A Sister's Quest by Ferguson Jo Ann

Author:Ferguson, Jo Ann
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504008846
Publisher: Open Road Distribution

Alexei put down his wineglass and stared at the man on the other side of the table. “You were my last hope, Robert.”

“A hopeless hope.” The balding man chuckled as he reached for another piece of cheese. “LaTulippe has disappeared. Mayhap we can hope he was banished along with Napoleon to Elba.”

Leaning back in his chair, Alexei looked past the man he would not even loosely call a friend. Robert had found himself elegant quarters in Vienna and a lovely woman to share them—the very life in reality that Alexei was living as a sham.

Did Michelle note how he avoided her? Since he had revealed his shame to her last week in front of the fireplace, he had tried to be in the apartment only when she was out or asleep. Mayhap he should move out. Sleeping was impossible when he thought of her only an unlocked door away.

“Did you hear what I said?” asked Robert.

Alexei rested his elbow on the chair’s overstuffed arm. “No.”

Robert laughed. “Honesty is refreshing from you, mon ami.”

“Then I shall honestly tell you that I do not like how LaTulippe has slipped away again.”

“What could you do?” Robert shrugged and smiled. “C’est la vie.”

“C’est la guerre.”

“Ah, but the war is over.”

Pushing himself to his feet, Alexei asked, “Do you really think so? As long as LaTulippe and his allies are not at the end of a hangman’s noose, the war continues.”

“Let him go. What trouble can he cause now that Napoleon is imprisoned far from here?”

Alexei started to reply, then halted himself. He had seen this attempt at self-delusion too many times already in Vienna. Those who should be watching over their shoulders for a backlash from Napoleon’s allies wanted to pretend that the emperor was as docile as a house cat. But even that cat could extend its claws when backed into a corner.

Picking up his glass, he finished his wine. He set it down and said, “It has been an interesting call, Robert. I shall see you again before I leave Vienna.”

“You are leaving? So soon?” Robert stood, frowning.

“If what I seek is not here, there is no reason for me to be here.”

“And it would be uncomfortable to watch your mistress further cuckold you with that German prince.”

Alexei laughed. “Do not fret about my mistress and me, mon ami.”

“You are a generous man to share her with that princeling.”

“Michelle and I understand each other.” He bade his host a good day and walked out before Robert could know how completely he was lying.

Bending his head into the wind and snow, Alexei strode toward the address where he had promised to call this afternoon. Mayhap, if luck was once more on his side, the call would last late into the evening, and he would not have to return to the apartment to watch Michelle leave on Prince Charming’s arm.

If he did, he might do something stupid that would ruin all his work here. He could not risk that … not even for the taste of her soft lips.

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