by Emery, Lynn
“I could meet you there,” Lyrissa said in a strained voice. She looked at him, trying to send a silent message.
“No sense in taking two cars. I’ll pick you up at your house. I’ll treat you to dinner, since I’m making you work late.” Noel rubbed his hands together as though the matter were settled.
Lyrissa stood. She put her planner back into her brief-case, along with the list of art and addresses. “Then I’ll see you later. I’ve finished up here.” No way was she going to be left alone with Mrs. St. Denis.
“I thought you needed to examine the pieces in the at-tic.” Mrs. St. Denis stared at her steadily.
“I did. It didn’t take long since I’d examined them be-fore. I just needed one more look after finding information on them in an art book.” Lyrissa tossed more of her work tools into the briefcase. She snapped it shut and picked up her small purse.
“I see,” Mrs. St. Denis said. “Goodbye, then.”
“Goodbye.” Lyrissa forced a thin smile.
Noel put a hand under her elbow and walked beside her. Lyrissa glared at him. He smiled back at her serenely. Rosalie came down the hall as they left the library. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she noted Noel’s hand on Lyrissa’s arm.
“Bye, Rosie,” Noel called out.
“Bye, you rascal,” Rosalie called back with a grin.
“Rascal is right,” Lyrissa muttered.
Noel only laughed at her comment. They went to the circular driveway where his Infiniti was parked behind her Honda.
“Goodbye, Lyrissa. I look forward to seeing you this evening. Two nights in a row.” He stood close to her.
Lyrissa wanted to swipe the smug look of victory from his face. At the same time she wanted to kiss him. The conflicting emotions left her feeling dazed. “Goodbye” was all she could say.
He walked with her to the car. He opened the door once she unlocked it. “Don’t look so worried. We’re going to have fun.” Noel winked at her, then strolled to his car and got in.
Lyrissa gripped the steering wheel as she drove to her morning class. There was no denying the pleasant tickle of anticipation in her body.
“Well?” Carlton frowned as he stared over Julie’s shoulder.
“No wonder Noel is doing an inventory. This collection is one hell of an asset.” Julie chewed on her bottom lip as she read.
“Some members of the family are very disturbed with his plans.” Carlton wore a pleased smile.
“You could be wrong, you know,” Julie muttered without taking her eyes off the list.
“I know I’m right.” Carlton stuck his chest out.
Julie cast a glance up at him. “Sure you are.”
“What does that mean? I’ve made a few mistakes, but—” Carlton snapped.
“I didn’t say a thing.” Julie cut him off. She sat back against the chair with a long sigh.
“This is a waste of time,” Carlton said, his jaw muscles working.
“Noel is working hard to get everything listed. I think he has good reason to do so.” Julie crossed her legs and stared at Carlton.
“Sure he has—her name is Lyrissa Rideau.” Carlton leered.
“That woman is a phony,” Julie shot back.
“Oops, didn’t mean to touch a nerve.” Carlton’s pleased expression contradicted his words. “Guess that’s why Noel isn’t at the office much these days. They’re out ‘looking at art.
Julie stood abruptly, the sheet clutched in her fist. “But I’ve got something she doesn’t have. I’m going to see Mr. Augustin this evening.”
Carlton’s gleeful grin faltered. A baffled look came into his small eyes. “I don’t know why. Cousin Augustin is nuts.” “He’s got the best of the collection.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything yet.” Carlton stared at her hard.
“What are you talking about?” Julie glared at him. “This scheme of yours is all to your benefit. You want to show up Lyrissa and score points with Noel. What do I get? I’ve already told a few of the family they should fight his proposal.” Carlton crossed to his desk and sat down in his chair.
“What if you need to sell the collection, after all? You’ve given them ammunition to fight you, too.”
“I won’t change my mind. It’s a stupid idea.”
“Don’t be an idiot, Carlton!” Julie burst out. “You’re just saying that because it was Noel’s idea!”
“No, I’m not.” Carlton looked like a stubborn child despite his size.
