Goodbye, Janette by Harold Robbins Read Free Book Online

a butler in full livery before Maurice had a chance to ring the doorbell.
    “Shall I carry the bride over the threshold?” Maurice asked sarcastically.
    She didn’t bother to answer and went into the house. As was the custom, the household staff was lined up in the reception hall to meet the new mistress. There were six of them, all in household uniform. Henri, the butler, his wife, Marguerite, who was the cook, and four young girls, maids who would take care of the cleaning and other services. René, the chauffeur, was still outside.
    She shook hands with them one by one, acknowledging their curtsies with a slight nod of her head. “Madame la Marquise,” they murmured respectfully.
    Just as the introductions were completed, a young man came from one of the closed doors leading to the hall, carrying some papers in his hand. He stopped when he saw them. “Excuse me,” he said in English. “I didn’t realize you were already here.”
    Tanya didn’t have to hear his accent to know that he was American, she could tell from the cut of his suit. She glanced from him to Maurice.
    “My dear,” Maurice said. “May I present my executive assistant and secretary, Jerry Johnson? Jerry, Madame la Marquise and her daughter, Janette.”
    Awkwardly, the American bowed. “It’s a pleasure, Madame la Marquise.”
    Tanya didn’t offer her hand. “Mr. Johnson.”
    “Would you like to see the house, my dear?” Maurice asked.
    Tanya shook her head. “I’m a bit tired from the journey. I would like to rest and freshen up a bit first.”
    Maurice nodded. “Very well.” He turned to the butler. “Will you take Madame la Marquise to our suite and see to her comfort.” He turned back to Tanya. “I have some papers to go over with Jerry. I’ll join you in a little while.”
    Tanya glanced at the young American. Suddenly many things began to come together in her head. She nodded slowly, no sign of her thoughts showing on her face, then, taking Janette by the hand, began to follow the butler up the stairs.
    ***
    Slowly Tanya got out of the tub and reached for the giant terry bathrobe and wrapped herself in it. She dried herself quickly, then dropping it on the floor, stood in front of the mirror. The welts and cuts of her wedding night had gone from her body but not from her mind. She slipped into a silk robe and went into the bedroom. She pressed the button for the maid and sat down at the dressing table. There was a discreet knock at the door. “
Entrez.
”
    The maid came in and curtsied. “Madame.”
    Tanya looked at her. She was a young girl with dark curly hair and large brown eyes. “What is your name, child?”
    “Louise, Madame.”
    “Louise, would you bring me some tea, please?”
    “With pleasure, Madame.” The maid curtsied again and left the room.
    Tanya turned back to the mirror. Idly she touched her hair. The trouble with being a blonde was that it needed touching up every few weeks. She hated the ugly look of dark roots, though many women didn’t seem to mind it. Again there was a knock at the door. Thinking it was the maid returning with the tea, she called out, “
Entrez
.”
    In the mirror she saw the door open. Quickly she pulled the robe closed around her breasts, as Jerry came into the room, a file of papers in his hand. She looked at him questioningly. “Yes?”
    “The marquis would like you to sign these papers,” he said.
    She nodded. “Put them on the table over there and I’ll get to them.”
    He stood there, hesitating.
    “Anything wrong?” she asked.
    “The marquis said it was important that you sign these right away.”
    She rose to her feet and faced him. “Tell the marquis that I will sign nothing until after I have read them.” She held out her hand. “You can leave them with me.”
    Automatically he placed them in her hand and turned toward the door. Her voice stopped him.
    “By the way,” she asked in a casual voice, “how did you happen to meet the marquis?”
    “Several