She blinked in confusion. “Whatever makes you say that?”
He had no choice but to remind her of her indiscretion. “You stayed out all night with Drakar but didn’t want to marry him to smooth things over.”
Dani was at once defensive. “Of course I didn’t. That’s certainly nothing to base a marriage on, regardless of what others might think. I have to live my own life.”
“So do I.”
She wondered what on Earth he was talking about, then it all came flooding back at the same time he offered revelation.
“Lily came to my room one night. I’d had too much to drink, I’m afraid. I didn’t make her leave.”
He waited for her reaction.
Dani merely shrugged.
Colt wondered if he’d not been explicit enough. Surely she was sophisticated enough to know what he was talking about. Patience ebbing, he went on to bluntly admit, “I know now she was lying, but at the time she pretended I was the first man she’d ever had and declared that no decent man would want her for a wife, and it was all my fault because I seduced her…” He paused, shook his head from side to side in self-admonishment. “What a crock of bullshit! And I was stupid enough to believe it.”
Dani’s heart went out to him. “I know all about that night, Colt.”
He stared at her, amazed. “How?”
She related Lurline’s story.
Colt’s reaction was to laugh. “Seems everyone knew the truth about Lily but me. If Drakar hadn’t run like a scalded dog, I might be inclined to believe he did set it all up for my benefit.”
Dani had turned to refill her cup but whirled around sharply. “What did you say?”
“I said I might’ve been inclined to believe—”
“No, no.” She shook her head, long hair flying. Something was needling within, a strange feeling she did not like. “What do you mean—Drake ran?”
Colt hated being the one to have to tell her, for he had no way of knowing how far their relationship had gone, how deeply she had been hurt by all of this, but saw no other way now except to inform her Drakar had left suddenly and mysteriously sometime during the night.
“I went to the hotel this morning to get some answers. I wanted to get it straight in my mind whether or not he was telling the truth, but when I got there, the concierge said he’d left during the night and wasn’t expected back anytime soon. That makes me think maybe he was guilty and didn’t want any more trouble and decided to just get out of Paris till things had a chance to cool down.”
“Strange,” Dani whispered, more to herself than to Colt, then mused aloud, “Drake isn’t the type to run from trouble. It doesn’t make sense that he’d ran away in the middle of the night like a coward when he was more than ready to face you last night, when you were in a rage.
“And,” she added in a pained voice, “I would have thought he’d make some attempt to speak with me.”
Colt got up to place his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of love and comfort. “I’m sorry, Dani. I really am. I guess you just had him figured all wrong. I know how you feel because I was taken in the same way by Lily.”
Dani admitted to being hurt, but more than that she was confused. “Are you sure he didn’t tell anyone where he was going?”
“The concierge said he’d probably gone back to Russia.”
Dani bit back tears of regret for what might have been, for what she had thought there was.
“Yes, I suppose he would return there if he wanted to get away for a while.” She turned and gestured. “He seemed to love his country, said this painting reminded him—”
She gasped, fell silent, hands flying to her face as she stared at the empty wall.
Colt followed her gaze, did not understand anything except that her face was suddenly drained of color and she looked horrified. “Dani, for God’s sake, what’s wrong?”
She pointed a trembling finger to the blank space on the wall where the painting of the Alexandrovsky Palace should have been hanging. “It’s gone.”
“What’s gone?” he echoed, alarmed.
“The painting Drake liked so much…one of the ones I found in Monaco and refused to sell to him. It’s been stolen.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you set it aside to dust it or something—”
“No, no!” She was almost screaming. “It’s been stolen. But how—”
Her gaze fell on the open window she had not noticed before.
“There! That’s how he got in! Drake must’ve slipped in here last night while I was sleeping upstairs.”
“Why would he want it?” Colt asked.
“The bastard!” she fumed. “The arrogant bastard! So used to having his own way that he takes what isn’t given to him.”
Colt was mystified by the intensity of her reaction. “Was it valuable?”
“That’s not the point! Don’t you see? He wanted it! I told him he couldn’t have it. He stole it from me. And I’ll be goddamned if anyone uses me that way!”
Colt started for the door, his own ire rising. “I’m going to report this to the authorities.”
“No. Don’t.”
He turned to stare questioningly. Surely she couldn’t be so infatuated with the rogue that she was going to let him get away with burglary.
“I’m going to deal with it myself. In my own way.”
He walked back to where she stood. “What are you talking about? What do you think you can do? Let the police handle this and do a complete investigation. Something else might be missing that you haven’t noticed yet. Besides, you can’t prove Drakar did it.”
“I know he did it. Who else would want just that one painting?” She sighed with exasperation, then repeated, “I told you he wanted to buy it, and I told him it wasn’t for sale. I remember noticing the way he looked at it, almost in a trance. It was strange, but I never thought much about it at the time, only that maybe it made him homesick because it was a painting of a palace where he had spent a lot of time when he was a boy.”
Colt was fast growing impatient. “Dani, you’re being ridiculous. A man isn’t going to commit a theft just to take some worthless piece of art that reminds him of a boyhood home.”
She eyed him coldly. “Drake would. I told you, he’s used to getting anything he wants. He did this to show me that once and for all.”
