“Uh ...” I glanced back and saw Didier was gone. He had slipped away, falling back into the shadows, much as Ferdy had done only moments before. “I was just looking for the ladies’ withdrawing room.”
“I still can’t believe you got lost on your way to see me, Eleanora,” Lady Penelope nearly shouted, as she turned to smile at Karl. “Can you imagine!”
She held me tight against her once more. “There’s no need for you to go to the withdrawing room if you told Karl you were going down to join me.”
“I was trying to escape the marriage talk,” I muttered back, hoping she would not inspect my reasons for leaving too closely.
“We will have another discussion about this later,” she hissed before Karl stepped up next to us.
“I am just as glad as you are, Madame, that we have found her,” Karl said.
He might have been trying to reclaim the kingdom as his own, but I was grateful for Karl’s interruption in that moment. It was very fortunate timing, and I could only hope and pray Lady Penelope would forget all about discussing anything later with me.
“The finale is coming,” Karl said. “Please, Eleanora, we need to get back to your box. At my request, Kde domov mūji? Is the last song of the night. The song and its composer have ties to the theatre and remind Bohemia we are united in this place we know as home.”
I eagerly abandoned Lady Penelope’s false affection, practically leaping onto his arm; we just made it back to our seats as the music began to play.
Karl’s eyes widened in excitement as the music began to swell; the crowd was full of mixed reactions, but many people seemed unsure. Some of them stood up to cheer, and some began to leave.
But then, the music stopped, and trumpets began to sound from behind the crowds.
“What is going on?” Karl asked. Over the blaring horns, I could not hear him very well, but I heard him enough to know he was furious. “This is not part of the concert.”
I stood up, angling myself over the railing in front of me. Down in the center of the crowd, two lines of servants, strangely dressed figures in bright French livery, touted out on trumpets.
At the sight of them, I turned to Lady POW. Her jaw was rigid with anger, and I did not know what to make of that. But between Karl’s reaction and Lady Penelope’s expression, someone other than Ferdy was the mastermind behind this incident.
The trumpets continued, as a pair of dark-skinned performers suddenly appeared between them. I quickly looked away; they were dressed in grass skirts and flowered ornaments, hardly what I would call clothes; their chests were bare. and their faces were covered with masks. Some of them wore masks while others juggled sticks, and I could see half of the ladies in the theatre boxes scrambling to get away while the other half tried to look demure and embarrassed as they secretly stared at the spectacle.
It was a strange sight, the sort of thing I always pictured when I tried to imagine Vauxhall Gardens in London. I almost smiled at the performance before I noticed Lady Penelope’s face crinkled with disapproval. Before I could ask what was wrong, the trumpets went silent, and a man’s voice called out to the crowd.
“Good evening, my lords and ladies! As God said, ‘Let there be light,’ it was so, and he saw that the light was very good. I am Lumiere Valoris, and as I was named for the light, I can say, it is very good that I am here!”
The voice was coming from a pallet, carried by six more muscular men, as it made its way in front of the room. There was a man at its center, sitting on an ornate chair, as though he were a king; surrounding his feet were brightly colored flowers and a large array of peacock feathers. Flames flickered up from hollowed-out coconuts.
Fully fledged rage lined Karl’s every feature as he turned to me. “Excuse me, my lady,” he said, bowing over my hand quickly. “I do believe I must depart for tonight. I will send a formal invitation for you for the ceremony at the Nàrodni muzuem.”
He left before I could say anything else, and I was more than a little relieved. Karl had been upset at me when I left him to go after Ferdy. If he was too distracted to ask questions about my earlier disappearance, I was content.
I turned my attention back down to the man who had usurped the concert finale, watching as he descended from his throne, shook hands, and nodded cordially to all the ladies. I was confused at his performance, but I did enjoy it much more than the rest of the concert.
But then the man looked up at me directly, catching my eye, and I felt my skin grow cold.
It was the man from the Cabal, the one with the green eyes and the sneering smirk. And while I did not know him, he clearly knew me.
