Tarnished Angel (22 page)

    From her position inside the entrance to the sitting room, Marie watched Camille ascend the staircase toward her room and disappear from sight.

    Meticulously dressed, her bright blond hair perfectly groomed, her features carefully composed, Marie looked toward Le Comte, who stood unmoving at the foot of the staircase. Her pale complexion, suddenly flushed with color.

    Le Comte, this man of importance who was feared for the power he wielded both on this continent and abroad, waited like a well-behaved poodle for the country harlot to reappear.

    Fury transfused her, and Marie fought to restrain an urge to do violence. She had worked hard and long in the cribs of Paris to attain her present position. It had taken all she had her beauty, her intelligence, and her considerable skill in more intimate contact to get her there. A keen sense of organization, a firm will, and supreme determination kept her house the best in Tombstone, and had made her justly proud. She would not allow a farm-grown bitch from the outskirts of Paris to undermine either her position or her authority.

    The sound of a closing door drew Marie's eyes to the second floor in time to see Camille take her first step down the staircase. She watched as the hussy descended, brilliant red curls bobbing against her white shoulders, the full curves of her body keeping time with her step. Le Comte, at the foot of the staircase, was enjoying
la
grande
putain
's
every bouncing jiggle.

    Barely suppressing the fury surging through her veins, Marie took a deep breath and turned away with slow deliberation. She did not wait to see Camille's feet touch the foyer, to see the Count take her arm, or to see them walk through the front doorway and out into the street together for all the world to see. The sound of their laughter drifted behind them as they closed the front door, and Marie renewed her silent vow with a vengeance: She would be rid of Camille. She would see to it that the woman was banished from her house forever.

    "Lai Hua, look over here! These lanterns will be perfect!"

    Her exuberance spilling over into a small laugh, Devina held up one of the colorful Oriental lanterns so that the sun might reflect through its interior. "Oh, yes, it will look lovely once it's lit. How many do you think we'll need?"

    Devina turned toward Lai Hua, who stood behind her on the narrow street. Her smile faded at her servant's troubled expression. Devina took a deep, impatient breath.

    "Lai Hua, really. You don't believe I'm in danger in this part of town, do you? You live only a short distance from here. If it's safe enough for you, it's surely safe enough for me." Devina shot a short glance toward Sam Sharpe, who followed not far behind her. Her smile became sugar sweet as she continued in a sarcastic tone. "In any case, my watchdog will guarantee my safety wherever I am."

    Lai Hua shook her shining head. "I do not worry for your safety, Miss Devina, for indeed, no danger threatens you here. I fear only your father's anger."

    "Father's anger?"

    "He will not approve of your presence on these streets."

    Devina turned a thoughtful, appraising glance around her. The streets she and Lai Hua had been walking for the past half-hour appeared to be narrower than the streets in the other part of town. Devina amended that thought. Perhaps that was not so. Perhaps it was merely the congestion that seemed to abound, the variety of signs of all sizes and shapes that protruded into walkways, their Chinese figures boldly proclaiming a message she could not read, which contributed to the illusion of less space. The buildings were not well constructed; some were mere shacks. But the variety of small stores that lined the cramped avenue, their exotic products colorfully displayed, appealed to    her immensely. The pedestrians walking around her were predominantly Chinese, and she was suddenly aware she was the object of many curious glances, but she was not ill at ease.

    She glanced back toward Lai Hua, who leaned toward her to repeat her adamant statement in a low whisper: "Your father will not approve."

    Devina's patience was abruptly exhausted. She took a deep breath. "Lai Hua, my father said I was to buy whatever I needed to make this party a success. I have determined that lanterns dozens and dozens of them to light the way of our guests and to line the garden will add the perfect touch of spectacle needed to guarantee the success of this party. Certainly there's no better place than the Chinese section of town to find them."

    "Most non-Orientals, Miss Devina, refer to this section as Hop Town. They do not consider it suitable for a young woman such as yourself to be here."

    "Not suitable! We're not going to bring up that old chestnut again, are we?" Devina shook her head, unwilling to pursue that particular line of conversation any further. "In any case, we're wasting time, Lai Hua. Since we're here now, we might as well do what we came for." Devina raised another lantern for Lai Hua's inspection. "What do you think of this one?"

    Lai Hua sent a short glance toward Sam Sharpe, her frown tightening at his low snicker. "I think it is very nice, Miss Devina."

    "Lai Hua, please, an honest opinion."

    "My opinion is that you should not be here."

    "Lai Hua, really!"

    Devina truly did not understand Lai Hua's reluctance. Father could not possibly be as narrow-minded as Lai Hua believed. Granted, he had been less than civil to Lai Hua several times… Devina amended that thought: He had actually been insulting, and he had not escaped his daughter's anger on those occasions. But, in truth, he tended to treat all servants with a certain contempt, regardless of the color of their skin. Even his social acquaintances did not escape his scorn, she had noticed. But that was just his way. If you were not a Dale, you were not on his level.

    Devina shook her head. She had despaired of her father's attitude countless times, as had her mother before her. She could still remember the countless apologies Mother had offered in his   stead, the excuses she made for him. Her mother had convinced herself that her excuses were justified, but even as a child, Devina had known that her mother made them because of her desire not to have anyone think poorly of the man she loved so dearly.

    She supposed, while she was facing facts, she would have to consider the possibility that there might be more to this vendetta than her father had led her to believe. Perhaps someone had good cause to seek revenge on her father. If her father would not discuss matters with her, it was up to her to look into things herself.

