Robin Schone by Gabriel's Woman (10 ebook reader TXT) 📕

for

the guests.”

Victoria’s smile died.

Mints for halitosis.

“That is very generous of Gabriel,” she said somberly, hand lowering. She moved to set the tin back onto

the nightstand.

“Take it.”

Victoria glanced up in surprise. The guard’s face was inscrutable.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Take the tin of Altoids with you. The peppermints are stronger than other brands. Eat a lozenge, and

take Mr. Gabriel into your mouth. It will please him.”

Victoria was surprised that the heat coursing through her body did not melt the peppermints.

The guard stepped back, spine impacting the door, clearly signaling it was time to leave.

Victoria wholeheartedly agreed.

Grabbing the Altoids, she turned around and glanced at the half-silvered glass that when seen by a guest

was merely a mirror.

The dark-haired woman reflected inside it was elegant instead of ragged, slender instead of scrawny.

Her face was as red as the wine-colored velvet garnering her gown.

The auburn-haired guard was profiled in the mirror, black coat a stark contrast to the golden-brown of

Victoria’s gown. And then they were gone, the auburn-haired guard in his black coat and the dark-haired

woman in her golden brown gown. In their place stood a lone man with black hair.

Victoria’s eyes widened. Only to see an auburn-haired man in a black coat standing in profile behind a

dark-haired woman wearing a golden brown dress.

The guard and Victoria.

Victoria blinked.

“It’s time to go,” Julien said.

Victoria could not wait to escape the elegant bedchamber.

Standing in the doorway, heart pounding, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the half-silvered

glass.

It was a mirror, not a transparent window.

“I saw you staring in the bottom drawer.”

Victoria started, head snapping forward and up.

Emerald-green eyes stared down into hers. “You are not used to houses such as this.”

There was no need to deny what must be blatantly obvious. “No,” Victoria admitted. “I am not used to

houses such as these.”

“In brothels whip thongs and cat-o’-nine-tails are used instead of knotted silk and quirts.”

Victoria did not have to ask Julien how he had gained his knowledge: it was imprinted in his

emerald-green eyes.

“The House of Gabriel is not a brothel,” Victoria said.

“No, ma’am, it is not.” Grim memories filled Julien’s eyes. “The House of Gabriel is safer than a

brothel. For both patron and prostitute.”

Victoria was arrested. Gabriel may think the House of Gabriel a place of sin, but—

“You approve of Mr. Gabriel’s house,” she said curiously.

“Yes,” the auburn-haired guard said baldly.

Warmth filled Victoria’s smile. “So do I, Mr. Jules. Shall we find Monsieur Gaston?”

They did not have to search for Gaston. He waited for them at the foot of the steps.

In his eyes was the look of the street man he had once been.

I will lose my position, Julien had said.

Gaston opened his mouth—

“It is entirely my fault, Monsieur Gaston. I wished to visit one of the guest rooms so that I”—Victoria

took a deep breath, there was no help for it—“might see if there was a device there that might assist me in

pleasing Monsieur Gabriel.”

Gaston’s mouth audibly snapped shut. He quickly recovered from his shock.

“I hope mademoiselle was not.. . surprised ... at the devices there.”

“Au contraire, sir.” Victoria held up the tin of peppermints. “Mr. Jules very kindly recommended that I

try these.”

The crimson heat pulsing inside Victoria’s cheeks tinged Gaston’s cheeks. “Merci, mademoiselle. We

will not mention this incident to Monsieur Gabriel lest we spoil the surprise of your gift.”

Victoria’s auburn-haired guard marginally relaxed.

Victoria smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Gaston.”

“You must not tire yourself, mademoiselle. See mademoiselle back to Monsieur Gabriel’s suite, Jules.”

The suite.

The door leading to the gallery of transparent windows was in Gabriel’s study.

Victoria opened her mouth to tell Gaston and Jules about the man she had seen through the transparent

mirror.

She closed her mouth.

What had she seen, really? Just a brief image . . . with black hair.

Her hair, under the right conditions, looked black.

. The aberration inside the mirror could only have been a trick of light.

“Thank you, Mr. Gaston You are quite right”—Victoria would need all of her strength for the night—”I

must not tire myself out.”

Gaston preceded Victoria up the private stairs leading to Gabriel’s suite. Jules followed behind Victoria.

She was sandwiched between two able men.

So why didn’t she feel safe?

At the top of the stairs Gaston produced a shiny brass key and unlocked the door.

Victoria stepped inside, feet sinking in the plush maroon carpeting.

Gabriel’s study was empty.

How silly of her to hope that Gabriel had returned.

Gaston crossed the carpet to the black-marble-topped desk and swept up the silver tray bearing her

half-empty plates.

“Mademoiselle should eat more. Perhaps the food was not to your liking.”

Victoria stiffened. Surely he was not mocking her thinness.

“The food was excellent. Pray conduct my compliments to the cook. I will eat with Gabriel when he

returns.”

Gaston paused at the door, tray expertly balanced on one hand. “Mademoiselle.”

Victoria braced herself. “Yes?”

Gaston did not face her. “The Altoids work most effectively when they are allowed to slowly dissolve in

the mouth while at the same time tasting a man’s bite. This is best accomplished by holding a lozenge inside

your cheek rather than on your tongue.”

The door softly closed.

Victoria held her hands to her cheeks. The tin and her hands quickly warmed; they did not cool off her

face.

“Mademoiselle.”

For a second Victoria thought Gaston called through the door.

He did not.

Heart slamming against her ribs, Victoria swirled about.

A black-haired man stood only inches away from her. He held a blue silk scarf between long, elegant

hands.

“Hello, Mademoiselle Childers.” Warm breath fanned her face. “It’s so good to meet