"I grew up in an orphanage," Sylvie said as they sat in an outdoor cafe eating croissants and drinking tea. "When I was a skinny child, always hungry and cold, I couldn't imagine a happy future for myself."
Genesis smiled. "You deserve happiness."
"So do you, and I pray you discover what Graham and I have found."
"I believe I held happiness in my hand for a little while, but then I threw it away. What a fool I've been."
"Have you read your mother's letter yet?"
Genesis shook her head. "No, I'm afraid of what it will say."
"I don't understand."
"I can't explain it."
"I think you should read the letter," Sylvie said firmly.
"Then read it to me for I might never have the courage to do so." Genesis pulled the paper out of her reticule and handed it to her.
Sylvie looked at the faded envelope before opening it and taking out the letter.
"
My dearest daughter
," she read,
"I
can't be there to watch you grow up so I'm writing this letter to tell you how much I love you. Even though you're only a baby, someday you'll be a woman and perhaps wonder about me. I loved your father more than my own life. He was everything to me and even though the circumstances of our meeting were far from conventional, please know how much I cherished him. When he found out I was with child, he asked me to marry him. But there were two reasons I couldn't accept his proposal, the first being that I was already married. My husband left me years ago to journey to America. I suppose I could have explained this to a magistrate and he might have granted me a divorce."
"But the real reason I couldn't marry him is because I'm sick. I have the consumption and each day I grow weaker. I know I don't have much time left because the disease ravages my body with its invisible grip. I want your father to remember me as I was. Beautiful, willful, exciting. I want to remember him as the dashing, impossibly handsome man I first met. I don't want him to see me die an inch at a time, a day at a time. I love him too much to subject him to that. I'm giving this letter to my sister, Beatrice, and she will hold it for you. Someday you might track her down and meet your family. She has three children who are your cousins, and I'm sure there will be more. I pray you will find true love and happiness in your life as I had for such a short time. This is the only hope I cling to.
"
Sylvie stopped reading. "The letter ends with her signature."
Genesis stared at the people who passed the cafe. Tears blinded her and she saw the world through a shimmer of sorrow. "They loved each other. My father would have married her."
"Oh God. I had the happiness they were denied, and now it's gone." She burst into tears of regret. Sylvie stood up and helped her to her feet.
"Let's get you back to your room." She put an arm around Genesis's trembling shoulders. "You need time to mourn your losses. A good cry will cleanse your system, and then things will look better with each passing day."
Genesis barely remembered the walk back to the brothel. She wept until she thought her heart would shatter into pieces. Sylvie helped her undress and put her to bed, closing the curtains and placing a cool towel on her forehead. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep and dreamed of a magnificent green-eyed man who again held her in his arms and cherished her.
Then the dream changed and she was plunged into the nightmare about the dark man and the coffin. Awaking with a cry, she looked around the silent, empty room. Putting a hand to her head, she realized she had a fever.
For the next week, Genesis suffered through her illness as Sylvie nursed her back to health. She wanted to be left alone with her misery, but her friend insisted on feeding her chicken soup and making sure she drank plenty of liquids.
Eventually, her strength returned and she opened the curtains to breathe in the sweet scent of a spring morning. Napoleon waited for her on the window sill and she picked him up and cradled him in her arms. As she looked down at the fragrant garden, she came to a decision. She would continue to see clients. What did it matter anyway? She had lost the love of her life and there was nothing left to hope for, nothing left to lose. At least she could pretend that the men she fucked were versions of Alex Lansing. For a few moments, she would close her eyes and pretend it was him in her bed instead of a stranger.
* * * *
Sylvie kissed Graham as they lay snuggled in bed together. "I wish you to locate the Earl of Landower for me. I must tell him that Genesis loves him. Perhaps he doesn't know that." She paused. "If only we knew where he was staying. The rumor is he's left his estate in Paris and journeyed home."
Graham smiled. "I know where he's staying."
She sat up and looked at him in surprise. "You do?"