*13*
◊
Lumiere seemed to be in his natural element, though whether it was chaos or the spotlight, I could not say. Several of the theatre’s musicians ceased their playing, and it appeared Lumiere had anticipated their response. His own small troupe of footmen took up the lapse, using an array of different instruments to send out a stream of music I had never heard before. Judging by the small drums and hollowed flutes, I would have said it would have been at home on an island, perhaps on in the Caribbean or among the more distant East Indies, perhaps as far as the island of Hawaii.
“What’s going on?” I whispered to Lady Penelope. “Who is that?”
“Lumiere,” she muttered. “I haven’t seen him in years. I always assumed he would die on some island, hung for his deviant crimes or incessant foolishness. It is a testament to his cunning he’s still alive, just as it is sign of his immaturity that he’s still undertaking obscene spectacles like this one.”
“I heard his name. I was wondering who he was that you would know him.”
Lady POW did not seem to hear me. “This is all Louis’ fault,” she whispered. She shook her head. “Come, Eleanora. We should return to the manor. I have things I need to discuss with Harshad.”
“I’m a member of the Order, too,” I objected, watching as some of the policemen attempted to get near Lumiere. Up on his pallet, he only smiled and signaled to the officers that he did not hear them. “Tell me who he is.”
She pursed her lips together thoughtfully, before she sighed. “Years ago, before Eleanor was born, your grandfather was the leader of the Eastern division of the League. Lumiere’s father, then the Viscount de Beaumont, was his second in command. Until Jakub met me.”
The crowd in the theatre was undergoing a mass exodus at this point, while only a few lingered behind, including me and Lady POW.
“So?” I frowned, frustrated. “Why are you worried?”
“If you’re going to stop the destruction of civilization, you should be worried,” Lady Penelope snapped lightly, her eyes never leaving Lumiere’s dawdling figure.
I had a feeling she was more upset I had witnessed her worry than she was perturbed by Lumiere’s appearance. She did not say anything else to me; instead, she remained focused on moving through the crowds, her ageless grace suggesting none of her irritation.
We were near the theatre’s main entrance when she slowed. I nearly ran into her at the sudden change of pace, but before I could ask her what was wrong this time, I saw the answer in front of us.
Lord Maximillian was at the entrance to the theatre. I could hardly believe it. He was standing there so effortlessly, even though he was the man behind all the plotting and all the disaster that had run through my home and my city.
He was dressed in his usual finery, with a golden sash and a pristine white vest, underneath an elegant coat. While I had met him several times before, I had never seen him so meticulously sadistic in his appearance. His mustache, thick and full of black and white hairs, twitched with perverse delight as he saw Lady Penelope, and the toes of his shined boots seemed to tap with anticipation. I stumbled as we approached him, but she only met his gaze with cool interest.
“Lady Wellington.” He reached for her hand. She eagerly stepped forward. So, Lady POW did not want to avoid him as much as I did.
“Your Grace,” s
he said, inclining her head in an elderly curtsy. I wanted to ask her why she insisted on using manners, why we did not just capture him there and demand answers, but I knew she would not welcome such a question.
“It is lovely to make your acquaintance once more.” Lord Maximillian’s gaze went to me. “I have heard of your recent upset, and I am relieved to see Miss Eleanora has made her recovery. I am one of the many who are celebrating her return to Society tonight.”
“Yes, we have just had the pleasure of your friend’s company,” I said. “Mr. Marcelin speaks very highly of you, sir.”
“I am flattered to hear so.” Lord Maximillian’s eyes narrowed only slightly. “I know he is beholden to you.”
“Yes, he certainly is,” Lady Penelope agreed. “I have heard he was considering marrying your own lovely daughter before he met my Eleanora, so you must know Mr. Marcelin has excellent judgment.”
Lord Maximillian might have been a leader in a coup determined to overthrow the empire, but he was still able to be flustered by a matchmaking grandmother. I watched as his cheeks fluttered with a rosy glow and he commended Lady POW on her strategy.