Colt shook his head, threw up his hands in surrender to such mad theory. “If you don’t want it back and you don’t want to have him punished, fine. Don’t report it.”
Stubbornly, coldly, she announced, “I’m going to get it back.”
He laughed uneasily. His sister sounded too sure of herself. “And how do you propose to do that? He’s far, far away from here by now.”
“I’m going to Russia,” she quietly replied.
“You are what?” he said, stunned, then, quickly recovered. “You’ll do no such thing.”
“You can’t stop me!”
“You just watch me.” He was glaring down at her with steely eyes. “If I have to tie you to a post, I’ll be damned if you’re going to go traipsing off to Russia after a worthless painting.”
“It isn’t worthless. It’s part of a collection that the Paris art world has talked about for months. And it belongs to me. I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit back and do nothing and let that bastard just walk off with it. He knows I know he took it. He’s probably laughing right now to think how naïve I was.”
“Dani, I won’t let you. I’ll go to Pa and—”
“Shhh!” She cut him off, waving her hands frantically at the sound of the bell above the door and the sight of Cyril walking in. Her lips slowly curved in a secret smile as the devious plan began to form. Leaning closer to Colt, she confidingly whispered, “You don’t have to worry. I won’t be going to Russia alone. Here comes my traveling companion now.”
Colt followed her gaze, shook his head in disgust. “If you think I’m letting you travel with him by yourself, you’re crazy.”
Dani was as
sailed with yet another interesting thought. “Then come with us, Colt. It would do you good to get away.”
She started toward Cyril, calling out a warm greeting.
Colt looked on and slowly began to nod his head in agreement as he thought over her invitation, deciding that maybe a trip to Russia was the very thing to help him forget that once again he had been deceived by a woman.
Cyril was momentarily stunned by Dani’s warm welcome and her overall ebullient mood. He had dropped by on the pretext of inviting her out to dinner again, all the while anxious to see her reaction to the theft of the Alexandrovsky Palace painting. Certainly he had not expected to find her so happy.
She greeted him genially, reaching out to squeeze both his hands in welcome, and gushed, “Cyril, I’m so glad you came. I was just telling Colt how bad I feel about turning down your invitations to dinner. I’ve neglected you terribly, I’m afraid. Let me make it up to you by preparing a cozy dinner for you at your place tonight.”
Cyril was really baffled then. “I—I don’t have a nice place, Dani,” he attempted to explain, disappointed to have to do so. “I live in a small room above my office, and—”
“That’s all right.” She waved away his excuses, then steered him to where the coffeepot waited. “Poppa and Kitty have gone on a holiday, so we’ll just go to their house, and I’ll dismiss the servants and make dinner for you myself.”
Cyril was flabbergasted, could not fathom what was happening but was nonetheless pleased. “Well, I’d love to, Dani.”
Colt and Cyril exchanged cool greetings, and Colt, sensing that Dani wanted him to leave, politely did so.
“I’m afraid you were right about Drakar, Cyril,” Dani said after a while. “He’s everything you said he was.”
Cyril’s eyebrows rose. Things were working out just as he’d hoped. “Oh? What caused such a revelation, my dear?”
She shrugged, hated having to bring up the subject but knew it was important for him to know Drakar was no longer a part of her life. If not, he might be reluctant to take her to Russia with him. “Suffice it to say you were right. I really don’t care to discuss it.”
Politely, he obliged. “I certainly don’t want you to talk about anything that upsets you, Dani. Just remember that I’m your friend, and I’m always ready to help any way I can.”
“And I’m your friend, too, Cyril.” She felt no guilt at the adoring way he was looking at her. Forcing enthusiasm, she said, “I’ll have dinner ready at eight, and we’ll have a nice evening, all right?”
“Wonderful.” He wanted to crush her in his arms but did not dare.
After he left the shop, Cyril paused outside to ponder. She had said nothing about the painting or blaming Drakar for its theft…and she had to have noticed. Probably that was the reason her brother was present so early in the day. She’d sent for him first thing.
But, he mused, it was no surprise that she hadn’t said anything to him. After all, she had her pride, and it had probably been hard for her to even admit he’d been right, without the pain of confiding everything. She probably felt like a terrible fool, which was certainly understandable.
Cyril felt so good inside, and the smile that touched his lips transcended all the way to his very soul. Everything was working just the way he’d planned. Dani, so beautiful and desirable, was turning to him in her frustration, and that was wonderful!
Whistling merrily, he continued on his way…very much looking forward to the evening ahead.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Why do you need Cyril Arpel? If you want to go to Russia to try and find Drakar, I’ll go with you. Besides, you don’t even know for sure that’s where he went, and if he did, how in the hell would you know where to even start looking for him?”
Colt paused to draw a ragged, exasperated breath before continuing his diatribe, shaking his head in disgust. “It’s a wild-goose chase, Dani. Why don’t you just call the police and report the theft and let them take it from there? Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?”
