“Heavens no,” she quickly replied, shaking her head. “It’s too soon. I just told him that I wanted to buy a box of cigars for a gentleman friend.” She reached over to the table and retrieved them. “Here you go,” she said. “Take them. They are for you and your father. I’m certainly not going to smoke the foul smelling sticks.”
Robert eyed the box. “Impressed,” he said, looking at it. “Expensive as well.”
“So, what did you think of your father?”
“At first glance, I was awestruck over his height and full head of dark hair.”
“I saw a lot of his features in you, Jolene. Did he give any indication of being curious about you?”
She shook her head no. “Not really,” Jolene sighed. “He talked about tobacco and pipes, which I found to be a boring subject.” She glanced at the box and rolled her eyes. “I asked him a roundabout question if his wife objected to his smoking.”
“But I told you he’s not married,” he replied.
“Yes, but I wanted to see how he would handle the question. I’m sure it brought up memories of mother.”
“And did he?”
“No, he purposely avoided answering me until I reminded him he had forgotten. Finally, he admitted that he was unmarried.”
“From what I remember when I was young, he had been an impressive and handsome man,” Robert said. “Now he reminds me of a lost soul.”
“I thought him attractive, but I understand what you’re saying. He has this underlying sadness about his eyes as if he aches inside.” Jolene felt a lump form in her throat.
“A lot of hurt and anger is still there,” Robert admitted. “He still despises my father and wrestles with his forgiveness for mother.” He reached over and patted Jolene’s arm. “You know, I truly believe you’re going to be his salvation once you reveal your identity.”
“Perhaps,” she mused. “I have this sense he is a proud and stubborn man.”
“No worse than my own father,” Robert balked. “God, talk about iron sharpens iron.”
The reference to Proverbs surprised Jolene. Her brother actually quoted scripture after reading de Sade’s tasteless literature. How odd. “A good analogy,” she congratulated him. “You do read something besides rubbish.”
“Very funny,” Robert replied. “It just came to mind. ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’”
“Yes, let’s hope they don’t end up stabbing each other with sharpened swords in the days ahead,” she said. Perhaps she should take heed to Robert’s warning about possible reactions from all involved.
“Jolene, I don’t know how you’re going to pull this off with everyone together.”
He sounded like a skeptic. Not wanting to consider the possibility of defeat, she ignored his doubt. “Well, you did invite Philippe to dinner, which if he accepts will work in bringing them altogether.”
“Yes, we can bring everyone together in one place,” he clarified, “But the emotions between all involved will be highly charged. It’s not enough they will find out that you are Angelique, but being together again—well, frankly, I can’t imagine.”
Jolene’s face turned sorrowful. “I cannot prevent how they will react to the situation. No one is innocent. Everybody played a role in this scandalous tale of love, deceit, and betrayal. And, they are equally responsible for how my life turned out.” She lowered her eyes, slightly ashamed. “I cannot complain about my situation in life, though.”
“You have been blessed,” Robert acknowledged.
She forced herself to maintain eye contact with Robert, even though her emotions teetered on the verge of tears. “Nevertheless, I want them to be together to express my heart and soul to each of them. They need to hear my disillusionment over the discovery about my past, as well as my disappointment in them for their actions.” Her heartbeat increased reacting to the edginess she felt.
“I take a hard line between judging them and accepting them. As much as I want a relationship with our mother, I am still not at a place of surrender.”
“And Philippe?”
“I believe in time, I shall grow to love him as my father the more we get to know each other.”
“Well, then, that leaves me,” Robert flashed a boyish grin. “The jealous sibling who pushed you over.” He rubbed his eyes with his knuckles. “Sniff, sniff.”
“Oh, you,” she said, pushing his arm with the palm of her hand. “I don’t know what I’d do without you to walk this journey with me.” She narrowed her eyes and shook her finger at him. “But if I catch you with the marquis’ book again, you’re going to fall from my good graces.”
