Another Faust Read Online Free PDF Page A

swear, you’re so naive.”
    “You’re so paranoid.”
    “Well, I’m going to find out more,” said Mrs. Spencer.
    “Nicola! Welcome,” said Mrs. Wirth as she held out her hands to Madame Vileroy, who nodded as she removed her gloves. Mrs. Spencer glanced curiously over Madame Vileroy’s shoulder toward the children but was afraid to speak since the governess had not yet made a sound. Vileroy’s quartered eye, though smiling and a tranquilizing blue, made them shrink back and squint, then lean in to look closer, wondering if this was some new trend in contact lenses.
    “Would you like to meet my children?” offered Madame Vileroy. The two ladies nodded like pups. Mrs. Spencer made a motion to move toward the blonde, but something kept her back. It was a sickly sweet smell, like vomit and honeysuckle. When she looked up, Madame Vileroy was introducing a muscular boy with a thick jaw and reddish hair. He looked shy and stood with his head down. He had a dull, melancholy look on his face, and he stayed close to his nervous sister, the shorter one with the mole and raven hair, as if he were her protector and she were his pet.
    “This is Christian,” said Madame Vileroy, waving the athletic redhead forward.
    “Pleased to meet you,” said the boy. Without smiling, he extended his hand.
    “Christian Vileroy,” said Mrs. Spencer as she took his hand after Mrs. Wirth.
    “Faust, actually,” said Christian blankly, never really making eye contact. “Christian Faust.” He repeated his new name, the name Madame Vileroy had given them.
    Mrs. Wirth and Mrs. Spencer glanced at each other.
Nanny, then. She must be the nanny.
    Madame Vileroy then looked over at a serious-looking brunette with a head full of tidy, brown waves and a calculating face. The girl stepped forward enthusiastically. She was wearing a long-sleeved velvety dress, glasses, and a gold necklace with the letter
V
at the center. Somehow, she gave the impression that she was vying to position herself close to Madame Vileroy.
    “Victoria Faust,” said the girl while scanning everything and everyone in sight. Mrs. Spencer was about to make a comment when another one of the children stepped forward. He was thin with high cheekbones and long eyelashes as black as ink and feathered like a quill. His blond hair was curled in tight couplets, and he had deep dimples in both cheeks. He had a smile on his face that was both sweet and probing, the kind of smile that would have been disconcerting if he were older, or less handsome.
    “I’m Valentin. Thank you for inviting us,” he said, smiling his charming, dimpled smile.
    Mrs. Wirth suddenly felt guilty for gossiping about them. Then, as Valentin’s smile changed, becoming more intense and less childlike, she felt a bit exposed. He cast a glance at her dress, with the confidence of a fully grown man, and suddenly she felt a little naked.
    “You’re very welcome, dear . . . and your . . . um . . . sister?” She figured that this was a safe assumption at this point. Valentin grabbed the hand of his raven-haired sister, who was still hiding behind Christian, and said, “This is Bicé.”
    When he saw that his sister’s eyes seemed to be glazing over, he gave her a small nudge in the ribs. She gave an eerie nervous laugh and extended her hand.
    “And of course, the lovely Belle,” said Mrs. Wirth, eyeing the tall blonde she had met at the restaurant.
    The girl stepped forward, nodded at Mrs. Wirth, and shook Mrs. Spencer’s hand. Mrs. Spencer suddenly felt the contents of her stomach rising in her throat. She swallowed hard.
    “H-hello,” she said with a short smile before taking an unnaturally large step backward. Feeling rather dizzy and revolted, she glanced back at Belle, who was now staring at the floor and had taken a step back too. Was that smell coming from her? Mrs. Spencer was curious, but not curious enough to step any closer. It was the strangest smell, like something dirty bathed in citrus