    A flashing image of the stagecoach gunman's face returned to her mind. The man's features had been all but unrecognizable behind his beard and beneath the brim of his hat, but she could still feet his intensity, and she would never forget the chill of those eyes. Perhaps, for her own peace of mind, she should find out more about her father's activities here in Tombstone. For all his faults, she could not bear the thought of losing him to the hatred in that unknown man's gaze.

    Devina's brow furrowed in a worried frown as she examined her concern for her father. Was she beginning to disregard his faults, just as her mother had always done? Was she wrong to rationalize his prejudice? Well, right or wrong, she resolved to apologize to Lai Hua. Father probably
would
be angry when he found out she had come to Hop Town. But she would not allow Lai Hua to suffer for something over which she had no control. In any case, whatever the cost, she did not intend to allow her father's prejudices to become her own. Neither would she let them stop her from any reasonable activity and buying lanterns was reasonable activity.

    Devina stopped in her thoughts, the absurdity of the situation suddenly striking her. All this concern about lanterns, about a ridiculous party, while the man who had threatened her life, had actually held a gun to her ribs, was riding free and probably planning more such attacks.

    Reprimanded by her own thoughts, Devina turned to Lai Hua with an apologetic smile. "Lai Hua, I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable, but I give you my word, I won't allow you to suffer for my stubbornness in insisting that you bring me here. Now, please, which lantern do you think will be better?"

    Holding two lanterns up to the light, Devina watched Lai    Hua's eyes move from one to the other as she studied the merits of both.

    Indicating the lantern Devina held in her left hand, Lai Hua bobbed her head. "This one, Miss Devina. It is constructed of a material that will allow the light to penetrate it far more easily. And I believe it is available in more colors than the other as well."

    Knowing she would have agreed with Lai Hua's selection even if it had conflicted with her own, only because Lai Hua had so sincerely put aside her objections in order to be of help, Devina nodded. She turned to the slight Oriental man who appeared at her side. "I would like fifty of these lanterns, in assorted colors." Devina continued briskly, "Have them delivered to the Dale residence as soon as possible. I'll pay you now."

    The man turned to Lai Hua and addressed her in Chinese, obviously asking her a question, to which Lai Hua replied with a short statement. The man went inside the store and returned a moment later. Handing Devina a ticket on which he had written several Chinese characters, he waited in silence.

    Politely taking the ticket from Devina's hand, Lai Hua examined it carefully and translated the price.

    Reaching into her reticule, Devina counted out the specified amount. She could tell that the sale pleased the storekeeper very much.

    After speaking quickly to Lai Hua in his native tongue, he returned to his store.

    "May we return home now, Miss Devina?" Lai Hua said.

    Her annoyance returning at her maid's persistence, Devina turned to survey the stores around her. A laundry, a dry goods store, a grocery store… but what was that store over there? Devina took a step forward only to be halted by Lai Hua's touch on her arm.

    "Please, Miss Devina, where do you go?"

    Devina's annoyance grew. She disliked being questioned by anyone. "I'm going to that store over there." Realizing the sharpness of her tone, she continued more softly, "It occurs to me that an establishment such as that might carry a type of cookie I ate on one occasion in New York. I believe it was considered Oriental. It was rather large and very crisp, and it had   a distinct almond flavor. I would enjoy having them available to my guests at the party, as an alternative to the rather heavy desserts I'm planning."

    Devina paused. Was she wrong, or had panic momentarily touched Lai Hua's expression?

    "I do not believe you will find the cookies you seek there."

    Restraining her impatience only because of Lai Hua's obvious discomfort, Devina replied quietly, "I intend to cheek and make sure."

    Nodding her obedience, Lai Hua walked slightly behind her as Devina started forward. The pale blue hem of Devina's gown brushed the dusty street as she crossed, and she stepped with care onto the boardwalk in an effort to avoid a pile of rubbish discarded casually in the gutter.

    An uneasiness crawled up Devina's spine as she walked through the doorway of the store, and her annoyance grew. Damn, was she never to have a free mind in this dreadful town? First, her father's concern had fostered the notion that she was being watched, and now Lai Hua's uneasiness had fostered a new uneasiness within herself. Determined not to submit to it, Devina glanced around the store as she entered. She paused, choosing to walk through the short rows of delicacies.

    Suddenly her attention was distracted. What was that fragrance? She could not be certain… Some sort of spice, certainly. Her eyes were drawn to a display, but she had taken only a few steps when a curtain to the rear of the store parted to allow entrance to a short but well-rounded gray-haired Oriental woman of indeterminate age. The woman's silent step carried her closer even as Devina unconsciously assessed her rather interesting apparel.

    The woman's limited height and excess poundage did little justice to the exquisite garment she wore. Obviously a rich silk, the color was lovely. It was embroidered by an expert hand in a delicate floral design that was breathtaking; but the quality of the material and workmanship was all but lost on the middle-aged woman who paused at her side. The woman smiled broadly, her eyes appearing to appraise Devina keenly even as she addressed her in excellent English.

    "Miss Dale, I bid you welcome to my humble establishment. What may I do for you today?"

    Startled to be addressed by her name, Devina replied politely, "I appreciate your welcome, but I admit I'm at a loss. If we've met, I apologize for not remembering the occasion."

    "We have not met, Miss Dale, but your reputation precedes you, even in this humble area of town."

    "My reputation?"

    "Ah, yes. Even here we have heard of Mr. Harvey Dale's lovely daughter. The reports of your beauty have not been exaggerated."

    "Thank you. Thank you very much." Devina felt herself flush lightly at the unexpected compliment. "May I ask your name as well?"

    The woman smiled and bowed her head. "I am known as China Mary."

    "I'm very pleased to meet you. As for what you may help me with, I'm interested in finding a type of Oriental cookie, made with almonds."