Kiss Me in French by Wendy Silk

Author:Wendy Silk [Silk, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2018-11-29T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12: Marc

I had promised my grandfather that I’d attend this year’s Bal des Debutantes long in advance of the night. Even though I had not been pressed into service as an escort for an of the debs this year, I was still supposed to be there. In my younger days, I had performed the escort job quite ably, dressed in perfect white tie and performing at the presentation like a trained pony.

This year, however, my reason for going to the ball was pure business. All I needed to do was to convince Paris society that Victoria and I were in love. That had sounded like a small task back when I had planned it. I would dance with her, perhaps run my hand along her back and whisper little jokes into her ear. It wasn’t supposed to matter that I despised her and everything about her selfish lifestyle of gambling and partying. All that would matter was the contract.

When it came to the night, though, what really mattered to me was how Isabel would feel if she saw all that. Even if I told her it was fake, how could she stand to watch it and think that I loved Victoria instead of her? My head was whirling with conflict. I wanted Isabel to trust me, more than anything. Yet how much could I ask of her? If she saw me going through the motions I’d planned with Victoria, she’d leave and I’d never see her again. I shook my head to clear it. I had to trust her. The explanation I’d given her might sound crazy, but it was true. This was a business deal, that was all.

I went to claim a dance with Victoria, knowing it was part of the deal we had agreed on. She wanted more than money in exchange for my son; she wanted the title and the prestige that she thought she’d get from being associated with me. Even after the divorce that I was counting on, she would still be able to dine out on her reputation for years. Just the thought of her motivations made me weary. I was done with all that crowd of flatterers, and I had been for years.

I scanned the room and saw no sign of either woman I was looking for. Isabel and Emma had disappeared. Perhaps they were merely on one of the endless missions to the ladies’ room that I, as a mere man, could not hope to understand. They would reappear soon.

Victoria also seemed to be missing, but after a few moments of watching, I found her. She was hurrying into the ballroom, with her long, bright gold gown swishing around her. The moment seemed disjointed to me. Victoria never hurried anywhere. She was used to having Daddy’s people do everything for her. The only place she might ever have looked in a rush was when she needed more chips at the baccarat table.

Only a few quick strides separated us, and I closed them with purpose.

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