The Awakening, Zuleika and the Barbarian by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online Page A

promise to give you your week, but I do think the little beauty should be familiar with the man who will awaken her senses."
    "You are very wicked," she chuckled, waggling a finger at him again. Then she closed the door, and hurried off down the corridor to the salon to see how her other guests were enjoying themselves.
    At noon the following day Marguerite joined her aunt in Renée's bedchamber, bringing with her a tray of delicacies. Setting the tray on the nearby table, she poured her aunt a porcelain cup of strong Turkish coffee, mixing the appropriate amount of sugar into the cup first. Handing it to Renée, she put a hot flaky croissant on a plate with some sweet butter and strawberry preserves. Taking the plate, Renée gobbled the croissant and demanded another. "Passion increases the appetite," she said.
    "And the waistline," Marguerite teased her relation.
    "I am no bigger than I was as a girl," Renée said, but then she amended, "well, perhaps a trifle more ample in certain areas."
    "Your bosom?" Marguerite said innocently.
    "You are a wicked child," Renée replied, laughing. "Mais oui . My breasts, and my hips, and perhaps my waist, but only a little. A man likes a woman with a bit of flesh on her bones."
    "Will they like me?" Marguerite wondered aloud.
    "Oh, yes, chérie, they will all like you. Are you certain that this is the life you want, ma petite? Take my generosity. Let me send you and Emilie to Brittany. This life does not have to be for you."
    Marguerite laughed. "Non, tante . I must learn to be independent like you have been. In that way I shall never again be at anyone's mercy. If I had been stronger, wiser, I would have seen that Charles gave me a copy of his will. I would have seen that the avocat read that will publicly before my stepson arrived from England. There was time, tante , but I was foolish. And because I was, William Abbott rendered me helpless, or so he thought. Had he not threatened my daughter with his vileness, his own baby half-sister , I could not have come to my decision. So, tante , I will follow in your footsteps. If I am good at my profession, perhaps one day you will allow me to manage this enterprise of yours. I hope I can be worthy."
    "And Emilie?" Renée asked.
    "Emilie will remain at St. Anne's for the interim, tante . Until I am certain she is safe in England, I dare not send her there. She is young. She will not understand what I do any more than I understood until you told me," Marguerite said.
    Renée nodded. "Non , you are right, ma petite . Now I must ask you a question. Will you join us tonight in the salon? You need do nothing more than converse with my guests. They are all gentlemen."
    "I had not thought you would want me in your salon so soon," Marguerite said hesitantly.
    "I think it is better that you see what is involved, ma petite , sooner than later. I shall also take you to observe one of the girls with a lover. Perhaps then you will decide this life is not for you," Renée told her niece. "I will have a gown sent to your room, chérie , for you will not have anything suitable among your wardrobe, I fear."
    "But, tante , I am in mourning," Marguerite said.
    "Not in this house, chérie . In your heart you may continue to mourn your Charles, but in my salon you must be charming and tempting," Renée replied quietly. "You are fortunate to be so fair. You will be ravishing in almost any color. Now run along, ma petite . I must nap for a while before arising."
    "But, tante , you have only awakened an hour ago," Marguerite said. "Do you always rest so much?"
    "Of course, chérie . When I rest I neither frown nor smile, both of which lead to premature wrinkles. A lady cannot be too careful of her appearance when she reaches that certain age," Renée noted.
    "And have you reached that certain age, tante?" Marguerite's light blue eyes were twinkling with mischief.
    "Not quite," Renée admitted, "but I am, I fear, very near." She waved the younger woman away. "Go along