Caroline (The Beauvisage Novels, Book 1) (The Beauvisage Novels) by Cynthia Wright

Author:Cynthia Wright
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction, historical romance, family saga, 18th century america, colonial america, alpha hero, cynthia wright, Romance, revolutionary war, classic romance, General, sensual romance, beauvisage novels
ISBN: 9781614172949
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2012-06-25T08:48:49+00:00

Chapter 19

Pierre had been suspicious from the beginning, and the feeling increased when he went into his master's bedchamber and watched him read General Washington's communication. A light fragrance of jasmine assailed his nostrils when he glanced at the bed which was in a state of total disarray. Unwillingly, he associated the scent with Caro, and suddenly felt alarmed.

Alec tossed down the paper and said curtly, "Prepare my uniform. I'll be leaving immediately on horseback for New York."

"New York! Mais, m'sieur—"

"General Washington is arriving there tomorrow and will be meeting with his officers for the last time. He'll be bound for Mount Vernon then, and I'll wager he hopes never to see any of us again!" Alec laughed. "I must reach the city by tomorrow evening, so I must go by horseback. Just pack the bare essentials."

As Alec reached for his coffee, Pierre walked toward the dressing room, his glance falling on a frothy pile of lemon bedgown near the fireplace. Afraid to investigate further, he continued on to get his master's clothing from the wardrobe. When he re-entered the room, the spot where he had seen the mysterious yellow garment was bare, and Alec stood across the room unbuttoning his breeches.

Pierre helped him dress, then assembled his extra clothing and necessities for travel. Alec was checking his appearance in the glass while his valet gathered the previous day's clothes for the laundry.

"M'sieur, where is your shirt? I cannot seem to locate it," Pierre said in a puzzled voice.

With a sharp glance, Alec retorted, "You begin to wear on my nerves with your ceaseless questions, Pierre. It is not my province to keep track of my clothing, so I suggest that you tend to your duties and refrain from bothering me."

* * *

Caro was shocked to learn that it was past nine o'clock when she returned to her own bedchamber. Barely managing to change from Alec's shirt into a high-necked bedgown before Natalya's knock, her nervousness increased at the sight of the brass bathtub full of cold water which sat before the fireplace. She was positive that Natalya, and later, Rose, could both easily read the lie in her face as she explained:

"I finished my bath so late that I fell asleep before I could ring for someone to remove it."

"Did you just wake up?" inquired Natalya with studied casualness. "Rather odd for you, Caro—especially since you went to bed so early last night. Why weren't you at dinner? We were all quite worried!"

Caro's face went blank as she sat down at her dressing table to brush her hair. Before she could frame a reply, Natalya exclaimed:

"But how silly of me. I suppose you couldn't bear to sit with Sacha all evening, knowing that today we're leaving Belle Maison. That was awfully sensible of you." She paused, frowning. "Don't tell me you fell asleep without braiding your hair? It's in terrible disarray!"

Caro tried to duck her head to hide the telltale blush that stained her skin.

"Yes! Actually, I did. I was exhausted last night.

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