“It may be unfortunate for me and my daughter that we did not act quickly enough,” Lord Maximillian said, “but that does not mean we will not get another chance in the future.”
Lady Penelope and I both caught the underlying threat, and she was just about to reply when Lumiere’s voice once more rang throughout the theatre.
“Max!”
We all turned at once, only to see Lumiere break away from a team of police. He hurried forward toward us. Now that he was standing, I was able to see his outfit more clearly, and I had a hard time not staring. He had a cloak trimmed in ermine and peacock feathers hanging on his back like a robe, while his suit was cut in classic lines. There were several watch fobs hanging on off the chain of his pocket watch. The little glimmering fobs caught my eye, and I noticed the watch looked very similar to my father’s.
Glancing back up at Lumiere’s face, I suddenly wondered how old he was. He seemed young and foolish, as Lady Penelope had asserted earlier, but his jovial milieu, along with carefully placed makeup, only hid his age better.
I need to get better about estimating ages.
After another careful look, I realized he likely had to be close to Amir’s age, though perhaps a little older. Early-to-mid forties, at most.
“Max!” His voice carried a distorted amusement, as if he knew he was causing trouble. Lumiere came up and placed a greeting kiss on each side of Lord Maximillian’s cheeks, before he shamelessly embraced the man in a hug.
Lord Maximillian was clearly not expecting that. “Come, now, Lumiere,” he grunted. “That is enough.”
“Tsk, tsk. Ever so straight-laced, mon ami.” Lumiere ran a hand through his golden hair, letting the theatre lights catch on his many rings. “God gave us everything for our pleasure, remember? It is only sin that keeps it from being so.”
He glanced at me with a smile. “Speaking of pleasure, mademoiselle, may I introduce myself?”
“I do believe you have already done so, back in the theatre, Mr. Valoris.”
At my wry tone, I saw I earned his respect, though whether or not it was a good thing, I could not say.
“Your mother would be pleased to see you have become a woman who pays attention to the least of these,” he said, giving me a deep bow. “The daughter of such a lady deserves the proper introduction.”
I stiffened at the mention of my mother, and I turned to see Lady Penelope was appalled as well.
“You needn’t worry about my sensibilities when it comes to propriety at this point, sir.” I stepped forward and reached out my hand, allowing my grandmother a moment to collect herself.
For that small, pitiful, prideful moment, it heartened me to see Lady Penelope had to recover from a secondary attack. I had come to notice Lady Penelope was a superb fighter, but on occasion ,she still needed time to switch tactics.
“Oh, of course not, mademoiselle. But I would be remiss if I treated you in such a nasty manner, especially in such a public place, with the finer members of Society around to witness. Perhaps another place would be better for informalities.”
At his provocative gaze and his deliberate choice of words, I knew he was referencing our first encounter back at the Cabal.
“I would have you call me Lumi, if we are to be friends,” he continued, taking my hand. “It is my pleasure to formally meet you, Lady Eleanora. After all, any previous meetings are not official until names are honorably given, ne c’est pas?”
“The ‘honorable’ aspect would be the part in question,” Lord Maximillian interrupted. “It seems the police are still waiting for you to leave after your disruption tonight.”
I turned to see he was right. The police were looking on our small group, waiting anxiously. They knew they could not do much, not with the higher-ranking members of Society around Lumiere, but they seemed prepared to wait.
“You and my father know very well that I have always been good at inconveniencing people with my mere existence,” Lumiere replied with an impish grin. “Undoubtedly you remember him well, do you not, Lady Penelope?”
It was an interesting sight to see Lady Penelope’s cheeks fluster over. She composed herself quickly, but I still saw the glimpse of irritation in her eyes.
“Who could ever forget your father?” Lady Penelope’s tone turned deadly as she gritted her teeth behind her snakelike smile. “Is he joining you in town?”
“Shortly.” Lumiere grinned. “I consider myself playing John the Baptist to his Jesus, of course. Quite an honor, you know.”
“If you are comparing your father to Jesus, it must be a high honor indeed.” Lady Penelope arched a brow. “Should I expect to see him arriving on an ass?”
