A Rose at Midnight by Sylvie Kurtz

Author:Sylvie Kurtz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2005-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Two days later, Armand intercepted an expected early delivery and toted the box to his office. Anticipation stirred as turbid as lust as he locked the door behind him. Soon. Very soon. He placed the box on his desk, then rubbed his hands together. From the folds of fancy tissue paper he liberated the treasure and shook it free.

“How do you like it, Caro?” Armand held up the ruby-red dress for her approval. He’d thrown open the curtains and the morning’s misty light kissed the sequins on the bodice, giving the impression of liquid fire. “I think she will look wonderful in it.” He twirled the dress so Caroline’s picture could have a good view of all sides of the gossamer skirt.

“The color is not the best for her, but the cut is flattering. And it matches the locket. The Master will be pleased.”

Armand carefully set the dress on his desk and gently folded it, making sure each fold was softened by the tissue paper to prevent ugly creases.

“I had a long talk with the Master last night. Rosane would be better, of course. Thirteen is a much more powerful number than twelve. But the Master wants a bride, not a child, and the doctor told me yesterday that the cancer grows faster than he expected.”

Armand gently lifted the folded dress and placed it back in the dressmaker’s box. A fit of coughing rattled through him, and he dropped onto the desk chair to recover.

“That stupid doctor could not understand why it did not matter, why I did not want the chemotherapy.” He chuckled. “He does not know that in less than a week, I will have what you cheated me out of all those years ago.”

He reached for the photograph and picked it up. “You cost me my youth, chère Caro. I could have been young forever if you had not been so selfish. As it is, I will have to spend eternity in an old man’s body. But then, there is the respect an old man garners. Five days, Caro. Think of it. Five days before I reach every man’s goal—eternal life on earth.”

Giddy with euphoria, he hurried to the armoire. He removed the shoes from the rack and lifted the false bottom. “Would you like to see how I am going to do it?” He took out an artist’s pad and turned to the first page. “It took me a while to get it right, but I think I have finally done it. Ingenious, if I must say so myself.”

He showed Caroline a drawing of a golden cage suspended high above the theater stage. He traced the outline of the cage with his index finger. “She will not be able to escape as you did.”

He turned the page to a hastily drawn plan of a building. “I borrowed the theater plans and everything is set. Célestin is getting the cage built to my specifications. It will be ready tomorrow.”

He turned to the next page. “This is how I see the moment of truth.

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