Pearls

by L. M. Pruitt

  “Well, there’s a first time for everything.” Planting her hands on her hips, she nodded decisively. “Now you’ve made me forget why I came in here.”

  Ignoring the giggles and choked laughter from the students, I said, “Would it perhaps be due to a message or a visitor?”

  Adelaide’s eyes lit up and she snapped her fingers. “Yes! There’s a gentleman waiting for you in the front parlor. He said he had an appointment for this afternoon.”

  I frowned, glancing at the clock as I rose, setting my napkin on the table next to my plate. “He’s early.” Gesturing for Adelaide to follow me, I waited until we were in the hall before speaking. “Please find Ava and inform her I will be presenting Harriet to the Prince of the Southern Territories. I would prefer her in white, if we have something ready to wear.”

  “Yes, Miss Marguerite.” Adelaide hurried off to find the in-house modiste, the latter no doubt squirreled away in the series of rooms I provided for her.

  Turning to the mirror, I took a moment to ensure my hair was still neatly pinned before smoothing down my morning dress and pinching my cheeks. Opening the parlor door, I glided in, lowering myself in to a curtsey. “Your Royal Highness.”

  “Lady Saint-Laurent.” Offering me his hand, Gaston lifted me out of the curtsey and escorted me to a chair. He waited until I took my seat before doing the same, crossing and uncrossing his legs before crossing them yet again. When I merely raised my brows, he laughed, the sound rusty as if he didn’t do such a thing very often. “I must admit to being somewhat nervous.”

  “It is more than understandable to feel that way, Gaston.” Leaning forward, I touched his hand, making sure to keep both touch and tone light. “However, I assure you there is nothing whatsoever to be nervous about. At the moment, all we are going to do is talk.” I didn’t mention he would be meeting Harriet that afternoon. After ten years of such introductions, I knew some individuals needed to be eased in to a first encounter. Smiling, I said, “Now, you told me you were interested in having not only a companion, but a wife.”

  “Yes.” He exhaled slowly, a tiny amount of the tension in his body slipping away. “And… children.” He glanced at me quickly before once again dropping his gaze to the carpet. “I enjoyed being a father before my rebirth.”

  “I see.” And I did. It was quite common for the older vampyres—those who had been made before the Laws of Creation set forth by the King—to make an offhand comment about their families before their rebirth. Almost all of them pertained to children who were more than likely dead and buried decades ago. “That, of course, would be something you would need to discuss with her.”

  “Yes, of course.” Clearing his throat, he huffed out a breath before looking at me again. “As I’m sure you know, any spouse of someone in my position is required to have certain skills.”

  “If you and Harriet decide you suit each other, I will take her under my wing, providing her additional tutoring in all areas of court life.”

  “And even your detractors cannot deny you have impeccable manners.” He smiled, seemingly against his will, the tiny curve of his lips surprisingly sweet. “But I am not referring simply to your graces, Lady Saint-Laurent.”

  “Parties and balls and charity events and state dinners….” I trailed off, shaking my head and laughing. “Although you have a small army of staff to attend to the actual labor, she will need to learn the importance and intricacies of seating charts and reception lines and all the other hundred tiny details which go in to creating a successful event.”

  “Yes.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly. “I rarely entertain the King but if I were to do so--.”

  “You would want to ensure neither you nor your wife were a cause of embarrassment.”

  “Yes.” His smile lasted longer this time, his relief at my understanding almost palpable. “You know how… particular King Bienvenu can be.”

  “Indeed, I do.” Patting his hand before returning my own to my lap, I bit my lip, hesitant to ruin his new relaxation. Still, there were other, equally important matters which needed to be discusses. “Now, there are some questions I need to ask you which are somewhat… personal.”

  “Ah.” As I expected, Gaston stiffened, the smile fading away. “Yes. Of course.”

  “I understand how someone with a private nature such as yourself will find this process uncomfortable but it really is in the best interest of both you and the girl to make sure you are as compatible as possible.”

