flickered briefly in Valentin’s blue eyes. Then he shrugged. “His enmity is nothing new. Sometimes it amazes
me that Crawley still harbors a grudge that neither he nor I began, and one that should havepassed on with our fathers. But since he chooses not to, some day it will end in death for him or me.”
Let us pray it is not yours, Danforth thought gloomily.
“Come, my friend, don’t look so downhearted,” Valentin cajoled. Then, changing the subject he asked, “Tell me, how is Miss
Rutherford?”
Danforth shrugged. “I have not seen her for some time, but we are expecting to settle matters between us shortly after the
New Year.”
“Then you too will be entering the bonds of matrimony. Ah, what the indolent gentleman is forced to do because of finances,”
he mocked himself.
“I think the beauty of your fair maid will ease the pain,” Daaforth said roguishly.
“Touché”
Valentin agreed. And for the moment both men were diverted from their encounter with Crawley.
That evening at the Hotel Belmontaine, Pierre scurried into the drawing room and whispered to the Viscountess. Her eyes flew
open and she cast a worried glance at Nicole. Then rising stiffly from her chair, she issued a curt order to both Nicole and
Cecily who were watching her. “Wait here. I shall return momentarily.” Lady Eleanore preceded Pierre out of the room.
Eyeing each other expectantly, Cecily rose and tiptoed to the door, opening it a fraction. Nicole could not resist the temptation
to follow Cecily’s lead. Peering through the crack, Cecily gasped as Nicole reached her side. “It’s Tessa Von Hoffman!”
Over Cecily’s shoulder, Nicole glimpsed a rather tall dark-haired woman whose rich attire and haughty manner exuded an aura
of glamor. She was gesticulating vigorously with one hand, but her voice was low and tremulous and her words were indistinct.
Her tirade was apparentlyhalted by Lady Eleanore, for the visitor was seen to pout haughtily and draw herself up with disdain.
Cecily eased the door shut and leaned against it eyeing Nicole slyly. Crossing to the fireplace before speaking, Nicole turned
her steady gaze onto Cecily and asked, “Who is Tessa Von Hoffman?”
“Gracious, all these weeks and you still haven’t heard of the, beautiful widow?”
Nicole hesitated before replying. Cecily’s desire to have Nicole question her about the woman was transparent. Nicole forced
herself to respond calmly as she seated herself in a wing-backed chair beside the fireplace. “No, so why don’t you tell me
since you seem to be so well informed.”
“Perhaps I should not.” Cecily contemplated the nails of her right hand and eyed Nicole stealthily under downcast lids.
“Then do not,” Nicole retorted with some resolution. Intuition warned her she would be better off not knowing.
Still Cecily baited her. “Well, I suppose I ought to tell you. I mean—you really should know. After all, it does concern you
directly.”
Nicole clasped her hands together before insisting with some impatience.
“Either get to the point, Cecily, or don’t bother telling me.”
“Well,” said Cecily, enjoying herself, “Karen Wexford, who knows just about everybody, says that Tessa Von Hoffman has been
seen everywhere with Valentin.”
Nicole would not be drawn in. Shrugging her shoulders and holding Cecily’s gaze she asked, “So?”
Aggravated by Nicole’s indifferent manner, Cecily gave up the cat-and-mouse game and cried, “It’s common knowledge that she
came back from Vienna with him.”
Except for her tightly clasped hands, Nicole remained outwardly calm. This is what she had suspected. “Rumors don’t concern
me, Cecily. There is always gossip.”
Cecily cut in, “Oh for heaven’s sake, Nicole. Must I really spell it out for you?” Cecily came to stand over Nicole.
“I do not wish to hear any more,” Nicole protested, trying to rise, but Cecily placed a firm hand on her
me that Crawley still harbors a grudge that neither he nor I began, and one that should havepassed on with our fathers. But since he chooses not to, some day it will end in death for him or me.”
Let us pray it is not yours, Danforth thought gloomily.
“Come, my friend, don’t look so downhearted,” Valentin cajoled. Then, changing the subject he asked, “Tell me, how is Miss
Rutherford?”
Danforth shrugged. “I have not seen her for some time, but we are expecting to settle matters between us shortly after the
New Year.”
“Then you too will be entering the bonds of matrimony. Ah, what the indolent gentleman is forced to do because of finances,”
he mocked himself.
“I think the beauty of your fair maid will ease the pain,” Daaforth said roguishly.
“Touché”
Valentin agreed. And for the moment both men were diverted from their encounter with Crawley.
That evening at the Hotel Belmontaine, Pierre scurried into the drawing room and whispered to the Viscountess. Her eyes flew
open and she cast a worried glance at Nicole. Then rising stiffly from her chair, she issued a curt order to both Nicole and
Cecily who were watching her. “Wait here. I shall return momentarily.” Lady Eleanore preceded Pierre out of the room.
Eyeing each other expectantly, Cecily rose and tiptoed to the door, opening it a fraction. Nicole could not resist the temptation
to follow Cecily’s lead. Peering through the crack, Cecily gasped as Nicole reached her side. “It’s Tessa Von Hoffman!”
Over Cecily’s shoulder, Nicole glimpsed a rather tall dark-haired woman whose rich attire and haughty manner exuded an aura
of glamor. She was gesticulating vigorously with one hand, but her voice was low and tremulous and her words were indistinct.
Her tirade was apparentlyhalted by Lady Eleanore, for the visitor was seen to pout haughtily and draw herself up with disdain.
Cecily eased the door shut and leaned against it eyeing Nicole slyly. Crossing to the fireplace before speaking, Nicole turned
her steady gaze onto Cecily and asked, “Who is Tessa Von Hoffman?”
“Gracious, all these weeks and you still haven’t heard of the, beautiful widow?”
Nicole hesitated before replying. Cecily’s desire to have Nicole question her about the woman was transparent. Nicole forced
herself to respond calmly as she seated herself in a wing-backed chair beside the fireplace. “No, so why don’t you tell me
since you seem to be so well informed.”
“Perhaps I should not.” Cecily contemplated the nails of her right hand and eyed Nicole stealthily under downcast lids.
“Then do not,” Nicole retorted with some resolution. Intuition warned her she would be better off not knowing.
Still Cecily baited her. “Well, I suppose I ought to tell you. I mean—you really should know. After all, it does concern you
directly.”
Nicole clasped her hands together before insisting with some impatience.
“Either get to the point, Cecily, or don’t bother telling me.”
“Well,” said Cecily, enjoying herself, “Karen Wexford, who knows just about everybody, says that Tessa Von Hoffman has been
seen everywhere with Valentin.”
Nicole would not be drawn in. Shrugging her shoulders and holding Cecily’s gaze she asked, “So?”
Aggravated by Nicole’s indifferent manner, Cecily gave up the cat-and-mouse game and cried, “It’s common knowledge that she
came back from Vienna with him.”
Except for her tightly clasped hands, Nicole remained outwardly calm. This is what she had suspected. “Rumors don’t concern
me, Cecily. There is always gossip.”
Cecily cut in, “Oh for heaven’s sake, Nicole. Must I really spell it out for you?” Cecily came to stand over Nicole.
“I do not wish to hear any more,” Nicole protested, trying to rise, but Cecily placed a firm hand on her
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