"Yes, I read in the society page that he's now in London. He spent a few days at his home, but then accepted an invitation to be the guest of Sir Wellington. There was an article about a party he attended with Wellington's daughter. The paper hinted there might be an announcement of an engagement between them."
"But that's ridiculous!" Sylvie narrowed her gaze. "He's been gone less than a month. Surely, he couldn't have fallen in love so quickly."
Graham straddled her body and sucked on her taut nipple. "Sometimes it happens that way. It happened like that for us. It took me only one night to fall in love with you."
"Mmm, that's true." She purred with pleasure as he ran his hands down her body.
She reached for his swollen cock and held it in her hand. "Are you ready again? We just finished making love."
"With you, I'm never finished. I feel like fucking you every hour of the day." He rubbed his face against her breast. The coarse feel of his cheek against her erect nipple caused her to moan with pleasure.
"Will you contact him for me?" She arched her back as he slid two fingers into her.
"Do we have to talk about him now?"
"No, we don't have to talk at all."
Alex held the letter in his hand, reluctant to open it. He stared at the Paris postmark as memories flooded back to his mind.
Genesis. Their last night together in all its ugliness. The nights he had stood in the garden watching her window.
Then other thoughts assaulted him. Her innocent angelic face, her sexy smile, her sharp intelligence. God, would he never get over her?
"Are you riding with Katrina this morning?" Lord Wellington looked across the table at him.
"Yes, I planned to."
"Good." The older man nodded with approval. "It seems my daughter has taken a liking to you."
"She's a beautiful girl." He remembered the night they kissed and she invited him to her bedroom. He had felt a stirring of desire, but couldn't go through with it. If he fucked Katrina, he would still feel hollow and unfulfilled because she wasn't Genesis. No one was.
Once more, he looked down at the unopened letter.
"A message from a friend?" Lord Wellington said distractedly.
"Yes, a friend." He studied the Murdoch family crest emblazoned on the envelope. Why would Captain Murdoch write to him? Had something happened to Genesis?
Alex stood up suddenly and the silverware rattled against his plate. "If you'll excuse me, I must answer this correspondence at once."
"You're not hungry for breakfast?"
"Not at the moment."
When Alex returned to his room, he found Katrina sitting on his bed. Her blond hair caught the first rays of sunshine from the open window. She was enchanting, and people said they made a gorgeous couple. However, he couldn't stop himself from imagining a raven-haired beauty with green eyes a shade darker than his own. He remembered her seductive mouth and full, heavy breasts with firm, rose-hued nipples.
"Are you ready for a ride now, my lord?" Katrina smiled at him. "You were reluctant the other night but maybe you've changed your mind?" She lay back on his bed and ran her hands down her body.
"I don't think so, Katrina." He shook his head and tried to feign regret. "I have some urgent business I must attend to."
She narrowed her gaze. "Will you join us in the park when you've completed your business?"
"We'll see." He just wanted her to leave so he could open the envelope. What if Genesis was hurt? What if she needed him? A fierce sense of protectiveness overwhelmed him and he counted the seconds until Katrina stood up from the bed and walked to the door. He gave her a half-hearted smile as she left the room.
Once alone, he tore open the envelope. He was surprised to see the note wasn't from Captain Murdoch, but from Sylvie. He stared at the elegant, feminine handwriting.
"Lord Alexander,"
she wrote,
"forgive me for disturbing you with this letter. However, I know we share an attachment to Genesis Kelly. She's my dearest friend, and I'm concerned about her. Let me share what has happened.
The day after you left the brothel, she announced she no longer wished to service customers. Then her mother's letter affected her deeply. She's in love with you. She admitted as much to me before she took ill. I've spent a week nursing her back to health, but now I worry again.
She informed Madame Colette she wishes to see clients again because she's lost everything which mattered to her. She feels her life is ruined, so it makes no difference what she does.