  “Yes.” He tugged at his collar, perhaps the most nervous gesture I had ever seen from the Prince. “I understand. Please, proceed.”

  “Would you say you were more dominant in your sexual relationships or more submissive?” I waited patiently while the Prince stared at me, slack-jawed. “Two individuals with the same sexual temperament rarely work well together.”

  “Uh, yes, I can see….” He trailed off, his entire face flaming a bright cherry red. “I prefer to take charge.”

  I nodded, not surprised. There were very few individuals who came to me, man or woman, who were interested in acquiring a companion to dominate them. I often wondered if dominance was a result of the rebirth or if those vampyres who were inclined to submission simply sought out other venues. “Do you enjoy games in the bedroom?”

  “Games?” His confused expression seemed genuine but I was willing to admit I did not know the Prince well enough to be certain. “Could you clarify…?”

  “Bondage, punishment, orgasm denial.” I paused, watching as all the color drained from his face before flooding back again. “Would you like more examples?”

  “No, no.” He shook his head so rapidly I would have sworn I heard his brain rattling around in his skull. Clearing his throat again, he said, “I have more… I suppose you would say ‘simple’ tastes.”

  “There are no right or wrong answers here, Gaston. As I said before, I ask these questions merely to ensure the two of you are compatible.” Some part of me knew I would only be able to ask one or two more questions before he shut down completely. I decided to ask the more important of the two, in case it was the last. “How much knowledge would you like her to gain before your marriage?”

  “I… hadn’t thought quite so far ahead.” He frowned, scratching his chin. “Are you able to offer instruction without physical contact?”

  “No, Your Royal Highness.” I shook my head, returning his frown. “I insist on physical contact at each stage of instruction. There have been numerous incidences in the past where the partner preference of a student has not been discovered until they found themselves in a sexual situation.” Sighing, I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose, knowing Gaston would be offended at the tiny sign of annoyance. “If the two of you are suited for each other, you will be her partner through her sexual instruction, which will take place on these premises. So I ask again, how much knowledge would you like her to gain?”

  “As much… as much as possible.” He blurted out the request before looking away, taking a sudden acute interest in the grandfather clock on the far side of the room. “I am not concerned with a timeline, before you ask. Or cost. Just….”

  “I understand.” Someone knocked on the door, drawing my attention away from the Prince. “Yes?”

  The door opened and Adelaide peeked around the edge of the paneled wood. “We’re ready, Miss Marguerite.”

  “Thank you.” Turning to Gaston, I said, “Would you like to meet Harriet, Your Royal Highness?”

  “Now?” He stammered for a moment before clamping his teeth together. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, he nodded once. “Yes. Yes, I would.”

  “Excellent.” Smiling at Adelaide, I said, “Please show her in.”

  “Yes, Miss Marguerite.” Pushing the door open the rest of the way, she nudged Harriet forward. “Go on, child. No harm is going to come to you in this house.”

  “That will be all, Adelaide.” I waited until the door closed, leaving the three of us alone, before add
ressing Harriet. “Harriet, I would like you to meet Gaston, the Prince of the Southern Territories.”

  Without removing her gaze from the floor, Harriet bobbed a quick curtsey, the hem of the white dress puddling around her feet with the downward movement. I noted the imperfection but refrained from frowning. As skilled as Ava was, it was unfair to ask her to perform a miracle in the space of less than half an hour.

  Gaston rose, seemingly in a daze, and crossed the room to stand in front of her. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Harriet.” When she continued to stare at the carpet, he chuckled. “There is no need to hide. I would be willing to wager I am nearly as nervous as you.”

  She glanced up, clearly startled, and he choked back a gasp. Swallowing hard, he said, “You have the loveliest eyes I have seen.”

  Harriet smiled, a tiny dimple appearing in her right cheek, before returning her gaze to the floor. “Thank you, sir.”

  Gaston continued to stare at her, apparently too fascinated by her to either pay attention or to care about what would be considered a major social faux pas.