The two halted their conversation when they heard someone try the door handle to the library, followed by a hard knock. Robert rose from his seat and opened the door. Jolene saw Geoffrey and jumped up, feeling as if the air had drained from her lungs. She couldn’t tell if she felt elated or mortified over seeing him.
“I say, ‘ol chap, why the locked door? What’s going on in here?”
Before either of them could answer, he gruffly pushed by Robert but quickly halted staring at Jolene. He glanced back and forth at them and jumped to an illogical conclusion.
“Well, I’m glad you are both dressed,” he said, looking miffed.
“There is no need to insult the lady.” Robert sneered at him.
Obviously, Robert did not look happy over his arrival. She tried to be welcoming, but felt embarrassed feeling a blush on her cheeks. “Geoffrey, what a surprise. We were merely having a private conversation.” It perturbed her thinking that she needed to defend her actions.
“Well, thank God I was the one who discovered the locked door and not one of the servants. You would have been eaten alive by gossips in the downstairs quarters this evening.” Geoffrey sauntered over toward Jolene attempting to capture her attention with his golden-speckled eyes.
“True,” she admitted, lowering her head. “My poor Maria would be embarrassed.” She looked over at Robert giving him a glare. “Perhaps it was not a wise move to lock the door, Lord Holland.”
Robert changed the subject, barking at his cousin. “What took you so long to get here?”
Geoffrey kept his gaze upon her instead, rather than acknowledging Robert who stood two feet away.
“Business at home,” he answered. “Father wanted me to take care of some things for him before he left for the West Indies. After all, I am head of the house in his absence.”
“Head of the house and you are in Paris. There is an undeniable disparity in that statement,” Robert quipped.
Once more, the sparks flew between them. Jolene had to admit they were another prime example of an iron-sharpens-iron relationship that needed the heat of blacksmith’s kiln to melt.
“Well, I’m glad you have safely arrived, Geoffrey. I am in need of another tour guide. We have the means of transportation, a driver, and plenty of time to see the city.”
“A motorcar and driver, eh?” Geoffrey rubbed his chin with his hand as if he were plotting where to spirit her away.
“Palace of Versailles is the place to visit first.” He took a step closer, lowered his head, and whispered in her ear. “I know the Queen’s bedchamber will be your favorite room.”
Jolene pulled away from Geoffrey looking at him in disbelief. “Another libertine rascal,” she complained, pulling a face at him to show her displeasure. Geoffrey snickered at her comment, as if he were proud of the name she had called him.
She took a step closer to Robert to put distance between herself and Geoffrey. Then, like an utter fool, she warned Robert not to share his reading selection with his cousin. “You better not tell him about that book.” Unaware of the impact of her jest, she gave him a mischievous smile as if she meant to embarrass him for having read it.
“Now you’ve done it,” he responded, sneering. “He will hound me until I confess.”
Jolene wanted to pull them both out of the library to save them from corruption. “Well, I’m
in need of tea,” she announced. “Coming boys?” Hopefully, the book would be forgotten and they would follow.
Geoffrey’s head spun toward Robert. “What book?”
Robert raised his brow. “See, I told you,” he said.
She would have to sneak back into the library and hide it elsewhere.
Chapter 25
An Emotional Guillotine
“If you have a fever, Robert, I expect you to remain at home and get well,” ordered Jolene. She stood next to her brother in bed. He looked a terrible mess with tousled hair, fevered brow, and red nose.
Robert moaned. “Well, this is an awful time to get ill. I will not allow you to go off touring Paris alone with my cousin. I do not trust him.”
She bunched her lips together and pulled them to one side. “You might as well say that you do not trust me. That’s what you mean, isn’t it?” She thrust her hands on her hips.
He shook his head, but Jolene couldn’t tell if he meant yes or no. Shivering from chills, he grabbed the covers and pulled them underneath his neck. With puppy-dog eyes, he looked up at her and pleaded.