“Oh, grow up! You’ve been acting like this toward Noel since we were kids.” Julie put both hands on her hips.
“He’s always tried to make me look bad.” Carlton’s eyes glittered with anger.
“You didn’t need help!”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re on his side. Why should I listen to you?”
“I want this company to thrive for our children— Noel’s and mine.” Julie spoke with steely resolve.
“Got your china pattern all picked out,” Carlton wise-cracked.
She ignored his attempt at humor. “My point is my interest lies with making sure we all win. Stop fighting Noel out of stupid, childish jealousy. I’ll help you.”
“Really?” Carlton still wore a guarded expression.
Julie sat deep in thought while Carlton seemed to mull over her arguments. The only sound for five minutes was the ticking of a fancy brass clock. Carlton fiddled with his Mont Blanc pen. Julie seemed to be far away. She finally spoke, a calculating expression on her face.
“I think there’s more to this collection than even Noel or Miss Georgina realizes,” she said.
“We’ll need more than your intuition.”
“Shut up and listen,” she hissed. “I’ve done a bit of digging. I’m in the process of researching all the artists. That’s why I’m going to Mr. Augustin’s house.”
“I don’t get it,” Carlton said.
Julie huffed with exasperation. “What if there’s a missing masterpiece in it? What if one item is worth a fortune?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Grandmother would know. My father would know.” Carlton shook his head.
“How? Everything has been scattered for years, even before your father was born. There’s no definitive list, Carlton.”
“You really think so?” Carlton stared at the list in her hands with a hungry expression.
Julie’s pretty features hardened. “There’s only one way to find out. I’m going to make sure Miss Lyrissa Rideau doesn’t get there first.”
Chapter 11
Noel stole sideways glances at Lyrissa. The strained but polite conversation had finally petered out. Now they rode in awkward silence. She sat far from him on the other end of the front seat. It felt as though there were miles of leather between them. Lyrissa appeared to be far from him in more than physical distance. Mindless conversation was better than nothing, he decided after ten minutes.
“At least the traffic isn’t such a nightmare,” he said.
“Hmm.”
“But then, it’s almost seven. Too bad we couldn’t meet for dinner,” Noel ventured with caution.
“I was busy,” Lyrissa said.
“I know. I was just saying it would have been nice.” Noel looked at her. Lyrissa stared out the window. “Okay, I give up. Tell me what I did.”
“Nothing,” she said in a crisp voice.
“I kind of maneuvered you into this trip. Is that it?” Noel tried again.
“No.”
Noel was shaken by her coldness. If she’d been any other woman, he would have shrugged it off and moved on, fast. He had done it more times than he could count. But this wasn’t just any other woman.
“If I’m being too pushy, say so.” His heart thumped when she sighed. “What I mean is—”
“I’ll let you know,” she said, still staring ahead.
“Okay.”
They rode on in silence. Noel’s fingers ached from holding the steering wheel so tight. He willed his hands to loosen. Words c
rowded his head, but he couldn’t seem to put them together in the right combination. Once again he was stumped by her effect on him. He had no point of reference on how to proceed. He wasn’t nervous, exactly.
“You’ve got me all confused,” she said finally.
Noel gasped with relief. “I was thinking exactly the same thing. I don’t—” He stopped when she started.
“I’m not usually this—sorry.” Lyrissa looked at him.
“No, no. You go.” He guided the car into the exit lane.
“I cut you off.” Lyrissa waved a hand.
“Ladies first.” Noel wore a slight smile.
“Chicken,” she teased.
“I’m okay with that, now finish what you started,” Noel said.
Lyrissa half turned in her seat. “I had you all figured out, and then you mess things up by being ... nice.”
“I’m so sorry. Should I be a real fool from now on?”
“I’m serious. Practically all my life I had this idea of people like you.”
He could feel her gaze like a soft cloth settling over him. He pulled up to a red light. “You came to our house sure of what kind of people we’d be.”
Lyrissa nodded slowly. “I guess I’m a snob.”