  Smiling, I rose and walked to the desk, already fine-tuning the contract in my mind.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Later that afternoon, I shuffled through the various papers strew across the desk, muttering under my breath. Even devoting two hours a day to the most mundane aspects of the school did not seem to be enough time to prevent paperwork from piling up. Sighing, I slumped back in the chair as much as the stiff back and my own stays would allow.

  Perhaps I should give more thought to Grégoire’s subtle suggestions to procure an assistant.

  The parlor door burst open and Sophie ran in, curls and dress flying around her with equal fervor. “Mama, Mama, Mama! You must guess what we saw!”

  “Must I?” Pushing away from the desk, I steeled myself for the impact of her embrace. The same blood which accelerated her healing and would one day slow her aging also made her overly strong for one so small. I bit back a grunt as she clambered up in to my lap, knowing I would gain at least one small bruise as a result of her enthusiasm. Tapping the end of her nose, I said, “I can see by the pink on your nose you forgot your hat.”

  She giggled as she wrapped her arms around me, snuggling against my breast. “The sun is so warm and bright, Mama.”

  “Indeed it is, daughter.” Grégoire glided in to the room, his eyes shielded by a large pair of tinted spectacles. “One would go so far as to say exceptionally warm and bright for this time of year.”

  “Do you have the headache, dearest?” I shushed Sophie when she started to speak, frowning at her and shaking my head before returning my attention to the Duke. “Would you like me to send for the physician?”

  “As our daughter pointed out this morning—Silas smells.” He laughed and shook his head. “Nothing a dark room and a cold compress will not set to rights. And since it is my own fault for forgetting my eyewear in the carriage, I have no one to blame but myself.”

  “Still….” I lowered Sophie to the floor before rising and crossing to stand in front of him. Sliding the spectacles down his nose, I sighed when he winced and closed his eyes. “Dearest. If you cannot stand even this light, as soft as it is, you are well past the stage where home remedies can do you any good.”

  “I shall make you a deal of sorts, you most charming of fishwives.” Before I could protest his description, he laid a single finger on my mouth. “If I am still feeling unwell in the morning, I will allow you to send for the physician—but not a moment sooner.”

  “If you insist.” Setting his glasses back in place, I took a moment to stroke his cheek. “I’ll send Grace up with a decanter of blood. Please drink all of it.”

  “Since you asked so nicely.” Tapping his finger, he said, “Sophie, I plan to kiss your charming mother, so you should take care to avert your gaze.”

  I rolled my eyes even as he pressed his lips to my curved ones, ignoring Sophie’s giggles. Drawing away, I said, “Go rest, dearest. I’ll visit you later this evening.”

  I waited until the door closed behind him before turning to my still giggling child. Raising my brows, I said, “And what is so funny, daughter of mine?”

  “Papa.” She scrunched her nose, rocking on her heels. “And you. You are both funny.”

  “Hmm, yes, well, we do have our moments.” Holding out my hand, I wiggled my fingers at her. “Come now. You can tell me about your afternoon at the zoo while we go search for Grace.”

  “She is probably with Philippe.” Taking my hand, she skipped along next to me as we made our way out of the room and down the hall. Giggling again, she said, “They are funnier than you and Papa.”

  “Hmm.” I made a mental note to speak with my maid before I retired for the evening. Despite the purpose of the school and the location of the house, I held the staff to quite rigorous standards of behavior. While I knew Sophie had a tendency to snoop, it still did not excuse the interaction between the two servants. “Did you and Papa see the stripy cats today?”

  “Yes! And we saw the animal with the long nose, the relephant, and….”

  The chatter was a welcome distraction from the mountain of paperwork I still needed to sift my way through and I let it wash over me, enjoying the few carefree minutes I would have until sometime after dinner.

  “You have a visitor, Miss Marguerite.”

  I looked up from the bolt of cloth I was examining with Ava and frowned. “We’ve only an hour until dinner, Adelaide. Ask them to leave a card and I’ll send them a message—with a more appropriate time—tomorrow.”