“But I’ve made a vow to protect you, Jolene, and I intend to keep it.”
“Well, I made a vow to see you live a long life. You are staying in bed.”
He sneezed, and Jolene brought her own handkerchief to her nose. “Besides, you’re going to get everybody else sick. Now stay in bed!”
“All right,” he agreed, sinking lower under the covers.
“I’ll have one of the maids bring you up a cold glass of orange juice and chicken soup later. It will do you good.” Jolene turned to leave, but Robert’s weak voice called out after her.
“Be careful.”
“I will. Don’t worry about me.”
Jolene left her sick brother and joined Geoffrey. The duke and duchess had declined to tour the palace, having remarked they had seen it enough to last a lifetime. Since the duke and her mother did not seem too concerned over Geoffrey escorting her around Paris, Jolene felt confident in her decision. She looked forward to perhaps getting to know him a little better. After all, he was family.
As she strolled toward the parlor, she mused to herself. Does that make him my half cousin? Is there such a thing as half a cousin? Can you marry just half a cousin? She shook her head over the last silly thought.
“I’m sorry to be so tardy,” she said, as she entered the room. She buttoned the jacket to her walking dress. “Robert is ill with a nasty cold. He wanted to join us, but I insisted that he stay in bed.”
“Oh, what a shame,” he replied.
Geoffrey appeared to suppress a smile, but Jolene instantly recognized the agreeable twinkle in his eye betraying his true feelings. “I told him that you would treat me like a lady, though I don’t think he frankly trusts you.”
“I promise you, Lady von Lamberg, that I shall be nothing but a gentleman.”
She eyed him with a slight suspicion replaying Grace and Robert’s voice in her head about Geoffrey’s character. His promise sounded sincere without a hint of mischievousness.
“Good,” she said. “The driver is waiting for us out front.”
Geoffrey offered his arm and escorted her to the car. He sat a discreet distance from her in the back seat as they pulled away down the avenue. Jolene could see Notre Dame in the distance and had yet to see the Eiffel Tower in all of its glory. Feeling somewhat disappointed over everything she had ignored since her arrival, she turned to Geoffrey.
“How many times have you been to Paris?”
He shrugged one shoulder and tilted his head as if he were trying to recall. “A few,” he answered.
Jolene thought it sounded evasive, so she pressed further. “Well, the Hollands owned a townhome in Paris for many years, correct? Did your parents own one as well?”
“No, father never purchased one because of his many trips to the West Indies.”
“Have you ever traveled with him on business?”
“Heavens no,” he lamented. “I refuse to travel across the ocean for an extended period of time, just to go to a hot and humid sugar plantation.”
She could understand his aversion, but it surprised her that he lacked so much interest in his father’s business. “Well, that will never happen since your father is selling it now. You will not have to worry about inheriting the humidity.” She grinned over her amusing comment.
He glanced sideways at her and smirked. “You have a wit about you, Lady von Lamberg, which I find both prickly but entertaining.”
“Call me Jolene. You have known me long enough to be on a first-name basis. I don’t mind the informality.”
A warm smile spread across his face acknowledging his gratitude they had taken a step forward. Jolene looked out the window for a moment at the passing scenery.
“I must admit that I often feel removed from the world, Geoffrey. My stepfather kept me sheltered and protected in Vienna. Most of what I know, I have read in books or been taught in school. Now look,” she smiled, seeing the Eiffel Tower off in the distance. “I’m here actually enjoying it with my own eyes.”
“I feel honored that I can share it with you,” he said, reaching over and touching her hand in her lap.
Slowly, Jolene raised her head and looked into his brown eyes with flecks of gold. “I’m glad you can share it with me.”
Her hand remained in the same position without slipping from his tender grasp. Jolene made no objection over the attention received from the handsome man.
