Secret Place of Thunder by Lynn Morris

Author:Lynn Morris
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781619700796
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers
Published: 2012-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

Their errands done, the market made, the perishables transported to Les Chattes Bleues, the tailor’s fittings and dressmaker’s orders given, and Antoine’s duly patronized, the party from Les Chattes Bleues met at the entrance to the rotunda at eight o’clock precisely. All of the ladies—even Tante Marye—wore Shiloh’s flowers in their hair, for he had insisted on it.

“Good,” he said with satisfaction and raised a delicate fluted glass of champagne as the ladies joined him and Gowan Ford in the vestibule. “I believe that we escort the most beautiful, charming, and graceful ladies in New Orleans tonight, gentlemen.”

Tante Marye, who looked girlishly pleased at Shiloh’s words, had consented to wear lavender with only a black stripe instead of her usual black widow’s weeds. In her gleaming white hair were a few discreet violets. “Thank you, Mr. Irons,” she said with dignity.

He went to her and raised her soft, blue-veined hand to his lips. “Mrs. Edwards, I’m glad to see that you’ve put aside your mourning for tonight and, I hope, for tomorrow night,” he said formally.

Her blue eyes shone with mischief. “Oh, but, Mr. Irons, I’m not in mourning.”

“You’re not?” he asked with astonishment. Tante Marye always wore black or dark gray, even at the rather formal dinners in the privacy of Les Chattes Bleues.

“No, Mr. Irons,” she said gravely. “It’s not mourning, you see. It’s a warning.”

The party was silent for a few seconds, and then everyone burst into laughter. Shiloh grinned, bowed his head in acknowledgment, and commented, “I stand warned, Mrs. Edwards, but it has done no good. I still think you are a lovely and gracious lady.”

“You, Mr. Irons,” she said with a glint in her old eyes, “are much too charming, and I am very wary of you.”

“Excellent idea,” Cheney muttered, but only her mother heard her and gave her a sharp look. Cheney was glowing in a rather simple blue silk with matching gloves. Nia had managed to wave her hair and smooth it into a delicate frame around her face, and then pull the back into long, shiny ringlets that fell well below her shoulders, with six white rosebuds at the base.

Irene’s dress was pearl-gray silk, trimmed with silver cord and black lace. Anchoring and twining through the fall of ringlets at the nape of her neck were delicate tufts of narcissus blossoms and their long graceful leaves. Richard Duvall, who had escorted all the ladies downstairs, could still hardly tear his gaze away from his wife.

Shiloh was teasing Tante Elyse about breaking every man’s heart in the place, and Gowan Ford watched them with a jaundiced eye. Tante Elyse did glow in a fawn-colored satin that set off her rich olive skin and her expressive brown eyes. Her still-dark hair was parted in the middle and pulled up to a mass of curls at the crown, which was wreathed with purple and yellow pansies.

As usual, Victoria stood slightly aloof, an exquisite living ice sculpture, with her silvery blond hair and cool blue eyes.

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.