Passion at the Palais Royal (Bleu Blanc Rogue Book 3) by Delphine Roy

Author:Delphine Roy [Roy, Delphine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Echoes of songs and laughter drifted to Violette’s ears as she peered at the street through her bedroom window. Dusk was still deepening into night, but people were already celebrating the new year. Later, the public squares would host bonfires, musicians, dancing.

She pressed her palm against the cold glass. On the other side lay another world entirely.

What was Nicolas doing this evening? Who would he celebrate with? Merrymaking with Raoul and Suzanne and the denizens of Palais Royal, or sitting at the table of high society hosts in front of a delicious meal? Scallops in cream sauce… Crispy duck and buttery parsnips, served with the finest wine…

She closed her eyes and a different sort of hunger swept through her. Her mind flooded with images of his face, his smile, his muscular arms and strong hands. She could almost feel them on her now, sure and hungry, grasping her waist and sliding up her leg. Feel his lips on her skin, burning a painless brand there that never went away.

Three days. Three days since that moment in the barbershop. Three days of agony, battling with a longing so strong that she nearly trembled with it. She hadn’t returned to the brothel. She couldn’t face Nicolas and resume their lessons as if nothing had happened.

Lord knew she had tried to grapple with this folly. But Nicolas had awoken a part of her she hadn’t even known existed, brought it to life, and now it wouldn’t return to its slumber. Worse, it demanded satisfaction, doggedly nagging her whenever she thought of Nicolas, when she lay in bed at night and when she rose in the morning.

Heaven help her, if she found herself alone with him again… Would he refuse her, or give in? Was he more reasonable than she was, or tormented by the same yearning?

“Violette.” Her brother’s voice called from the dining room. “Violette, there’s someone at the door.”

“Good God, Emile, can you not answer then?” she huffed as she made her way down the corridor.

“Whoever it is, it’s most likely for you, not for me,” he muttered.

He was sitting at the table playing solitaire, his hands swift as he slapped the cards down and picked others up. Emile had always been fond of card games, but she hadn’t seen him play solitaire in weeks, perhaps even months. He was usually too drunk to even shuffle a deck.

Could it be that the fog was finally starting to lift?

She muffled the tiny quiver of hope. She could not afford any more foolish fantasies.

She opened the front door to find her usual maid accompanied by another woman, slightly older but just as plain, and holding a dress box.

“Bonsoir, mademoiselle,” the woman said in a dull, toneless voice. “My name is Berthelise. I’m here to help you get ready while Margot cleans and tends to the fires.”

Violette frowned. “Margot usually takes care of both.”

“Monsieur Estienne insisted. He thought I would do a better job as your lady’s maid.”

A shudder ran down Violette’s spine and gripped her gut.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.