* * * *
The opulent palace astounded Jolene. Vienna had its own collection of luxurious, gilded palaces as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Though the French had done away with its aristocracy, Austria still held strong. Her stepfather had told her that there were those that wanted to abolish the nobility in Austria. If that occurred, she would still be well provided for with her inheritance and able to keep her head. She thought of poor Marie Antoinette—born an Archduchess of Austria, married the Dauphin of France, and beheaded in the prime of her life.
After their arrival, they took a leisurely tour. Impressed by the luxury and beauty of the Palace of Versailles, Jolene enjoyed every moment. When they walked through the Queen’s bedchamber, Geoffrey had the sense to keep his mouth shut. Instead, he spouted off his knowledge of history, which Jolene had already been privy to from her own studies.
Later, while strolling through the gardens, they enjoyed spirited conversation and shared personal exchanges about likes and dislikes. Nevertheless, by the end of their tour, Jolene discovered that she felt nothing of interest beyond enjoying his company as a friend. The spark she had experienced when they first met failed to ignite with the same intensity. No doubt, her current circumstances and focus had dampened her interest, along with the fact that Geoffrey and Robert did not get along. During their return to the townhome, it became clear that Geoffrey felt differently.
After they climbed into the car, he sat extremely close to her body, making her uncomfortable. She scooted to the right to show her disapproval over his nearness. A brief glance into his eyes revealed his longing. The speckles of gold faded. He looked as if he were stalking her for his next meal.
Since her experience with men had been limited and her virginity intact, she suddenly felt foolish for inviting him to Paris. To make matters worse, she had encouraged him by holding his hand earlier. Scolding herself for doing so, she determined to draw a line that he would understand and respect. Just as she was building her fortitude to put him in his place, he spoke.
“Jolene, you know how I feel about you.” His hand moved over to her lap and rested on her thigh giving her a little squeeze. He pulled up the skirt of her dress an inch.
In response, she promptly picked up his hand and pushed it away. “Please behave,” she whispered sternly. “The driver will see you.”
“You failed to respond to my comment,” he said. He tried to put his arm around her shoulder, but Jolene scooted closer to the door and gazed out the
window avoiding his eyes.
“I heard your remark,” she answered, trying to be nonchalant. After inhaling a deep breath, she turned her head and spoke in a kind but firm voice.
“I know that you have intentions to court me, Geoffrey, but I do not wish to be courted by you or anyone else for that matter. My life is fulfilling, and I have plans. Entering into any kind of relationship or marital arrangement will only impede my personal goals.”
Geoffrey expressed her rejection by suddenly inhaling and exhaling rapid breaths. She could not tell if she had hurt or angered him. His strange behavior made her uncomfortable, so she turned her head toward the window. A moment later, his emotions unleashed in a fury she had not anticipated.
“You are too damn high and mighty with your Austrian title of komtesse,” he snarled. “You fucking Europeans, who live on the Continent, think that you are superior to the English.”
Jolene turned her head and huffed. She nearly slapped him across his face but restrained herself. “How dare you talk to me in that tone of disrespect,” she glowered.
Geoffrey burst into a hideous laugh that made her blood run cold. He looked at her with an arrogant grin.
“Very soon, I’m going to push you off that high pedestal of yours. And when I’m through with you, there will be little left of your arrogant pride.”
His eyes turned black as coal, and Jolene’s breath hitched in her throat.
“Perhaps I’ll start right now,” he sneered.
The next she knew, his lips pressed hard against her own. His forceful behavior sent her into an angry rage. She hit him hard with her fist on the side of his head. As a result, he pulled away long enough for her to give an order.
“Driver,” she screamed. “Pull over immediately!”
He quickly obeyed and slowly the car rolled to a halt alongside the curb.
“Get out, Geoffrey. I don’t want to see you again until you apologize for your rude and ungentlemanly behavior.”
Without protest, he flung the door open, got out, and leaned down to say his parting words. “I’ll apologize when hell freezes over, you bitch.” His arm flung the door shut, slamming it so hard it rocked the car. A moment later, he had disappeared down the street.
The Price of Love Page 23
