Wronged (The Cuvier Widows Book 1) Page 16

  “You’re certain of this, Marian? You know if you do this it’s going to be hard to face him every day in the office afterwards. Are you sure you can do this?”

  Marian glanced out the window at the rain that cascaded from the sky like a waterfall, pouring down on the earth. She watched as people scrambled to find shelter, splashing as they ran through puddles.

  A woman of the streets stood beneath a street lamp letting the water trickle down her face and over her clothes. She danced a sensuous dance in the pouring rain, her skimpy clothing clinging to her curves in a way that was both erotic and enticing. Marian longed to be as free, so seductive and alluring that you were certain of your beauty.

  For just a moment Marian wanted to join her in the rain dance, as the prostitute turned her face toward the heavens letting the rain cleanse her.

  If only Marian could wash away the self-doubts, the years of marriage and Jean’s subsequent betrayal had bequeathed her.

  Marian returned her gaze to the inside of the coach and her sister. “I must find out if I’m a normal, healthy woman or doubt myself the rest of my life.”

  “Dear God, I never realized how badly he hurt you until this moment,” Claire said softly to her sister.

  Marian glanced down at her hands folded tightly in her lap, remembering their near kiss.

  “For the first time in my life, I want a man and I don’t know what to do.” She glanced up at her sister, tears pricking the inside of her lids. “Tell me what to do, Claire. How can I show Louis I want to sleep with him?”

  Claire rubbed her hands together gleefully. “Oh Marian, this is going to be so much fun. We’ll plan the seduction together and believe me, dear Louis will be unable to say no.”

  ***

  Louis hurried down the street to meet Evette for dinner that evening, wondering why he had agreed to this meeting. They were friends and often joked about becoming lovers, but had never taken that next step. Somehow he understood they were meant to be only friends, as their expectations in life were different

  He walked into Antoine’s Restaurant and saw her waiting for him.

  “Cheri, I begin to think that you had found someone else to dine with tonight,” she said giving him a sultry smile.

  “I’m sorry, Evette. A problem at the office kept me,” he said, his mind picturing Marian and the way he’d last seen her.

  The memory of her standing there in shock, trembling, ready for his kiss, haunted him still. Becoming involved with Marian could be dangerous. When he notified her of a buyer for the business, she would hate him. Kissing her sweet full lips would only fuel her revulsion when she realized he’d sold her out. Still her mouth tempted him, during working hours, but especially when she haunted his mind in the middle of the night.

  “That problem wouldn’t be a young widow who sits across the hall from you, would it?” Evette asked candidly, jerking him out of his reverie.

  Before he could answer, the maitre d’hotel approached. “Your table is ready.”

  “Thank you,” Louis said, and took Evette by the elbow.

  The man pulled out her chair and seated her. Louis sat across from her, flipping out the tails of his tail coat as he sat.

  “Could you bring us two glasses of Bordeaux?” he told the waiter.

  “Yes, sir,” he said, and disappeared.

  Evette glanced across the table at him, the comers of her mouth turned up in slight smile, her brows lifted. “You did not answer my question.”

  “Sorry, we were interrupted. No, Marian is not the reason I’m late tonight. The Captain of one of our boats that was due to leave today has gone missing.”

  “Oh, the trials of the working man.”

  Louis waved her words away. “It’s been taken care of and now I’m here to spend the evening with you.”

  She smiled and opened a delicate fan to fan herself. “I’m glad.”

  An awkward silence seemed to envelop them as Louis sought for something to say, while his mind was filled with thoughts of Marian.

  “What did you think of Marian?”

  “I think she’s very beautiful and much too young to remain a widow for long,” she said watching him carefully.

  “She claims she will never remarry.”

  Evette nodded her head. “It’s understandable for her to feel this way. To face the scandal that has been forced upon her with Jean’s murder would certainly sour one against the idea of forever after. Maybe Jean was a terrible lover and she’s never experienced passion.”

  “What do you mean? She was married and had two children,” Louis said thinking that was unlikely.

  Evette smiled and leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, but just because you have intimate relations with a man, does not mean that he has shown you the fires of pleasure. Many women never experience le grand orgasms. “

  Louis glanced around at the tables around them. Dear God, had anyone heard her? “Evette, are you really saying this to me?”

  “Why not5” She reached over and slapped the back of his hand with her fan. “You’re not a school boy, so quit acting like one. You should know this is true.”

  “The idea of her and Jean together is sickening,” he said, as the waiter set their drinks down.

  Though he knew it was ridiculous, the thought of Marian disrobing for Jean left him angry. Though she bore him two children, Jean’s mistresses had received better treatment than Marian and that bothered him most of all.

  He glanced across the table to see Evette watching him. “Why are you looking at me that way?”

  She smiled. “I think things have changed while I was away. Somehow I get the feeling that you are different.”

  He frowned. “Give me a couple of weeks and I’ll be myself again. With Jean’s death, a lot of things changed.”

  “Yes, I see that.” She sipped her wine. “I also heard they arrested one of the wives for his murder.”

  “I hadn’t heard. I met them all at the reading of the will. Layla Cuvier seemed to be in shock at that time. It’s hard to believe such an innocent looking woman could kill. She’s hardly more than a child.”

