Winter's Bees Read Online Free PDF Page B

arrangement and it was his duty to obey both his mother's and his emperor's wishes. All he could do now was do his best to find a way of making this marriage work without hurting Gilbert or himself in the process.
    *~*~*
    The engagement ceremony was to be a simple thing, held in one of Henri-André's larger offices.
    Gilbert dressed carefully in a very fashionable suit in deep shades of brown with gold embroidery. He tried to ignore the way his stomach flipped as he ran a comb through his hair. It was just long enough to tie back now, so he searched until he found a ribbon and pulled it back from his face.
    His palms were sweating as he found the case with the engagement present he'd had made for Marcel and checked it over for what felt like the hundredth time. It was absurd to be this nervous, he told himself. It was only Marcel and only a political marriage.
    He checked his reflection in the mirror one more time before sighing and turning away. He still could not really believe Marcel had agreed to this. He had been so sure Marcel would say no.
    Picking up the case from off the tea table where he'd put it, he headed out of his rooms and towards his father's wing of the palace.
    Henri-André was already there when Gilbert entered the office, along with Marcel and his mother, the Marquise de Montespan. Gilbert found himself a little surprised that she had come; she so rarely tore herself away from court for anything. Then again, Marcel was the only son of the de Montespan line, even if it was by adoption rather than birth. Marcel had originally been born on the island of the Far East, which was attested to by the dark brown of his skin. He had been a de Montespan since was old enough to talk, however.
    The marquise was dressed in a dark green afternoon gown befitting her station and widowed status, since full back would have been inappropriate for the occasion. She sat in front of Henri-André's desk with Marcel by her side.
    Silk and embroidery were all the rage now, so of course Marcel was wearing neither. Instead he was in black with a cranberry red velvet jacket.
    His arm was wood and carved to look as if it were made entirely from interlocking leaves, as was the cane he carried. Dark brown curls were swept back from his finely featured face.
    To Gilbert, Marcel seemed tense today, it was in the way he held himself stiffly without his usual easy grace.  He was also avoiding Gilbert's eyes, very purposefully not looking at him in fact, his features settling into a small frown when he thought no one was watching. Underneath his calm elegant exterior, Marcel was ill at ease and that gave Gilbert a moment of pause. He thought Marcel had agreed to this, and he had even seemed happy about it last time they spoke. He tried to study Marcel to figure out what had changed as he passed him to greet the marquise.
    "Gilbert," the marquise said, smiling, and held out her hand for Gilbert to kiss. "How are you, my dear?"
    "Well, thank you, madam." Gilbert bent over her hand before straightening, sliding Marcel another quick look. He wished they could have a moment alone so that he could ask if Marcel was having second thoughts. Strangely, the idea that Marcel might have come to his senses about the entire thing made Gilbert's stomach clench unpleasantly. He gave himself a hard mental shake; he'd been the one with doubts about this entire affair from the beginning, and he wasn't allowed to feel hurt that Marcel might now be agreeing with him. Then again, Marcel wasn't protesting the match—in fact, here he stood, ready to put his signature to the contract that would solidify their engagement and move them that much closer to marriage.
    "I am so glad I lived to see this match come to pass." The marquise reached up to pat his cheek. "Your father and I have been planning this marriage for a very long time."
    He forced a smile for her. "I am happy Marcel agreed." Looking up, he caught a strange expression as it passed over Marcel's