An Agent for Brielle by Parker J. Cole

Author:Parker J. Cole [Cole, Parker J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-16T22:00:00+00:00

“Ah, so you’re the lucky fellow?”

Matthias’s back stiffened at the sound of the man who had monopolized his wife’s time last evening. In the large parlor, dark with burgundy fabrics and cherrywood furnishings, many of the guest had found quiet places to retreat to, whether they read, wrote, or strummed instruments.

How the man had found him, Matthias didn’t know. He’d secluded himself in a corner toward the back of the room, doing nothing more strenuous than reading a book of John Donne’s poetry as he waited to hear Brielle’s report of her interview with Lady Dallmann.

Matthias had no wish to converse with the man at all. But one thing he’d learn from his time in politics was when to wear the mask. He’d worn it when people glared at him in hatred so it would be no difficulty to do it now.

“Monsieur LaPierre,” he greeted with an even tone. He refused to smile. No need to be hypocritical.

The man’s eyebrow arched. “You know my name? Your wife must have mentioned it.”

She hadn’t but he wasn’t about to tell this man that. “She did.”

“Well, may I offer you my congratulations for on your recent nuptials?”

Monsieur LaPierre struck his hand without batting an eye. There were very few white men who did when they met him. Matthias took it and shook his hand. “Thank you.”

“Might I sit with you?”

Matthias longed to say no but he indicated the chair before him and soon they sat across from each other.

“Mr. Blackburn, I find your wife absolutely charming. We spent a delightful time debating with wild and glorious abandon whether Newton or Leibniz was the true inventor of calculus.”

The words, spoken with casual inflection, had just the right amount of aloof admiration any man would expect of another man who spoke of his wife. But everything in Matthias knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was more to the man’s statement.

After all, he’d seen the way Brielle looked at Monsieur LaPierre.

“I’m sure you both agreed to disagree.”

“Oh yes, yes,” Monsieur LaPierre nodded. “I have learned over time that the lady is always right.”

“What can I do for you, monsieur?”

“Do?” He blinked in a slow manner, almost as if he’d retreated somewhere away from their current surroundings. “There’s nothing you can do, Mr. Blackburn.”

A strange thing for the man to say. The hackles along Matthias’s back rise. “What do you mean?”

“What I said. There’s nothing you can do.” The other man glanced around at the other attendees of the colloquy. “Everyone here has a certain knowledge that allows them to be placed among each other as intellectuals. But you, what can you do, Mr. Blackburn?”

The blank stare melted away. A mocking glare took its place. “It’s obvious you’re rather the fifth wheel.”

Matthias’s blood rushed through his veins and straight to his temples where they began to throb. “Continue to speak like that and you will discover what I can do.”

A satisfied smirk lifted Monsieur LaPierre’s mouth. “Good. I wondered what type of man your wife would marry.

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