  “No, I do not believe it,” Evette said.

  “Her servant told the police that Layla gave Jean laudanum at night to help him sleep. She had the opportunity to poison him,” said Louis.

  Evette shook her head. “Spoken like a man. Think about this, why would she kill her only source of income? Now she has nowhere to go.”

  “Even if she found out he was already married?” Louis questioned.

  Evette nodded. “The woman was wandering the streets when they found her. No woman chooses that kind of life. Not even a wife who has to put up with a husband she detests.” Evette took a deep breath. “I tell you, they arrested the wrong person.”

  “Marian told her she could continue to live in the house in Baton Rouge. Why would she wander the streets of New Orleans?”

  “According to my source down at the police station, the authorities would not let her return to Baton Rouge and the hotel kicked her out. No money, no home. She’s been sleeping wherever she could find a place.”

  Louis shivered. “I wonder if Marian knows her plight. I’ll need to tell her as soon as possible.”

  He pulled out his pocket watch and noticed the time, the urge to talk to Marian overwhelming. Evette had tickets for the opera and they had only an hour to get there. He frowned. Maybe he should consider skipping the opera tonight?

  “What if we miss ..

  She stiffened and her eyes grew large. “Don’t say it!”

  He stopped. “I was going to ask you if we had time to run by Marian’s house and let me tell her.”

  “Marian again.” She gazed at him quizzically. “I think dear friend, that you are much more interested in the Widow Cuvier than you are letting on. I think your affections have changed and you are not quite aware of this new fondness.”

  Louis didn’t say anything. Could she be right? He was all too aware
of his attraction to Jean’s widow, but he also realized any tryst would be impossible, especially after he found a buyer for Cuvier Shipping.

  Though lately he’d begun to notice that she seldom left his thoughts and the realization bothered him.

  He reached across the table and grabbed Evette’s hands. He could still play the rakish flirt. “Evette, my affections are still my own. Though I must admit a certain fondness for a very beautiful widow, known for stringing men along.”

  She gazed at him, still frowning. She lifted her chin. “Keep talking and you may yet manage to salvage the evening. Though I don’t believe a word of the pretty lies you’re telling me.”

  Louis lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her skin. “Your intelligence and wit, along with your friendship, are why I continue to see you.”

  She laughed.

  The words were true, but still he couldn’t deny that part of him wanted to find some excuse to leave and go to Marian. To tell her how the police had found Layla Cuvier wandering the streets. But would Marian care or was his need to discuss Layla’s troubles just an excuse to see Marian and finish what they started in her office this afternoon?

  Chapter Eleven

  On Friday of the following week, Louis knocked on the door of Marian’s home to drive her to Evette’s dinner party. Anxiety twisted his insides at the thought of the coming party. More than once, Evette had expressed the opinion that Louis seemed more than just attracted to Marian. And while he admitted he admired the widow, his infatuation was merely a physical thing that he experienced with many women. Why should Marian be any different?

  Intelligent, beautiful, witty, and strong, she’d attracted him like no other. Yet lately, he couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind.

  The last time he’d been to the house on Josephine Street had been to tell her of Layla’s arrest for Jean’s murder, but the police had already informed Marian.

  The door swung open and he gazed in at Marian, looking radiant in a low-cut gray silk dress that reflected the color of her eyes, showing her enticing cleavage. He couldn’t help but stare at her, openmouthed.

  “Do I know you?” he asked.

  She smiled. “Of course you do, silly.”

  “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m here to pick up Marian Cuvier. You must be her younger sister.”

  Marian laughed and then spun around for him. “Claire and I did a little shopping for tonight.”

  “I see that.” He reached over and kissed her cheek, the sweet seductive smell of magnolias tempting him. “You look beautiful.”

  She blushed. “Thank you.”

  “I didn’t expect to see you answering the door. Where are your servants?”

  She smiled. “I gave them all the night off.”

  “Who’s watching the children?” He glanced down at his hand. “I brought Philip a new baseball. I thought I might get a couple of pitches in with him before we left.”

  “Sorry. Claire took Renee and Philip to stay at her house overnight. I’m the only one here.” She opened the door wider. “We’re still early if you’d like to come in and have a drink.”

  “Thanks, but no. But let me leave this baseball here. I don’t think Evette would be pleased if I started to pitch the ball at her party.”

  “Good idea,” Marian said stepping back to let him in.

  He stepped inside and laid the baseball on the hall stand in the entry way, as Marian moved close to his side. He gazed down at her, noting her hair was gathered loosely in a clasp, the dark curls cascading past her shoulders. Tonight was the first time he’d seen her hair loose and her face looked younger, softer, and more feminine than he’d recalled.

  She walked past him into the den and turned out the gas lamps. When she came back into the entry hall, she picked up a gray silk shawl that matched her dress. He helped her place the silk folds around her shoulders, a sudden rush of protectiveness toward her catching him off guard.

  “If you’re ready, I think I am,” she said.

  With no lights burning in the house, a dark quietness penetrated the atmosphere. He cast a worried glance around the shadowed hallway. “Maybe you should leave a light on?”

