predicted, Lisette had been furious. When he’d told her about the bond servant he would be bringing from the prison, she had stormed out of the house. If he couldn’t startgiving her more attention, she’d raged, she would leave him for good. Of course, they both knew she wouldn’t.
Lisette had a violent temper, which Alex tolerated only because she showed that same hot passion in bed, but she would never jeopardize her comfortable position as his mistress.
“I have readied the water as you instructed,” the maid said.
He swung his gaze to the girl, who swallowed hard and nervously licked her lips. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Nic—Nicki Stockton.”
He studied her more carefully, trying to see past the soiled brown bonnet and the dirt on her face. “You don’t have any relatives near here … a half sister, maybe, or a cousin?”
“No.”
“I once met someone who looked a little like you. Same hair color, same eyes. But she was older, and she was French.” He hadn’t thought of the girl in La Ronde for years. That he remembered her at all surprised him, considering she’d been little more than a child.
“She certainly didn’t smell like you,” he added cruelly, still resentful he had somehow been duped into taking on one more responsibility he could ill afford. “That one smelled of violets. You smell as if you’ve been living in the bottom of a chicken coop.”
The girl’s face turned ashen. Shoulders that had been proud and straight even as she’d stood on the platform now sagged in weary defeat. Her bottom lip trembled and she fixed her eyes on the floor.
“I know,” she said, the sound of the words so soft and plaintive it tore at his heart.
Alex felt like an ass. What the hell was the matter with him? He had been goading the girl since the moment he’d met her, punishing her for his own stupidity. But she’d done nothing to deserve his harsh words. It wasn’t her fault he’d acted so rashly.
Alex tipped her chin with his fingers. Tears welled in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,
ma petite,”
he said softly. “None of this is your fault.”
With his thumb and forefinger, he wiped the wetness away, leaving traces of her pale complexion where the dirt had been. He flashed an apologetic smile. “The past is behind you. You are safe now, and as long as you uphold your end of this bargain you will be. Marie’s going to help you bathe and dress, then tomorrow I’ll take you home to Belle Chêne.”
Home.
How long had it been since she’d lived in a place she thought of that way? Afraid Alex would read her wistful thoughts, Nicki tried not to look at him, but found it impossible. As difficult as ignoring the warmth of the fingers he had rested beneath her chin, the sound of his voice when he’d spoken to her with gentleness, the way he had before. The anger was gone from his voice now, his expression one of concern.
He turned to the chambermaid. “See she’s well taken care of.”
The woman nodded, guided her into one of the upstairs’ chambers, and closed the door behind them.
Nicole felt the woman’s hands on the buttons at her back. “If you don’t mind,” Nicki said, as soon as they were unfastened, “I would rather do the rest myself.” She couldn’t risk discovery just yet. She needed timeto find out the truth about the du Villiers. Were they friend or foe? Did their families’ long-standing relationship really mean nothing, or would Alexandre du Villier help her?
The woman nodded, accepting her desire for privacy. “You will find one of my daughter’s old uniforms on the bed. It is worn, but it is clean. It will fit you, I think.”
As soon as Marie left the room, Nicole peeled off the rest of her grimy clothes and the rags that flattened her breasts. They ached a little from the uncomfortable bonds, but it was a small enough price to pay. It dawned on her suddenly, she would have to find something to replace the dirty lengths
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