here in the first place.”
“It was for her health. She is allergic to the Northern air.”
“Of course, of course. But tell me...how did you manage that trip?”
“Our uncle arranged it. I only came as a companion for my sister,” Bernardo said with
a sigh. “I’m simply no good in business dealings.”
Claude-Michel approached them, smiling. “Excuse me, young man. I couldn’t help
but overhear your predicament. Where did you say your sister’s wedding was to be
held?”
The young man—a cherub with plump, pink cheeks and light brown curls—gave
him a haughty look. “I did not say, sir. What business would a Frenchman have in my
affairs?”
80
81
“I don’t mean to pry,” Claude-Michel said with a regal nod of his head. “But you
seem in need of protection of a more gentlemanly sort than you had. My friend Monsieur
Villaforte and I are masters of both sword and pistol, and we are far from being ruffians.
We are also in need of transportation to Venice. You are in need of protection. I simply
thought we could reach an agreement.”
“See?” the friend said. “Ask and you shall receive.”
“How do I know you won’t rob me?” the young man asked.
“Le Compte Louis Claude-Michel du Fresne does not rob people, young Monsieur .
Are you lodging here?”
“Yes, but—”
“Good. Pack your things. My companions and I are ready to leave.”
The cherub gave his friend a worried look.
“Go on,” the friend said. “You can’t pass up an opportunity like this one. These
men are obviously gentlemen. You don’t often find gentlemen willing to hire themselves
out.”
“No,” Bernardo said. “It makes me wonder what strange circumstance led them to
it.”
“You’ve no other choice,” the friend said. “Except to travel unaccompanied.”
“That would not be wise,” Claude-Michel said. “Especially, if you don’t mind my
saying, when one has a maiden in tow. There are dangerous men about.”
“Yes,” Bernardo said. “I worry for my sister’s safety.” His gaze shifted to me. “Your
wife will perhaps provide company for my sister,” he said.
“Wife?” Claude-Michel said, then caught himself. “Oh yes. Of course,” he said. “She
is quite the conversationalist. If you will show my men to your carriage, my wife and I
will settle our business with the landlord.”
François glared at him for that, but went with Bernardo and his friend. I followed
Claude-Michel to the bar. Claude-Michel explained to the innkeeper that they had taxed
the prostitute’s abilities so much, he thought it best she be allowed to sleep it off for the
80
81
day.
The innkeeper looked at me, confused, no doubt wondering why a man would bring
a prostitute into his room with his wife present. “For my friend,” he explained.
“Most are not so generous with whores, Signore , no matter what they’ve done with
them. Or to friends.”
“Then I am a rare man, my friend, the likes of which you shall never meet again.
Buon giorno .”
* * * *
Bernardo’s young sister, whose name was Florentine, had the same rosy cheeks, with
golden hair and eyes the color of turquoise from the New World. She was already in the
carriage by the time we came, sitting in the forward-facing seat. Claude-Michel bowed in
greeting. Florentine smiled and lowered her eyes before meeting his again, more boldly
this time. I could tell she was strongly attracted to him, but I was too put out by the night
before to care.
“At your service, cherie ,” he said with a bow.
Bernardo didn’t have a driver, so Jean climbed into the driver’s seat. It was a large
carriage, with an extra forward-facing seat behind Florentine’s where two more passengers
could sit side-by side, or one person could stretch out. Claude-Michel suggested I take it
first, as I “no doubt got little rest the night before.”
I took it, but I did not lie down right away. I sat behind Bernardo at the end opposite
to
“It was for her health. She is allergic to the Northern air.”
“Of course, of course. But tell me...how did you manage that trip?”
“Our uncle arranged it. I only came as a companion for my sister,” Bernardo said with
a sigh. “I’m simply no good in business dealings.”
Claude-Michel approached them, smiling. “Excuse me, young man. I couldn’t help
but overhear your predicament. Where did you say your sister’s wedding was to be
held?”
The young man—a cherub with plump, pink cheeks and light brown curls—gave
him a haughty look. “I did not say, sir. What business would a Frenchman have in my
affairs?”
80
81
“I don’t mean to pry,” Claude-Michel said with a regal nod of his head. “But you
seem in need of protection of a more gentlemanly sort than you had. My friend Monsieur
Villaforte and I are masters of both sword and pistol, and we are far from being ruffians.
We are also in need of transportation to Venice. You are in need of protection. I simply
thought we could reach an agreement.”
“See?” the friend said. “Ask and you shall receive.”
“How do I know you won’t rob me?” the young man asked.
“Le Compte Louis Claude-Michel du Fresne does not rob people, young Monsieur .
Are you lodging here?”
“Yes, but—”
“Good. Pack your things. My companions and I are ready to leave.”
The cherub gave his friend a worried look.
“Go on,” the friend said. “You can’t pass up an opportunity like this one. These
men are obviously gentlemen. You don’t often find gentlemen willing to hire themselves
out.”
“No,” Bernardo said. “It makes me wonder what strange circumstance led them to
it.”
“You’ve no other choice,” the friend said. “Except to travel unaccompanied.”
“That would not be wise,” Claude-Michel said. “Especially, if you don’t mind my
saying, when one has a maiden in tow. There are dangerous men about.”
“Yes,” Bernardo said. “I worry for my sister’s safety.” His gaze shifted to me. “Your
wife will perhaps provide company for my sister,” he said.
“Wife?” Claude-Michel said, then caught himself. “Oh yes. Of course,” he said. “She
is quite the conversationalist. If you will show my men to your carriage, my wife and I
will settle our business with the landlord.”
François glared at him for that, but went with Bernardo and his friend. I followed
Claude-Michel to the bar. Claude-Michel explained to the innkeeper that they had taxed
the prostitute’s abilities so much, he thought it best she be allowed to sleep it off for the
80
81
day.
The innkeeper looked at me, confused, no doubt wondering why a man would bring
a prostitute into his room with his wife present. “For my friend,” he explained.
“Most are not so generous with whores, Signore , no matter what they’ve done with
them. Or to friends.”
“Then I am a rare man, my friend, the likes of which you shall never meet again.
Buon giorno .”
* * * *
Bernardo’s young sister, whose name was Florentine, had the same rosy cheeks, with
golden hair and eyes the color of turquoise from the New World. She was already in the
carriage by the time we came, sitting in the forward-facing seat. Claude-Michel bowed in
greeting. Florentine smiled and lowered her eyes before meeting his again, more boldly
this time. I could tell she was strongly attracted to him, but I was too put out by the night
before to care.
“At your service, cherie ,” he said with a bow.
Bernardo didn’t have a driver, so Jean climbed into the driver’s seat. It was a large
carriage, with an extra forward-facing seat behind Florentine’s where two more passengers
could sit side-by side, or one person could stretch out. Claude-Michel suggested I take it
first, as I “no doubt got little rest the night before.”
I took it, but I did not lie down right away. I sat behind Bernardo at the end opposite
to
Similar Books