  “I considered it, but I just hate to leave a lamp on when there’s no one at home. If you don’t mind, I thought that when you brought me back, you could come in while I lit the gas lamps.”

  “All right,” he said. He could understand why she would not want to come into a darkened house alone, but it seemed strange that she’d let the servants off for the night.

  They walked out the door and Marian turned the key in the lock and slipped it into her handbag.

  “You know Evette only lives three blocks away. There’s a cool breeze tonight, if you’d like we could walk instead of riding in the buggy.”

  “I didn’t know she lived so close. That sounds lovely.” Louis took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm and they set off at a leisurely pace, strolling down the street, taking care to stay away from any puddles left from an early afternoon shower.

  “Who does Mrs. Simone invite to these dinners?”

  “All kinds of people. Her parties are usually entertaining and the people interesting.”

  They crossed Josephine Street and turned on Magnolia. “I’ve missed going to parties. When I was a girl, Claire and I went all the time. But once the children were born, I never attended many parties.”

  “But Jean liked parties,” Louis said.

  She turned her big gray eyes on him and smiled, her rosy lips full and inviting. “Let’s not talk about Jean tonight I want to have fun and when I think of him, pleasure is not what usually comes to mind.”

  He chuckled. “All right, I won’t mention his name again this evening. Let’s have a good time.”

  Louis didn’t blame her. In fact, he wanted nothing more than to spend the evening with her. They didn’t have to go to Evette’s party, he just wanted to be with Marian.

  Again, he felt physical attraction to Marian that he didn’t know what to do with. Well, that wasn’t exactly true, there was one thing he wanted to do, but he was desperately trying to keep the thoughts and images of Marian, his business partner, in check. Tonight he was her escort for the evening, and tomorrow he would return to trying to sell the business she clung to. Being with Marian would only complicate a difficult situation. For just a moment he felt a sense of guilt tinged with sorrow, but he quickly pushed the feeling away.

  Strolling down the street, they came upon a puddle that stretched several feet in front of them. It was deep and muddy enough to ruin the hem of Marian’s dress and too wide to jump. They stood there a moment staring at the pool of water.

  “My dress. What do we do now?” Marian asked.

  Louis glanced around trying to find a way around and saw mud in all directions. “There’s only one thing we can do.”

  He bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

  “Louis,” she exclaimed and then started to laugh, her voice bubbly in the evening air. “Put me down.”

  Her dress fluttered in the breeze exposing her lacy drawers and he wished the breeze would blow the hem of her dress higher. Just enough to give him a glimpse of her long graceful limbs. Quickly, she pushed the skirt down, covering her feminine undergarments.

  The evening shadows loomed as he stepped across the puddle and stood her gingerly on the ground again, his arms feeling particularly empty as he released her. What was it about this woman that kept him in a constant state of awareness? Still, she wore pretty pantaloons and he had caught a glimpse of a trim ankle.

  “I had no coat to throw across the water,” he said grinning at her as if he’d just rescued the princess.

  She shook her head and laughed again. “I’ve never been carried across a puddle before. Thank you, Mr. Fournet, for being such a gentleman.”

  “My pleasure, ma’am.” Feeling her in his arms, the sweet smell of magnolias, and her satiny skin against his more than rewarded his efforts.

&nbs
p; They weren’t far from Evette’s, yet he wished they could avoid the dinner party. So seldom were they alone and he enjoyed the times when it was just the two of them.

  He liked the way she laughed and the way her eyes twinkled when she teased him. For more than a week, he’d found himself watching for her, waiting, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, and have her glance at him from across the hall. Sometimes he felt as if they were dancing, mirroring each other’s moves, circling one another, waiting for that moment when they would move into each other’s arms..

  They arrived at Evette’s home and a servant ushered them through the entry hall into a room where a large wooden staircase spiraled to the next floor. A crystal chandelier hung suspended from the ceiling, the lighting soft, and music played under the sound of talk. They were led into the main room of the house, where a small crowd of people gathered, listening to a man playing a piano.

  “Mrs. Cuvier, I’m so glad that you came,” Evette said, coming forward to greet them. She turned her attention to Louis, grabbing both of his hands and reached up and kissed his cheeks. “As always, a pleasure, cheri. “ She stepped back and released his hands. “Please help yourselves to a drink and join the others. We’re still waiting for a few guests, but we should eat soon.”

  A servant approached them with a tray of drinks and Louis handed Marian a glass of champagne.

  “Thank you. Do you know many of these people?” Marian asked Louis, as she gazed about the room filled with men and women dressed in the latest fashions. He nodded to someone he knew.

  “Yes, most of them have been to other dinner parties Evette has held,” Louis said watching her.

  Marian sipped her champagne and gazed up at him. The light shimmered from her smoky eyes with a glint that hinted at mischief. “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? If you wish, you can tell me it’s none of my business.”

  He watched her expression, wishing he could kiss the upturned comers of her mouth. “All right.”

  “Are you and Evette just friends or something more that’s none of my business?”

  Comforted he could answer her question without offending her, he took Marian by the arm and led her toward a loveseat in the corner. “We’re just good friends, nothing more.”