Justin
leaned down to whisper in Britney’s ear. “He’s here again,” he said. She
looked up at him with puzzled eyes, and he nodded his head to the left.
Britney’s gaze followed and she spied the object of Justin’s declaration.
She flicked open her fan and smiled behind it.
“Justin, he’s a very popular member of the nobility,” she explained.
“Why wouldn’t he be here?”
“I just find I odd,” he said, eyes skimming over the other man again.
The man in question, Joshua Chasez, Duc de Tournville, was indeed at the party,
and yes, it did seem like he was following the young couple. They’d been at
Madame Sullan’s soiree this afternoon, and Chasez had been there. They’d
attended the theatre, sitting in the de Chanté box, and had spied him across
the audience, sitting alone in his own box. And now here they were at the party
celebrating the opening of the new opera, and again, he was here.
Britney pulled Justin down to sit next to her on the settee. “You shouldn’t
be so suspicious, Justin,” she scolded. “I doubt he even knows I’m alive!”
Justin flicked another quick gaze at Chasez, this time catching the older man
watching them, a hidden look in his eyes. Justin shook his head. “No, he knows
you’re alive.”
Britney regarded Chasez over her fan. “He’s quite good looking, isn’t
he?”
That Chasez was good looking was an understatement, especially among the
highborn ladies of this social class. His face was all angles and planes, sharp
and high cheekbones and too large nose, a combination that shouldn’t work, but
somehow on Chasez it was sculpted into an exceptionally handsome face. His blue
eyes were always bright with humor, and his full lips were always smiling,
usually at some private joke only he knew. He bluntly defied convention when it
came to his hair. Refusing to powder his locks or wear a wig, Chasez’s brown
hair was worn long, the wavy length tied in back with a simple black velvet
ribbon.
But it was his choice of clothing that really made the man stand apart. Chasez
always wore black, appearing stark in a room full of men in pink, lavender, and
canary yellow silks. The black attire, instead of making Chasez appear somber
and dull, instead made the older man seem dignified and adult. Justin felt a
grudging respect for him, as his own taste in clothes ran against the norm,
choosing for himself simple blues and grays.
Britney tapped Justin with her fan. “Justin?” He blinked, turning away from
regarding Chasez and looked down at Britney. “What is it?” she asked.
He shook his head, standing up quickly. “I need some wine,” he said turning
quickly.
And running right into Joshua Chasez, Duc de Tournville. The older man had moved
from across the room and now stood in front of the two friends. He reached out a
hand to Justin, who had stumbled after the initial contact.
“My apologies, sir,” he said, holding Justin’s elbow to steady him. “I
did not mean to cause an accident, especially in front of one so beautiful,”
he said, smiling down at Britney.
“No apologies necessary, your grace,” Britney assured him. “Allow me to
introduce myself,” Britney said, offering a hand to Chasez, but he interrupted.
“Britney, Countess de Chante, correct?” He leaned over the proffered hand,
kissing the back of it lightly.
Britney smiled prettily. “I am honored, sir. This is my very best friend,
Justin du Lac.” Both men bowed slightly. “Justin was going off to get some
wine, and I insist that you join us.”
“Now I am the honored one, mademoiselle,” Chasez said, smiling at them both.
Justin stood there, not wanting to leave Britney alone with Chasez. But his
friend looked at him with expectant eyes, and his arm still burned where Chasez
had held it, and he was very, very confused. He needed wine.
“And how is it you know of me, your grace?” Britney asked.
“I am acquainted with Christophe Patrice.” A spark of anger entered the
girl’s eyes at the mention of Christophe. “I don’t particularly like him,
though.”
Britney laughed. “Very nice save, your grace,” she complimented. “I
don’t particularly like him either. In fact, it’s safe to say I despise him
greatly.”
Chasez nodded solemnly. “He gets that reaction a lot.”
Again Britney laughed. They spoke of other mutual acquaintances as Britney
watched him closely. He seemed very interested in her, she thought. He said all
the right things, laughed when he was supposed to, but something was wrong, she
thought. If there was one thing Britney knew it was when a man was interested in
her, and in her opinion, Joshua Chasez wasn’t interested in her at all. Her
eyes narrowed as his attention was pulled away from her for a moment, and she
followed his gaze, a smile creeping onto her face.
Justin returned with the three glasses of wine at last. He had them precariously
balanced in his hands, and handed the first on the Britney. He turned to Chasez,
who took the glass, brushing his fingers across Justin’s, shocking the younger
man so much the liquid spilled over Chasez’s hand. Justin watched as the other
man smiled, his breath catching as Chasez lifted his hand to his mouth and
licked off the spilt wine, tongue flicking across his skin quickly. Justin sat
down on the settee.
“You are new to Paris, Justin?” Chasez asked, taking a sip of wine and
locking his eyes on the boy’s.
“Yes.” Justin found he could not look away. “I was at university until
last year, but had to leave when my father and brother died.”
“My sympathies,” Joshua murmured.
“Thank you,” Justin said.
“Our Justin was studying to be a priest,” Britney volunteered slyly, wanting
to see Chasez’s reaction.
Chasez raised a brow. “Is that so?” He smiled. “The Church’s loss is our
gain, then.”
Justin choked on his wine, but was saved from having to answer by the chimes of
the clock and the actions of Chasez.
“I must be going,” he said, rising from the settee, and kissing Britney’s
hand again. “It was nice to finally meet you both.” He held out his hand for
Justin, who shook it quickly. “But before I go, I must ask you both if you
would do me the honor of coming out to my country home next week.” He looked
at them expectantly. “Just a small gathering of friends, and you would both be
very welcome.”
Britney smiled brightly. “We’d love to, your grace,” she answered for them
both.
Chasez bowed. “Until next week, then.”
Britney and Justin both watched him leave. The girl then turned to Justin and
looked at him expectantly. “What?” Justin demanded, the pink still in his
cheeks getting more prominent as she just continued to look at him. He wriggled
uncomfortably under her scrutiny, causing her to laugh at his discomfort. He
knows, Britney thought. He just doesn’t want to admit it.
“Will you stop staring at me?” Justin demanded, tossing back the remaining
wine in his glass.
Britney just laughed harder at her friend. “Well, well, well,” she said, her
voice whispering. “I think it’s safe to say he’s not interested in me
after all!”
Justin’s face was so red Britney feared his hair was going to catch on fire.