Soon she'll invite men to her room. Do you wish this to happen? I ask that you return to Paris because Genesis needs you. She told me she never loved anyone before you.
Forgive me if I seem like a bungling matchmaker for this isn't my intention. I only care for my friend's happiness.
Sylvie Devereaux
Alex crumpled the letter in his fist and threw it on the floor. He couldn't return to Paris. He remembered the first time Genesis looked at him with her flashing green eyes. From that moment, his life had been blown to hell. Now he was finally getting it back under control.
Despite Sylvie's plea, he wouldn't return. That way led to madness.
* * * *
"Sylvie's engagement party will be the social event of the summer." Madame Colette smiled with satisfaction. "And I have you to thank for all the hard work you've put into it."
"It was my pleasure." Genesis took a sip of her tea. "I look forward to the party, although I'll miss her company when she leaves the house."
"At least she'll remain in Paris, so you'll visit her often."
"Thank goodness for small blessings."
Colette studied her across the desk. "Now down to business. Are you certain you wish to entertain clients again?"
Genesis sighed. "I've thought it over and it's what I want."
"Then this is a fortunate day for both of us."
"What do you mean?"
"We're about to be honored by the presence of royalty."
Genesis raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Yes." Colette's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Queen Victoria's nephew arrives with his party next week. He's requested the most beautiful woman in the house, and I'm offering him to you."
Colette frowned. "You must buy a stunning new gown before then."
Genesis put a hand to her forehead in a mock-dramatic gesture. "That's such a chore, but I'm sure I'll manage."
* * * *
Genesis twirled around in a circle. "What do you think of this dress?"
Sylvie studied her with a critical eye. "The color definitely suits you. I'd wear that one to the royal appointment."
Genesis laughed. "The royal appointment? He's just a human despite the grand title."
Sylvie smiled. "It's good to hear you laugh again."
"Well, life goes on, doesn't it?"
They were silent as she removed the lovely gown.
Sylvie narrowed her gaze. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Why does everything keep asking me that? Why wouldn't I?"
"This life isn't for everyone."
Genesis's eyes flashed with anger. "It was good enough for you, wasn't it?"
"I had no choice. It was either this or starve in the street." She hesitated. "I wasn't blessed with your financial resources."
"Money makes no difference. This is what I want to do."
"Enough already." Genesis flung the dress on the bed. "I don't have time to argue my life choices with you. I need a bath before this honored royal arrives."
"Are you nervous?"
"A bit," she admitted. "Do you think Madame will blow a trumpet when he walks through the front door?"
Sylvie smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.
Genesis brushed a hand through her hair as she checked her appearance in the mirror. She straightened the seam of her lovely teal gown and then looked at the clock. The royal personage was scheduled to arrive at midnight, which was only a few moments away.
The midnight hour.
Why so late? Perhaps he had spent an evening gambling or watching the dancers at the Moulin Rouge. Despite her protests to the contrary, Genesis found she was nervous. What if he didn't like her? Well, that wasn't her concern. He could always request another girl if he was displeased with her performance.
She looked out the window and gazed into the dark stillness of the silent garden.
Tomorrow she would pick roses and placed them in the empty crystal vases which sat on her dresser. Since Alex left the city the vases had remained devoid of flowers, a silent testimony to his desertion of her. Now it was time to fill them again. In fact, she planned to fill every corner of the room with flowers. The wild ones in the garden might not be as beautiful as the exquisite buds he had brought her, but they would do much toward bringing cheer to her quarters.
There was a soft knock on the door and she went to answer it. A tall aristocratic man stood in the hallway.
"Good evening," he said. "May I come in?"
"Of course, sir."
How was she supposed to address him? Your highness? No, that wasn't right. Your majesty? That was even worse.
He wore a cape over a finely cut linen suit. His thin mustache gave his face character, and she was reminded of pictures of the queen's son, the Prince of Wales. This man was his cousin so there was a family resemblance. Eyes the color of onyx stared back at her, and she realized she was forgetting her manners.