able to overcome the odds pointing to the failure of this union? Wasn’t it foolhardy believing
it would all work out the way she wanted it to? Throwing back the bedcovers, she got up and crossed to the window to stare
at the glow of moonlight on silvery snow. It was so peaceful and calm as a few flakes floated gently earthward. Would she
ever achieve such harmony in her life? Especially marrying a Harcourt? But whatever Valentin brought her, she knew she wanted
him with all her heart.

Having left Tessa shortly before dawn, it seemed to Valentin that he had just fallen asleep when his valet was waking him.
Disgruntled, he crawled from bed and prepared himself for the day. Disquieting thoughts pursued him all the way to his mother’s
home. Damn, he couldn’t help it if he had thought. Nicole guilty of revealing his whereabouts to his mother. She was the logical
choice. Hadn’t she questioned him yesterday morning about what he was going to do? But that was not what was really bothering
him, and he finally admitted it to himself just as he reached the house. It was Tessa! The way his mother had taken him over
the coals for Tessa’s scandalous behavior still made him shudder. He should have foreseen the problem and set Tessa straight,
yet what had he done
after being in her company for less than ten minutes! He had succumbed to her blandishments as usual.

Hell, wasn’t a man entitled to some relief, especially after the night he had put in? Nevertheless, it was Nicole’s knowledge
of Tessa that he could not accept. Most men had mistresses, but the wise man didn’t flaunt them before his family. He would
not repeat his father’s error.

A very defensive Viscount presented himself to the ladies a few moments later. He surveyed the trio before him with appreciation.
His mother was splendid in her morning dress of plum silk, and Cecily was charming in a blue frock, but it was Nicole, appearing
almost angelic in a soft pink, muslin, that caused the catch in his throat. Every time I see her, he thought, she is more
beautiful. Tessa had asked him what Nicole had. Wouldn’t she have laughed if he had replied, “Innocence.” But God, it was
there—that purity and womanliness at the same time. He felt his brow grow damp and cursed himself for a fool.

“You see, madame, you said ten o’clock, and I am here,” he announced.

“Then we can be off. We do not want to keep your Uncle Maurice waiting. He has planned this weekend at his chateau for some
time. Here is Perry now. We are all ready.”

Escorting them to the waiting coach, Valentin decided to repair the damage done to his relationship with Nicole, and holding
her back, he took her arm solicitously, remarking, “I hope the ride will not prove tedious for you. The chateau is not too
far from Versailles and well worth visiting.” He turned on one of his most engaging smiles and immediately Nicole found herself
forgiving him.

“I am looking forward to the weekend very much.”

“I hope one of the reasons is the time we will be able to share there together.”

Flustered, she answered faintly, “Of course, my lord.”

“Nicole,” he chided softly, “I thought we had agreed to first names.”

“Yes, yes, certainly… Val,” she blushed prettily.

“Come on you two,” Perry called. “There’ll be time for that later.”

Valentin assisted Nicole into the coach, then mounted his horse and turned to Perry beside him. “Clod! Will you never learn
to keep that mouth of yours closed?”

“What did I do now, Val?”

“Never mind,” his brother sighed in exasperation. “Just learn when to speak, will you?” and the Viscount spurred his horse
on its way.

Upon their arrival the Marquis escorted them into his resplendent state dining room. It was reminiscent of the now untenanted
palace of Versailles. Ornate golden paper decorated the walls and tawny satin draperies covered the long narrow window embrasures
which flanked one side of the room. The opposite wall was dominated by a magnificent sculptured fireplace containing a blazing
fire. On the ceiling paintings of nymphs and cherubs floating among clouds of muted pinks and golds created an airy impression
of heavenly realms.

Awestruck, Nicole sat back in a velvet chair and pondered the fate of the king and queen who had dined some twenty-three years
ago at this very table so elegantly set with its embossed china and deep-cut crystal. Poor Marie and Louis! Poor Marquis!
So much of his world had been swept away and only some of the outer trappings remained. Strange that Valentin’s next comment
should echo her own thoughts.

“We have been transported to the past,
Monsieur le Marquis.
It is quite an honor to be wined and dined as if we were royalty.”

“Good food and drink are a few of the pleasures that I can enjoy these days. At least when my gout is not acting
up. Besides, I wish to treat this lovely young lady to the joys of the
ancien régime
before it passes away with me.”

“Oh, Uncle Maurice,” Nicole protested as he took her hand and kissed it.

“We did not dine in the white salon,
mignonne,
because it is much more intimate, so I wanted to save that pleasure for you and this young rascal to enjoy on your honeymoon.”

The color mounted in Nicole’s cheeks. “That is very kind of you,” she managed to stammer.

“What about your museum?” Valentin interjected trying to smooth over Nicole’s confusion.

“That’s a must, Nicole,” cried Perry. “You could spend a month in there and still not discover all Uncle Maurice’s monstrosities.”

“You could spend a year in there and never discover its meaning, you young buffoon,” stormed the Marquis. “Come, let us retire
to the drawing room. Later we will look over my treasure trove. Right now I wish for a game of cards. What do you say, my
dear?” he addressed Lady Eleanore. “Cecily and Perry against you and me.” Perry was about to protest when he caught the Marquis’s
eye and changed his mind. The Marquis turned to Valentin and Nicole. “You two may explore some of the chateau.” With that
peremptory remark he escorted the others to the drawing room.

“In his own inimitable way, Uncle Maurice has given us the opportunity to be alone,” Valentin chuckled.

“Yes, so I noticed,” Nicole returned his lightheartedness with a smile.

They wandered down the main hallway which was lined with armor and pieces of sculpture. “The wedding plans are just about
completed?” Valentin queried, striving to make conversation.

“Oh yes. Your mama has performed miracles.”

“Never let it be said that my mother does not rise to the occasion. She is one of London’s most notable hostesses, as you
will undoubtedly find out.”

“Yes, she is an amazing woman.” Nicole neatly sidestepped the issue.

“I hope you don’t mind my having arranged for us to spend our honeymoon here at Uncle Maurice’s.”

“Oh no. I shall look forward to it.”

“The Marquis doesn’t use the chateau much these days. He spends most of his time in Paris.”

“Yes, I know.”

“There are some fabulous rooms if I remember correctly.” He opened a door and ushered her into a huge chamber. She gasped
and turned wide violet eyes on him.

“This is what is known as the museum room. I think the Marquis wanted us to wait, but to be the first to capture that expression
on your face is worth it.” Taking her hand, the Viscount led her forward. “Maurice -was able to save most of these antiques
during the Revolution by having them hidden. Some others were left behind. Fortunately, the marshal who occupied this chateau
saw the value of these treasures as well as the rest of the chateau and did not allow them to be destroyed.”

“I have never seen a collection like this before.” Nicole began to wander among the valuables gathered from many ages. There
were tapestries and shields from the Middle Ages lining the walls, and marble statues and vases were crowded carelessly into
corners. Egyptian bowls and Grecian urns were scattered upon long trestle tables, and priceless treasures were strewn on the
floors. It was as if a giant treasure chest had been emptied thoughtlessly without regard for order, or concern for value.