Thief's Covenant (A Widdershins Adventure) Read Online Free PDF Page A

feet.” She peered down on her unpleasant little host, her expression lofty.
    Floundering wildly for a distraction, the baron's gaze fell upon another guest nearby, a pretty young woman currently standing alone amidst the swirl of people, staring vacuously off into space.
    “Umm—ah, Your Grace?” he asked, even as he reached his stick-thin arms and wormy finger to grasp at the young lady's elbow. “Have you met Mademoiselle Valois? No? Well then, I present to you Madeleine Valois. Mademoiselle Valois, this is Beatrice Luchene, the Duchess Davillon.”
    The young lady blinked twice, her only sign of surprise, and curtsied elegantly. “Your Grace,” she said, her voice throaty yet demure, “I'm honored.”
    With an artfully concealed flicker of amusement at Doumerge's clumsy diversion, Luchene gave the newcomer a brief once-over.
    She was young, this Madeleine Valois, scarcely more than a child, with a slender face, sharp features, and aquatic eyes. Her head was piled high with lavish blonde curls; clearly a wig, but since half the women in attendance sported wigs, this hardly mattered. Her gown was a heavy thing of forest green velvets. All told, little about the woman separated her in any way, shape, or form from a dozen other ladies of quality.
    And yet…
    “It seems to me,” the duchess said, having acknowledged the young woman's genuflection with a shallow nod, “that I have seen you somewhere before, my dear.”
    “Almost certainly, Your Grace,” Madeleine told her, face modestly downcast. “I've been privileged to attend several balls and dinners before tonight. But this is the first time,” she added breathlessly, with a beaming smile toward their mousy host, “that anyone has done me the honor of formally acquainting us.”
    “Ah.” The duchess's mind was clearly already moving on to other pursuits. “Well, it's certainly been a pleasure to meet you, dear. Do enjoy the rest of the party, yes? Good Baron,” she continued, abruptly swiveling toward the pale-faced lord of the manor, “I believe that you and I were in the midst of a discussion?”

     
    As the royals launched back into their debate regarding the values of particular guests, the young lady drifted, unnoticed, into the throng. “Well, that was interesting,” murmured the woman who currently called herself Madeleine Valois. “I thought we'd been found out.”
    Heartfelt agreement, tinged with a patina of relief, flowed from her unseen companion, followed by a sense of inquiry.
    “No, I'm not worried about the baron. That clown wouldn't comprehend a real threat if someone hid a manticore in his chamber pot. I was afraid the duchess might have recognized me, though. Thankfully, I'm not important enough for close examination.”
    Another surge of emotion, almost but not quite nostalgia.
    Madeleine—who had once been Adrienne—nodded. “And it was a long time ago, yes. But enough worrying.” Sliding through the forest of humanity, she continued to survey the house, absorbing every detail. “All right, he's not allowed any of his guests upstairs, so I'll wager that's where he keeps most of his valuables.” Irritably, she shook her head, careful not to dislodge her wig and reveal the thick brown hair beneath. “I wish I had the opportunity to examine the layout up there,” she complained. “It would make this all so much easier. Ah, well. We're only human, yes?”
    Somehow, without the use of a single coherent word, Olgun growled something impolite.
    Madeleine flickered a mischievous smile. Right. As if she would wake up one morning and just forget that she had a god riding around in her head.
    Gradually, she allowed the flow of the party to edge her ever nearer the door. It was time for Madeleine Valois to make her farewells, preparing the way for a different and uninvited guest.

     
    Several pairs of eyes watched as Madeleine Valois made her graceful exit from the Baron d'Orreille's soiree. Most were potential admirers, sorry