A Commercial Enterprise by Sandra Heath

Author:Sandra Heath [Heath, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1984-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

She slept poorly for the rest of the night, rising especially early the next morning in order to attend to the remaining arrangements before the opening at eleven o’clock. After Dominic’s attempt to destroy her careful plans, she felt more uneasy than ever about having chosen Friday the thirteenth, but it was too late to change her mind now.

The morning was dull and wet, gusts of wind carrying the low, gray clouds swiftly over the heavens. It was the very worst kind of spring morning, not at all the sort of weather she would have wished for. She stood by the window of her apartment with a cup of black coffee, gazing out over the forlorn courtyard, where the rain lashed the puddles that had already collected in the dips.

As she looked out, wondering how many of the beau monde would choose to stay at home rather than sally forth to inspect London’s newest hotel in such conditions, a very bright and gaudy yellow chaise drew into the courtyard from Mayfair Street. It passed the Lexham’s two footmen, who, although well trained and used to the ways of the wealthy, were nevertheless startled enough to gape after it. They stared even more as it halted by the hotel’s entrance and two men alighted. One was the strange, eccentric Gaspard Duvall; the other was his dark, discomfiting entremettier, Boisville.

Never one to shun bright colors, the chef wore a purple frock coat, beige trousers, a loosely tied black satin cravat, and a floppy green beret which rested jauntily over his left ear. He advanced to the door with swift, light steps, rapping upon it with his gold-tasseled cane. He was followed at a respectful distance by the more soberly clad Boisville, whose gloomy presence Caroline believed would have cast a shadow over the sunniest of days, let alone one as dismal as this. But the mere fact of the chef’s arrival at the hotel was gladdening enough for her to set aside any thought of the strange entremettier. Putting down her cup and crossing her ringers for luck, she hurried into the vestibule to greet Duvall.

Mrs. Hollingsworth had been supervising the setting out of the glasses in the dining room, and she emerged just as Caroline reached the two Frenchmen. The housekeeper remained discreetly beneath one of the arches which led to the inner hall, watching as Duvall took Caroline’s hand and drew it gallantly to his lips.

“Ah, Mademoiselle Lexham, how good it is to see you once more. I trust that we have not called too early, but I knew that later you would be very busy.”

“Of course it isn’t too early, monsieur, and I’m so glad that you have called.”

“Forgive me that I did not come more swiftly, but there has been so much to do.” His dark eyes moved briefly to Boisville’s stern, unsmiling face. Then he caught sight of Mrs. Hollingsworth, and he looked at her with obvious and immediate interest, admiration shining in his dark brown eyes.

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