  “Begging your pardon, Miss Marguerite, but I don’t believe this gentlemen is inclined to take no for an answer.” Adelaide dabbed her cheeks and forehead with a plain cotton handkerchief, huffing out a breath before tucking the simple square in her apron. “He seems to be most distressed.” She paused, dabbing her face again. “And mean-spirited, if it’s not too bold a thing to say.”

  “Well, now you’ve raised my curiosity to such a level I simply must see who this visitor is.” Passing the candlelight-colored silk to Ava, I rose, straightening my gown. “I want to save this for Harriet’s wedding dress. We’ll build her trousseau around it.”

  “Excellent choice, Madame.” Ava nodded, making a notation in her sketchpad. “I’ll begin working on some designs for both it and the rest of her wardrobe.”

  “The Prince is sending us a variety of bolts, cloth he’s amassed during his travels.” I smiled, resisting the urge to rub my hands together in satisfaction. “He also has a few requests of his own regarding dresses and foundation garments.”

  “It is always nice to work with a gentlemen who knows his own mind, isn’t it?” Ava laughed, rubbing her fingers over her cheek, smearing her cocoa-colored skin with charcoal. Although she didn’t view the more modern conveniences my title and the Duke’s afforded the household with the same suspicion as Adelaide, she admitted to a preference for the older methods. “As I said, I’ll begin work on some designs. I would like to take Harriet’s measurements before she retires for the evening.”

  “I’ll send her to you after dinner.” Leaving Ava to her own devices, I headed back to the parlor, Adelaide trailing behind me. When she coughed for the third time in as many minutes, I glanced over my shoulder at her. “Why don’t you head to bed, Addy? I’ll have Rosalie bring you a tray and then Sophie and I will join you later for her evening story.”

  “It’s just a bit of a cold, Miss Marguerite.” When I continued to simply stare at her, she sighed and rubbed her chest. “It’s settling a little, is all. Once the weather warms up, I’ll be right as rain.”

  “You and I both know the weather won’t warm until close to Easter, which is still five months away.” Before she could grumble or protest, I turned toward her, resting my hand on her shoulder. “Please, Addy. I know you do not like the doctor but if the cough worsens I will send for him. If a few days in bed can prevent that, is there really any harm?”

  �
��You and that doctor.” Adelaide scowled and clucked her tongue. “I swear, you would get that charlatan in here for something as simple as a broken fingernail.”

  “The Duke and my daughter share your distaste for the physician.” I squeezed her shoulder. “However, none of you can deny Silas is excellent at his job.”

  “Excellent or not, I’d rather not see the bloodsucker if I have a say in the matter.” She nodded once before widening her eyes. “Oh, I didn’t mean no disrespect to the Duke, Miss Marguerite. I only meant--.”

  “I know, Addy.” Laughing, I nudged her toward the stairs. “Go on, now. After I see to the gentleman, I’ll send Rosalie up with your dinner.”

  I watched her make her way up the stairs, chewing on my lower lip as I fought down my fear and worry. Adelaide was closing in on eighty, an age which would have been almost impossible fifteen or twenty years ago. Still, even with the biannual blood donation from the Duke, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be forced to say goodbye to the woman who was a mother to me in everything but name.

  Shoving down the troubling thought, I squared my shoulders and forced a smile as I stepped in to the parlor. The smile died as soon as I recognized my visitor. “Ah. Vicomte. To what do I owe this… pleasure?”

  “Your ladyship.” For perhaps the first time ever, his bow was everything it should be. It only made me more suspicious. Straightening, he smiled at me. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”

  “Considering the fact you were neither inclined to wait nor to leave a card, I was not really given a choice, was I?” Gesturing to one of the wing chairs, I waited until he sat before doing the same. “I admit to being somewhat curious as to the purpose of your visit, my lord.”

  “I have been instructed to inform you that the… donation you suggested has been made.” His smile was as insincere as ever, the consistency of his disdain oddly comforting. “I am leaving for my new post in the human district first thing in the morning—the King was gracious enough to allow me the day to see to my affairs.”