Goodbye, Janette by Harold Robbins Read Free Book Online Page B

black on the ivory handles. Monday through Sunday. She had found them in the bathroom of the Geneva house and on an impulse had packed them in her case. Now she knew it wasn’t an impulse at all. Suddenly the thought flashed through her mind that Wolfgang hadn’t forgotten them at all. That he had deliberately left them where she could find them.
    Quickly she went back into the bedroom and stood in the center of the room. A moment later she had made up her mind. One on either side of the mattress and the headboard. Then one under the mattress on each side at the foot of the bed. One under the cushion of the small couch in front of the coffee table, one more under the cushion of the chaise lounge and the last behind the curtain on the window near the breakfast table.
    She took one last look around then returned the leather case to the bathroom just as the butler’s knock sounded on the door.
    ***
    It took more than two hours for the butler to show the house, and when at last they returned to her room, she complimented him. “You have done very well, Henri. I am pleased.”
    He bowed. “Thank you, Madame. Is Madame ready to proceed with the unpacking of her luggage?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    “I will inform Louise to come and assist you. She should be finished in your daughter’s room by now.” He hesitated a moment. “And what time would Madame like dinner?”
    “Eight o’clock.”
    “In the dining room?”
    She looked at him questioningly. “Why do you ask?”
    He was uncomfortable. “Monsieur le Marquis informed me that he would not be taking dinner at home tonight.”
    She was silent.
    “Perhaps you and the child would be more comfortable in the breakfast room. It’s very cozy in there and looks out on the garden.”
    She nodded. “A good idea, Henri. Thank you.”
    “Thank you, Madame.” He bowed again and started for the door.
    “Henri.”
    He stopped. “Yes, Madame.”
    “You’ve shown me all the rooms except my husband’s. I would like to see that now.”
    “Excuse me, Madame,” he said uncomfortably. “I thought—”
    “No. I haven’t seen it. I don’t even know where it is.”
    He gestured to a narrow door on the far wall of her room. “If Madame will follow me.”
    She looked at the door. Narrower than normal, until now she had thought it was a closet. The door opened into a narrow corridor, slightly less than a meter wide and a little more than a meter long, at the end of which was another narrow door.
    He opened the second door and she walked into Maurice’s room. She stood there for a moment. She should have known it. Maurice had taken the best room for himself. All four windows facing the front of the house overlooking the park across the street. And newly decorated in a fashion that was somehow even more feminine than her own room. She walked into the bathroom. Even that was more than twice the size of her bathroom.
    She came out of the bathroom to find the butler standing in the center of the room watching her. “Very nice, Henri.”
    His voice was guarded. “Yes, Madame.”
    “I’ve changed my mind. You do not have to send Louise to unpack me today. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”
    “Yes, Madame.”
    “We will also be changing rooms tomorrow,” she said. “I will occupy this suite, my daughter will move into mine and you will move the marquis’ things into my daughter’s suite.”
    “But, Madame—” His voice was shocked.
    “Yes, Henri?” Her voice was cool.
    “Monsieur le Marquis.
Le patron
.” He was stammering. “He would not like it.”
    She met his gaze steadily. “If I am correct, Henri,
le patron
is your employer, the person who pays your wages.
N’est-ce pas
?”
    “That is correct, Madame.”
    “Then you have nothing to concern yourself about,” she said, her voice still cool. “Since I am the person who is paying your wages, not Monsieur le Marquis, I am
la patronne
. And the only person you have to please.”
    His eyes fell before her gaze.