Lumiere laughed uproariously, drawing even more uncomfortable attention to us. “He’s more likely to part the waters, considering our recent acquisition of a fleet of clippers. They’re sadly going out of style, but now is the time to buy. I’ve just had the loveliest time on the Vltava in one of my own. I’m sure Max here can tell you how hard and time consuming it is to find good accommodations when traveling. Of course, you know how I jump at the chance to take on any hard task I can.”
Lord Maximillian’s face blotched over in annoyance. “Give my regards to him, please. For now, if you will excuse me, ladies, I do believe I will retire for the evening.”
“Wonderful. I will accompany you, as we have business to discuss,” Lumiere said.
Lord Maximillian, finally out of patience, blinked and frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
“Come, Max. We might have had our differences the last time we met, but I insist on the chance to make amends.” Lumiere gave me a wink. “Business is so unfashionable, and even more so on holidays. I was unable to make the Advent Ball because of you before, and I was much saddened to hear I missed the excitement. Surely you owe me for that. Or perhaps I owe you?”
He turned to Lady Penelope again, and then nodded to me. “If you will excuse us, Madame. It was so lovely, absolutely lovely to meet you again. Your daughter spoke highly of you before, and I am glad to see after all these years, her assessment remains astute.”
“I’ll kindly ask you to refrain from discussing my beloved Eleanor,” Lady Penelope snapped. “She has passed, and I would not have my granddaughter’s sensibilities maligned by your thoughtlessness.”
For the first time, Lumiere looked somewhat contrite. “A thousand apologies,” he said, bowing to me. Behind him, Lord Maximillian was trying to slink away unnoticed. Lumiere gave me the same self-satisfied smile he had worn before, when I saw him at the Cabal. “Perhaps I will see you again soon. Perhaps in a more quiet environment, one that allows for thoughtful discussion? There are so many good places to meet in Prague, after all.”
“Perhaps,” I muttered, unable to say anything else. I did not want him to mention the Cabal to Lady POW. “Good night, Mr. Valoris.”
He might have thought that, but I was not convinced. My fingers clenched into a fist as he walked away. He stepped up beside Lord Maximillian.
If he was a friend of Lord Maximillian’s, and the son of a League member, he was somehow connected to our mission.
“What do you know about him?” I asked Lady Penelope. “He’s part of this. He more or less just admitted to it.”
“Come, Eleanora,” Lady Penelope hissed. “We must get back to the manor quickly.”
“Why?” I glanced around into the night, wondering briefly if I would be able to find Ferdy among the crowds. I did not see him, but I did see a shadow slinking around the columns of the theatre, and it reminded me of Didier. Was Lumiere’s companion following us, too?
“Just hurry,” Lady Penelope snapped, waiting on me as I climbed up behind her into the coach. I heard her give directions to the footmen, and I had only just sat down when she rapped on the roof and we sped off.
“I don’t see why you’re in such a hurry,” I said, rubbing my knee. The sudden lurch forward had sent me tumbling, and I banged my knee on the hard edge of the seat.
“Now that Lumiere has made his appearance, I have a feeling I know who attacked Tulia.”
“What?” I glanced out the window, watching as the city’s twilight scene rushed past us. “You think Lumiere did it?”
“I’m almost certain of it,” Lady Penelope said. “Lumiere is his father’s son—a trickster to the very end. The fact that he was meeting with Lord Maximillian before only makes everything more precarious. I have no idea what kind of trouble he has managed to create.”
“Are you going to tell me and Ben about Louis now?” I thought of what Harshad had said to me before, about Louis working alongside my grandfather. “And our grandfather, too?”
“There is no need to know all the details of the past,” Lady Penelope insisted. Even in the soft moonlight, I could tell she was blushing. I did not know my grandmother was still capable of shame. If I was not as curious as I was, I might have laughed. “Suffice it to say, you only need to know Louis was a troublemaker then, and he has clearly remained one after all these years.”
Prince of Secrets and Shadows Page 17