She wondered for the hundredth time why he couldn’t understand something so utterly simple and struggled for patience as she attempted once more to make him understand. “It’s a personal vendetta, Colt, if you want to call it that. I’m just not going to let him get away with it. Besides, I need Cyril—he has the necessary social connections to take me places I need and want to go. As for not knowing where to look for Drake,” she added with determination, “if he’s in Russia, believe me, I’ll find him. He’ll be where the glitter and excitement is, and that’s where I intend to be.”
Colt threw up his hands in resignation. “So be it. We’ll go, but I think you’re crazy.”
He left then, not wanting to be around when Cyril arrived.
Dani hurried to put the finishing touches on the dinner she had carefully prepared. She had set a cozy table for two on the balcony outside the upstairs parlor, which overlooked Kitty’s rose garden, still fragrantly lovely with meager late-season offerings. The moon was at its fullest, and the air was not terribly cool, so the setting would be lovely.
She had selected a simple but elegant gown of black velvet with long sleeves that tapered to points at her wrists. The neckline, demurely heart-shaped, was exquisitely edged in a thin band encrusted with tiny blood opals. Her hair was brushed back from her face and cascaded down to hang full and loose around her shoulders, and she wore a headband across her forehead identical to the opal trim of her gown.
A last glance in the mirror as the doorbell sounded assured her of the look she had sought to achieve—delicate refinement.
Cyril took one look at her and gasped aloud. “My God, Dani, you are beautiful!”
Dam curtsied playfully. “Why, thank you, kind sir.” Then she beckoned him to follow her upstairs.
As they made their way, he curiously asked why the house seemed so deserted. “I know you said your parents were on a holiday, but didn’t your brother have a house guest?”
She stiffened at the allusion to Lily. “Mademoiselle Deauneve left for England unexpectedly.”
Cyril noted the chill in her voice, opted not to pursue what was obviously an unpleasant subject that did not interest him anyway.
Upstairs, Dani served an aperitif of champagne with crème de cassis and an appetizer of thin Lyonnais sausage, and Cyril was delighted. “If this is a sample of your culinary talents, Dani,” he said, “I’ll propose before the second course!”
Before the first course had ended, Cyril inquired as to whether she had finalized her plans to travel to Denmark. She seized the opening at once. “I’ve decided to take you up on your kind offer!” she stated.
He blinked, pretending not to know what she was talking about…all the while feeling cold apprehension descend. Surely she did not mean what he feared she meant.
Then, with her next words, he was forced to realize his suspicions were sadly correct.
“I’m going to Russia with you.”
He swallowed hard, reached for his glass of wine and took a quick sip, wanting precious time to react properly. Finally, when he trusted himself to speak, he asked, “Are you quite sure, my dear? I plan to stay until spring, and you’d have to travel back alone because you certainly couldn’t stay away for that long.”
She agreed but was not about to tell him she would not be returning alone because he might not be pleased about Colt joining them. That would have to come as a surprise.
“We’ll worry about that when the time comes,” she said dismissively.
“Why do you want to go? And isn’t this rather sudden?”
Dani shook her head. She’d been prepared for his surprise and his questions. “I need a change. I’m rather tired of Paris, and you’ve whetted my appetite for Russia with your wonderful tales of the season there. Besides, you know all the right people, and you can show me around…if you still want me to come,” she added, deliberately sounding as though she were on the verge of being terribly hurt and disappointed should he
renege on his invitation.
Cyril could do nothing except be reassuring and hope he appeared sincere. “Yes, yes, of course I do.”
Dani grinned and sat back in her chair, folded her hands in her lap as she looked at him in happy anticipation. “Then when do we leave?”
Dammit, he knew he’d be happy to have her with him as far as Denmark, but once they were in Russia she could prove to be a problem when he started searching for the Fabergé egg. He told her he had already booked passage. “You might not be able to make a reservation on the same ship. The agent told me they were terribly crowded.”
She was undaunted. “Nonsense. First class is never fully booked.”
He looked at her a moment, hidden longings surfacing, doubts and fears submerging. “I think we can arrange things, Dani,” he whispered, “and I think the two of us can have a trip we’ll always remember.” He reached out to cover her hand with his.
She gently withdrew from his touch, thinking how grateful she was that Colt had decided to go too. No doubt, Cyril would probably be making advances at every turn, and the last thing she wanted for a long, long time was that kind of relationship with a man.
They finished dinner and had coffee inside, then Dani pointedly looked at the mantel clock and said she hoped he’d not think her rude but felt it time they ended the evening.
“Remember, I gave the servants the night off, Cyril. It isn’t proper that we be here alone together so late.”
It was the moment he had been waiting for. Setting his coffee aside, he lunged for her, wrapping his arms around her and crushing her against him as he heatedly declared, “Yes, I know we’re here alone, Dani, and you just don’t know how long I’ve waited to do this…”
His lips came down on hers bruisingly, and he held her so tightly she feared she could not breathe. She struggled out of his grip. “Cyril, no!” she protested vehemently.
At once he let her go. He forced himself to quell the resentment bubbling inside as he recalled how she’d stayed so late in Drakar’s apartment unchaperoned. Well, there would be many opportunities for them to be alone together once they were on the ship, and he was confident that sooner or later he would be able to break down her reserves and have her the way he wanted.
Love and Splendor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 5 Page 25