“Everyone has biases. But we can choose not to hold onto them.”
“I guess you’re right,” she said in a pensive voice.
“Maybe the answer is knowing your biases and not being bound by them.” Noel reached out and touched one of her hands.
“Did you have any preconceived notions about me?”
“Yes indeed. I thought you’d be boring and plain.” Noel laughed. The light turned green and he pressed the accelerator.
“Very funny,” she quipped. “Seriously, there are real problems with you and me becoming a couple.”
“A couple of what?” Noel glanced at her sideways.
“Cut it out. You know what I mean.” Lyrissa squinted at him.
“So tell me what you think stops us from being a couple.”
“Let’s see, there’s difference in social status, money, your family’s attitudes about bloodlines and skin color. Need I go on?” Lyrissa looked at him.
“Don’t be shy, say what you think!”
“Look, I went to school with Creole girls. I thought they were my friends. Then one day I saw two of my ‘friends’ away from school with their parents at the mall. They pretended not to know me.” Lyrissa stared ahead.
“Then you didn’t lose much,” Noel said angrily.
“That was my first lesson in prejudice, from my own race. But Creoles don’t consider themselves Black, do they?”
“The whole issue is complicated, Lyrissa.” Noel shook his head. “Some feel that way, others don’t.”
“Well, I haven’t met the ones who don’t yet.”
“Yes, you have. Me.” Noel put a hand over hers. “I’m African-American. We know that Marie Auguste Conque was a slave bought by a French planter in seventeen sixteen. Her granddaughter had ten children, seven of them for her owner.”
Lyrissa’s tense frown gave way to an expression of interest. She took a pad and pen out of her purse. “Why haven’t you told me this before? I can include this information on her in my dissertation.”
He smiled, glad that the tense moment had passed. “See, there was a good reason for us to be together tonight. By the way, I hope you got that little bigot back.” Lyrissa wore an evil grin. “Oh yeah. I’ll bet she still can’t open a locker without getting scared.”
“You’ve got to tell me that story.”
“Let’s just say my friend Herbie’s pet rat learned how to fly that day.”
“Remind me not to make you mad.”
Her expression became serious. “That was one of the few bright spots at St. Mary’s.”
Noel wanted to stop the car and take her in his arms. “I’m so sorry, Lyrissa.”
“Thanks. Anyway, back to the St. Denis family. They won’t be happy with you dating me.”
“You’re assuming my entire family is close-minded. That’s not fair.”
She wore a cynical smile. “I’ve met them, remember?” “I make my own decisions,” Noel said with force.
“Life is complicated enough for me right now. I’ve got school, my family to consider...”
“If we trust each other, we can handle them all.”
“Let me think about it,” Lyrissa said after a few moments.
“Fair enough. In the meantime, we can date, nothing too heavy,” he added quickly when she started to speak. “A nice chaste kiss or two every now and then.” He wore a half-smile.
“Noel...” Lyrissa shook a finger at him.
“I like the way you say my name,” he murmured. Lyrissa blushed. Her lips looked moist and delicious. Noel shifted to relieve the tension of his intense arousal. Still he knew better than to push her. She needed time to think about them. But then, so did he.
Fifteen minutes later they pulled into a long, circular driveway on Pontalba Avenue. The house was three stories tall with the first floor on street level. A staircase went up to a wide veranda on the second floor. It was a classic New Orleans design.
“My God,” she whispered.
“We just had this talk, Lyrissa. We’re not from another galaxy, okay?” From her expression, Noel was afraid he’d lost what little ground he’d gained.
She stared at the house. “It’s lovely. I’d say around 1870.” “You’re an expert on old houses, too?” Noel led her around to a side door.
“No, but I recognize some of the carved woodwork It dates from that period.”
Noel pressed a lighted doorbell button. “Cousin Augustin lives down here. His youngest daughter has the upper floors, but she’s gone most of the time.”
“On family business, I suppose.” Lyrissa gazed around as though taking in every detail.
