A Daughter's Destiny Read Online Free PDF Page A

that my interest in Brienne is purely business.”
    She smiled. “There are many kinds of business.”
    â€œTrue.” He drew off his coat and hung it by the door. “Where do you keep your broom, madame?”
    â€œA broom? I do not understand.”
    Making sweeping motions with his hands, he repeated, “A broom. To clean the floor. If your granddaughter wishes to reopen tomorrow evening, you will need every hand to clear away this mess. I offer you my services.”
    â€œNo, thank you, Monsieur Somerset. Brienne and I shall tend to that after we deal with our other problem.”
    â€œOther problem?”
    â€œYou. What is it that you want, young man?”
    â€œMe?”
    Madame LeClerc chuckled heartily. “You, sir, are a rogue. Do not misunderstand. I do not dislike rogues. Men with few scruples make fine ministers for a king and fine lovers for a woman. However, I am old, and I have seen a king beheaded and watched as a peasant has dared to call himself emperor of France. There is a place for rogues in this world.”
    â€œThank you,” he said, his smile broadening.
    â€œDo not think you can deceive me as you have tried to deceive Brienne.”
    Evan bent to pick up scattered napkins. Regret creased his forehead as he looked at the ruined furniture. The men had come from the docks, Brienne had said. He should not be delaying here. He should be on his way to the Pool. A few questions there might gain him the answers he sought. He hoped his pockets were plump enough to pay for those answers.
    Setting the napkins on the table, he said, “I have not fooled Brienne. She does not trust me.”
    â€œYou are correct about that!” Brienne came from the kitchen. She forced a smile as Grand-mère gasped. With her hair back in a simple braid, the marks left by the man’s hand must be visible. She had avoided the glass upstairs and had clung to the shadows while speaking with Maman. “Thank you for waiting, Mr. Somerset. I wanted to thank you again.”
    â€œThanks? That is why you wanted me to stay?” He edged around the broken tables and put his hand on the doorframe beside her. When she started to back away, he clasped her arm. “Brienne, I thought you might want to speak to me about the vase.”
    â€œNo.” She dared say no more. The silly vase was so precious to Maman that Brienne would not ask her for it, not even to help resurrect L’Enfant de la Patrie.
    â€œIt is no longer here?”
    â€œYes.” That much was the truth. It was not in the salon.
    A soft sound intruded.
    â€œThat is Maman,” Brienne said. “I should go, and—”
    â€œShe will want me.” Grand-mère stepped between her and Mr. Somerset. “It has been most interesting to make your acquaintance, Monsieur Somerset. I bid you a good day.”
    Before Evan could do more than give a half bow in her direction, she trotted through the kitchen door. The light sound of her footsteps on the stairs leading up from the kitchen confirmed what he had guessed. The LeClerc family lived upstairs.
    â€œYour grandmother is quite a lady,” he remarked with a smile.
    â€œI do not wish to speak of Grand-mère.”
    â€œAnd of what do you wish to speak, then?”
    Her lowered brows could not cool her fiery beauty. “I do not want you to come here again. Play your games elsewhere, Mr. Somerset.”
    â€œGame, Brienne? Hardly a game, as you have learned today.”
    â€œI thought you did not know the men who did this.”
    â€œNo, I do not.” He laughed without humor. “I disdain violence myself.” He grasped her shoulders. “Just remember this, Brienne. If you are lying to me, you are hurting yourself. This was just a warning. Those men will come back if they did not get the vase. They will come back again and again and again until they get what they want or they destroy you and this salon.”
    Brienne