“So says the ancient eighteen-year-old,” said Charles. Paulette stamped her foot. “You, you have done nothing but tease me. You know nothing of what it is like to be in my position. Now, I tell you, the count, he is young, but very gallant and oh so handsome. He comes to the city with the Balignys next week. There will be a theater party and a card party to which we are invited.”
“Louisa has even decided to bring Celeste to the city for a couple of days and join in the merriment,” put in Charles.
“The timing could not be better,” said Hugh as they neared the parlor, his eyes twinkling.
“Why?” Charles asked.
“Because—”
“You’ll regret this, Mannion!” swore Russell Wilmot as he threw open the library door.
The party in the hall stopped and turned toward the library.
“I don’t believe so, sir,” Richard returned coolly as the two men entered the hall.
“I’ll see to it that you don’t get a single inch of warehouse space in the city!”
“Well, you may certainly try, but I would warn you, I have been in this city longer, and though you are accepted, it will raise many eyebrows to wonder why you choose to blackball me.”
“Remember those papers!” Wilmot warned.
“No one would find them more than a curiosity now, and I don’t believe you’ll discover much purchase from them.” Richard looked up and noted the assembled company in the hall. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Wilmot, my son-in-law has newly arrived, and I would pay my respects.” He gestured Mr. Wilmot toward the door.
The man scowled and stalked after him, but he stopped when he came even with Hugh. “You’ll regret your meddlesome interference, Talverton.”
“I? But I am only a visitor to your city and do not expect to be here long. What purpose would it serve you?”
Paulette’s eyes grew round, and a delicate dark eyebrow rose as Mr. Wilmot took his hat and cane from Jonas and flung himself out the door.
“Me, I think I have missed much in three days! To see Mr. Wilmot so routed, oo-la la, it does my heart good. He is a devil, that one, and you are well quit of him, Vanessa."
"You have the right of it,” rasped Richard Mannion, striding over to the group. He shook his head as if to clear the last bit of ichor left by Mr. Wilmot out of himself. “Come, let us join Mother and Adeline, and you, you naughty puss,” he said, chucking Paulette under her chin, “may tell us how you fared with your genuine aristocrat.”
Paulette laughed gaily."Tres bien,but I feel I have missed much here,” she said as they all entered the parlor.
“Only a tirade from Vanessa, an attack upon Mr. Talverton and Mr. Danielson, and Adeline’s engagement.”
Paulette clapped her hands. “Vraiment!Adeline is engaged?” She ran over to Adeline and hugged her closely. “This is so exciting! Me, I am speechless! Let me guess; it is Mr. Danielson, no?I saw you in the garden at Louisa’s, you know,” she said slyly.
Adeline blushed bright red, and all looked at her expectantly. “It was nothing; he merely helped me to gather flowers for the ball,” she finished lamely.
Paulette swung around to Vanessa and Hugh. “And you two, have you also settled things between you?”
“Paulette,” scolded her brother.
“What? When they left the estate, they were not speaking. So stupid, when everyone could see how they reacted to each other.”
“Must you arrive and put us all to the blush, Paulette?” Vanessa complained amid general laughter.
“Phtt! You still take yourself too seriously,” she stated, sitting on one of the sofas. “But tell me, how have you left things, or have you waited to have me come and put you to rights?”
Vanessa blushed anew. “You are impossible.”
“We have agreed to a courtship. Beyond that, we wait and see,” Hugh told her.
“Wait for what? A sign from God?”
“Paulette!”