“No, she likes to investigate ghost sightings,” Noel said with a straight face.
“Say what?” She blinked at him.
“She dances to her own music, you could say,” h grinned.
“I guess she can afford to,” Lyrissa murmured.
She became thoughtful again as she took in her surroundings. A lush garden could be seen despite the darkness. Noel decided not to mention the landscaped yard with a pond filled with exotic koi in the back. Lyrissa stared up at the house, then around at the old-money neighborhood. Noel was about to speak up about stereo types when the door jerked open. A round faced man dressed in a designer sports shirt and slacks beamed at them. He was short and stocky. His eyes were hazel with hints of green.
“Ah, the young prodigal. Oh, wait, that’s your father: isn’t it? My, but he makes life interesting. How is Richard these days?”
“Not too different,” Noel said with a mock frown.
“Wonderful! I like consistency. Be yourself, is what say.” The older man hugged Noel with affection. Then h turned his attention to Lyrissa.
“Cousin Augustin, this is Lyrissa Rideau. I told you about her.”
“Yes, but you didn’t mention she was a flower of female perfection. So pleased to meet you.” Augustin took he hand and bowed.
“Thank you.” Lyrissa glanced at Noel with an amused expression.
“He likes to lay it on thick. But don’t take him too seriously. He’s fickle,” Noel said.
Augustin straightened and led Lyrissa inside. “In the interests of full disclosure, I’m fifty-two—”
“Fifty-nine,” Noel corrected.
He swept on as though Noel hadn’t spoken. “I have my own teeth, mostly. My children are all grown, I’m financially secure and love to travel.”
“He’s all talk, Lyrissa.” Noel smiled at him.
“Scared of a little competition, young man? Come in. I’ve got wine and beer, and I mix a mean hurricane.”
Cousin Augustin led them down a short hallway. Lyrissa hadn’t gone two steps when she stopped to admire a framed painting. The two men were talking and didn’t
notice. She opened her portfolio and scanned the list.
“How beautiful,” she said as she flipped pages.
“Lyrissa, would you like Chardonnay or...” Noel realized she wasn’t behind him. He went back to stand beside her.
“Your lady is all business, son. You like it, Miss Rideau?” Cousin Augustin called out.
“This is by Tomas Daigrepont.” Lyrissa seemed awed by her discovery. “It’s described here, but I never dreamed!”
“Oh yes. I remember my grandmother mentioning him. Quite well thought of, I think.” Cousin Augustin bustled to the bar. Glass tinkled as he prepared drinks.
“He was a notorious man in his day. Very talented, but le died young.” Lyrissa furiously made notes.
“Thrown head first from a horse at forty.” Cousin Augustin stirred the contents of a clear glass pitcher. “Martini for me, kids.”
“I’m driving, so I’d better not. Definitely not one of your martinis.” Noel waved at him when he held up the pitcher.
“Coward,” Augustin said with a grin. “Now, I’ll bet this: spirited young thing will join me.”
“No, thank you. Are these part of the collection?” Lyrissa no longer looked at the list. She walked around examining sculptures and paintings.
Augustin swallowed some of his drink. “Hmm, just right, as usual. No, those are from my mother’s side of the family.”
“You’re fortunate to be surrounded by such beauty.1 Lyrissa continued her tour.
“Dust catchers, that’s what the lady who cleans for mi calls them.” Augustin took another generous sip from the glass, and then set it down. “Since you insist on business, com with me.”
“I’m sorry. I got carried away.” Lyrissa looked embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, dear. I make it a point to indulge beautiful women.” Augustin beamed at her.
“Oh, man!” Noel rolled his eyes.
Lyrissa smiled at the older man without looking a Noel. “Careful, you’ll turn my head.”
“I’m past the age of turning a young girl’s head, sad to say. Now, pretend I’m the Wizard and this is the Land c Oz.” Augustin went before them with a bounce to his step.
“You’re going to show me amazing sights and sounds? Lyrissa seemed happy to join the game.
