Victor's Blessing by Barbara Sontheimer

Author:Barbara Sontheimer [Sontheimer, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Is she ever coming down? I mean, we’ve got reservations!” Ethan complained, checking his timepiece for the third time.

Victor shrugged, as bewildered as Ethan. “I don’t know. She gave me a new shirt to wear that almost fits,” he said, stretching his long arms and showing a cuff that nearly came down long enough. “Then she practically pushed me out the door and asked me to wait in the lobby.”

“Well…we’ve still got time enough, if she’s down soon.” He couldn’t help but notice a pretty blond walking slowly up the curving staircase, admiring her beauty.

“I ran into Pickering at the factory, and he seemed pleased with the progress we’re making. And as you requested, I did not mention anything to him about the incentive, we can talk to him about that another time,” Victor said.

They fell silent again, watching the comings and goings of the other guests in the hotel, a goodly number of them made ready for the opera as the gorgeously trimmed evening gowns of lace and feathers suggested.

“We can talk to Pickering about it tonight. After I ‘missed’ Mr. Walker,” Ethan said with sarcasm, “I paid Pickering a visit at the patent office. Seems he’s not fond of opera, but he’s fond of the society that attend and he’s in the habit of having everyone over to his home. I assured him and I assume you’ll have no objections that we’ll be there tonight afterwards.” He turned to look at Victor for confirmation and chuckled seeing he was trying to pull the too-short shirt sleeve even with his jacket.

“All right,” Victor said, “tell me, how did you manage to miss the elusive Mr. Walker yet again?” When there was no answer, he looked up and followed Ethan’s gaze to the stairway.

Standing at the top of stairs stood Celena, wearing a silk dress in a gorgeous shade of amethyst. The fabric fell to the floor in such fluid lines it looked to be made of liquid. The skirt spread out in magnificent folds over the crinoline, and the gradients of the raw silk caught the light at different angles, making the dress seem to change hue. It had a tight boned bodice, and a scandalously low boat neckline. She had worked on hard on her hair, and it did not look thin anymore, like a woman who had lost so much of it to fever, it looked beautiful and full. At her throat was a black velvet choker from which dangled a cameo.

She started cautiously down the stairs; and when she felt the weight of so many eyes on her, had the modest desire to cover herself up! But more worried about tripping, kept a steady hand on the banister.

“Took her shopping did you!” Victor hissed, glaring at Ethan. Glancing around he noticed jealously that every man in the lobby was staring up at Celena as she came down the stairs.

“Hello,” she murmured, relieved to feel Victor’s big hand pulling her protectively to him. But when she neared

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