Rachel Lindsay - Designing Man by Rachel Lindsay

Author:Rachel Lindsay [Lindsay, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2010-10-30T03:34:30.612000+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

In the months to come, Alix was to remember Henri Duval's strange choice of costume. For it was Henri who advanced into the room and removed his mask. Had he worn it as a premonition, she was to wonder later, or had the choice been an idle one, born out of his desire to create a shock effect?

If shock was his intention, then he had succeeded completely, for as he postured in front of her, Alix sank shaking onto the settee.

"I never knew you had such a macabre sense of humor. You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"And I never dreamed you would be scared so easily. The indomitable Alix actually screamed!"

"If you'd come one step nearer, I'd have fainted!"

Highly pleased with himself, Henri rubbed his hands together.

"Do you not think it a brilliant idea of mine to come as Death?"

"Original," she said dryly, "but I'm not sure its humor will be appreciated."

"At least it's out of the ordinary," he said blandly,

"and that is what I wanted. I always think…" He paused as a voluptuous young woman came through the door.

With an exclamation she could not suppress, Alix recognized Sophie. She had been dismayed at the knowledge that Dina was going to be here for the weekend but had never envisaged Henri's newest inamorata being here, too!

Poor Dina, she thought, and then almost at once, Poor Madame Duval!

As if guessing her thoughts, Sophie undulated over to her. She was dressed as a Castillian bride, with frilled skirts and her hair glowing silver through a lace mantilla.

"What do you think of my costume?" she asked in her husky, insolent voice. "Henri designed it forme."

"It's lovely."

Sophie glanced over her shoulder, and as if the movement was a magnet, Henri came over and put his arm around her. The wide sweep of his black cloak hid their two figures and Alix was certain that behind its voluminous folds, they were pressed close together, body to body.

She stood up. "I'd better go and change or I'll be late."

"You must wait and have a drink with me first," said a clear, cool voice, and Alix swung around as Dina came into the room with Paul.

The actress had not changed, either, and was wearing a plain black dress that emphasized the pallor of her elfin face.

"Why aren't you in your costume?" Henri said with forced bonhomie. "You're missing all the fun."

"So it would appear," Dina said dryly and fixed Sophie with an icy stare. "A seam's come unstitched in my dress and one of the maids is fixing it for me."

"Henri made the one I'm wearing," Sophie said loudly.

There was a tense silence and then Dina swung to her.

"Enjoy the limelight while you can," she drawled. "It won't last long!"

"Behave yourself, Dina," Henri warned. "You and Sophie are both my guests and I won't have any scenes in my house."

Dina rounded on him, tears of anger glistening in her eyes. "Then you damn well shouldn't have asked her here."

"I didn't ask you," Henri retorted, his normal charm forgotten as fury purpled his face.

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