The Secrets of Love by Cynthia Wright

Author:Cynthia Wright
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Later that evening, Gabriel found himself on a small stone terrace jutting out from the rooftop of the

Marchand home. Although the terrace was barely large enough to hold the table that Gabriel shared

with Justin and the two Marchand sisters, it was splendid to be outdoors on this summer night. The

view between two taller houses revealed the distinctive silhouette of Petit Bé Island, crowned by a

stone fort and shimmering under a coral sunset. Overhead, stars had begun to sparkle like tiny

diamonds, brighter by the minute.

“Building this terrace was a stroke of genius,” Gabriel remarked.

Azelma and Nestorine stopped talking and followed his gaze out to sea, where a two-masted

brigantine was gliding behind the tiny island.

“It was Papa’s idea,” said Azelma. “The neighbors thought him mad, but he wanted to be outdoors

on summer nights like this, enjoying the views Saint-Malo affords.”

“Oui,” Nestorine chimed in. “Papa liked to look at the stars. He taught us the names of all of

them.”

“I hope I haven’t made you sad by mentioning your father,” Gabriel said.

“Do not apologize,” exclaimed Azelma. “We treasure our memories.”

After their parents had gone to their deaths at the guillotine in the Place de la Concorde in 1792,

the family governess had fled with the adolescent Azelma and Nestorine to live out the Reign of

Terror in Rome. Upon their return a few years ago, they had reopened their family’s home here in

Saint-Malo.

It was no surprise to Gabriel that the sisters had soon come to the attention of his brother. How

could Justin resist a pair of high-born beauties who chose to live unchaperoned?

Gabriel had once found the Marchand sisters diverting as well, but tonight those interludes of

pleasure seemed long ago, so hazy that they could have happened to a different man. As they finished

eating a course of woodcocks with wine, he listened to his hostesses chatter on about Napoleon and

the empress Josephine.

“He doesn’t want her any more,” Azelma proclaimed, glancing first at Gabriel and then at Justin,

who sat across the table from him.

“C’est vrai,” nodded Nestorine. “At first, when she was unable to have children, Napoleon feared that the blame might lie with him, but—”

“How do you know these things?” interjected Justin as a footman refilled his glass with more wine

and another set down an artfully arranged platter of fruit.

“Servants talk,” Azelma whispered, arching her painted brows. “And of course, we have many

friends in common with Josephine.”

“I predict that they will be divorced within a year,” Nestorine proclaimed. “When Josephine’s

grandson was declared Napoleon’s heir, it seemed that she might be able to salvage the marriage, but

then he died of croup last year. Since then, rumor has it that Napoleon has been making lists of

possible brides.”

“He’s still in love with Josephine, of course, but what can he do?” Azelma murmured this with a

sad nod, perhaps so that she wouldn’t be suspected of gossiping. “An emperor must have an heir. It’s quite tragic, don’t you agree?”

As the footman hovered near Gabriel with more wine, he spread a strong hand above his glass.

“There must be more interesting

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