Mardi Gras Masquerade by L A Morgan

imposter, but she had liked this man.   If she had come into their relationship with truth, things might have been different right now.   Steve’s regard for her assessment of his home would have been natural, especially as the best friend of his brother’s fiancée.   The sad message she had to give to Tienne could have been delayed until she and Steve had gotten to know each other better.   There was even the slightest chance that their relationship could have deepened into something much more meaningful.   He might have shown her this lovely home, not as he was presenting it to a distrusted interloper, but as its future mistress.
    Oh, those barely tangible possibilities.   How they served to hurt her now that they were lost without the possibility of being retrieved.   Regrets, regrets.
    Many expressions passed across Maria’s face without her knowing it.   Nothing was lost on the keen observation of Steve DuPont.
    He eyed the woman coolly for a moment, and then said, “Come.   I’ll show you to your room.”
    Maria mutely followed him up the long, curving stairway.   She cast furtive glances around her, attempting to memorize every detail for the bittersweet memories she knew would pursue her long after she was gone.
    The man led her down a long, rose-carpeted hallway at the top of the stairs.   One side was railed off from a sweeping view of the entry hall.   They passed several closed doors, painted white with gold-filigreed scrollwork.   Steve stopped before one of these to open the door.
    With a flourish of his hand, he indicated the interior of the room and said, “ Voilà .   Ton salon à coucher .”
    “You speak French?” Maria asked in surprise.
    “You might have noticed before.   I come from a French family and live in a bilingual area.   What about you?”
    “No,” Maria was forced to concede.
    “What a pity.   Well, it’s no matter.   Tienne can teach you if he likes.”
    To avoid further discussion, Maria stepped into the room.   It was even more beautiful than she had expected.   This was the bedroom of a fairytale princess.
    All dressed out in shades of mauve and white, the room was appointed with less elegance than the formal downstairs rooms, but nothing was spared to bring it comfort and luxury.   The canopied bed had a shining satin quilt with matching pillows.   The dainty Louis XIV armchair, desk, and vanity table revealed that the chamber was meant for a lady.
    Maria turned to Steve and said, “I didn’t know that Tienne had a brother before you told me.   Do you have any other siblings?”
    “No.   It’s just Tienne and me.   My brother had this room specially decorated just for you when he got back from Paris .   As you must remember, the weddin ’ plans were never discussed in detail.   Your lack of curiosity always disturbed me, but my brother didn’t seem to mind.   He planned for you to stay here after he gave you your engagement ring.   By the way, in case you’re interested, the date of your marriage has been set for one week from today.”
    Steve paused to note Maria’s reaction.   The sudden whiteness of her features told him all he wanted to know.
    “Don’t even consider makin ’ any changes,” he softly warned.   “Tienne has gone to a great deal of effort and expense to make this day perfect for you in every way.   I wouldn’t be a good brother if I allowed you to change any of his plans.   He wouldn’t be happy if you disappointed him.”
    Maria managed to smile weakly in his direction as she replied, “I’m sure everything will work out to your satisfaction after I get to see your brother.”
    Then, on a second thought, she added, “What about your parents?   Do they live here?”
    “They have a townhouse in New Orleans now.   For a girl who’s engaged to marry my brother, you know surprisin’ly little about the family.”
    “I guess I was too swept away by romance to ask.”
    “Undoubtedly.”
    A possible plan of