New World, New Love (8 page)

He answered sharply. ‘That was never my intention.’

‘Maybe not at first, but it is now!’

‘Since when has love created a prison?’

Her face set angrily. ‘More than you could possibly know! I want none of it!’

‘You’re making a terrible mistake.’

‘No, you’re wrong. I made a dreadful error once and I don’t intend ever to let anything like it happen again!’

‘Who was it that set you against loving?’ he demanded. ‘Your husband? A lover?’

She shook her head fiercely. ‘It’s not love itself, but its consequences. I want to be unfettered by it for the rest of my days! I have no place in my life for you, Daniel!’ Her whole attitude conveyed her implacable determination to end their relationship. ‘So please go! Now!’

She could see he was infuriated by her rejection, his face taut, the skin straining over the bones of his face, and he took a step back from her. ‘Very well, Louise. But it’s not goodbye. I shall hope that when our paths cross again one day – as they will – that we’ll find ourselves on better terms. I bid you goodnight.’

He went quietly out of the house, which disturbed her far more than if he had slammed the main door after him in a final departure. She stood for a few moments with her eyes closed, aware that she was trembling in every limb. Although he had spoken of love, she assured herself that she would soon fade from his mind. A man such as Daniel, who emanated power, wealth and virility, could have his choice of women anywhere. Faithfulness was not an attribute she could associate with him.

Turning with effort, she went slowly into the apartment. Delphine, her face scarlet with temper, stood waiting for her.

‘I heard!’ she hissed accusingly. ‘You’ve sent him away! How could you?’

‘I don’t want to discuss it now or at any other time.’

She looked so pale and intense that for once Delphine respected her wish, choking back all she had wanted to say. But she displayed her rage and disapproval by flouncing about as she undressed. Then she climbed into the wall-bed and turned her back on Louise without saying goodnight.

Louise barely noticed, only thankful that her sister had not made more of a scene. In bed she found it impossible to sleep, her thoughts going back to her marriage. She had been so happy in those first blissful weeks after their wedding in the Royal Chapel at Versailles. Fernand had been a wonderful lover, awakening her senses to delights previously unknown and finding in her a loving, highly passionate woman. But after a while he tired of her. The man she had married so joyfully revealed himself as brutal and uncaring, only greedy for her money to settle his never-ending gaming debts; and gossip spoken maliciously in her hearing kept her informed about his latest mistress.

In the early days of their marriage she would gladly have signed over her inheritance to him, but it had not become hers until she was twenty-one. By that time she had long since become wise enough not to make such a move, able to see that her fortune would run through his fingers like sand and eventually leave them both penniless. It was not that the money itself held any great importance for her, but she had responsibilities in the care of her sister, the upkeep of the Château de Montier and the family estate, with a great number of peasants dependant on her for their shelter and employment. She also foresaw that as a last source of funds Fernand would have had no hesitation in selling her beloved home, which was something she would never allow.

She turned restlessly on the pillow. Now her home and her fortune had gone anyway. Her name and Delphine’s would be on a French list banning them and all other émigrés from their homeland for ever. All her efforts not to think too much about the past had failed in these sleepless hours, just because Daniel had stirred her sexually to a pitch that still tormented her in the darkness.

I
t was almost dawn before Louise slept. When she woke later than usual she found her sister still in bed. Without any sign of the previous night’s animosity, Delphine complained that she was feeling ill.

‘Then stay in bed today,’ Louise advised, feeling the girl’s brow. It was not unduly hot, but it was so utterly unlike Delphine to claim sickness that Louise accepted that she was not well. ‘I’ll explain to Miss Sullivan and I’ll do some of your tasks during the midday break to ease the situation.’

She left Delphine half-asleep with her pillows freshly smoothed and hurried off to work. All through the day she remained anxious about her sister and was thankful when it was time to go home again. She burst into the apartment, throwing her cloak aside, but stopped abruptly at the sight that met her.

Delphine, her expression radiant, stood in the bedroom doorway, her hair arranged in a more adult style and wearing her blue silk gown.

‘You’re well again,’ Louise stated flatly, relieved but wary as she sank down on to a chair. ‘You’ve been up to something, I can tell. What is it?’

Delphine flung herself down on her knees in front of Louise and caught hold of her hands. ‘I’ve so much to tell you! And I’m so sorry I pretended to be ill this morning, but it was the only way I could get some time on a weekday to myself. You must promise not to be cross with me, but I couldn’t face another day in that old hag’s shop.’

‘So what have you done?’ Louise asked wearily.

‘It all started on the evening of my birthday when we went to the theatre. Afterwards I found myself longing more than ever for something exciting to happen in my everyday life. Then Daniel came like a rescuer into the drabness of our daily routine, taking us here, there and everywhere. Then last night you sent him away and it was the last straw. But at least he had made me realize that there is fun to be had if the right door opens, and I want to go on enjoying myself every minute of every day for the rest of my life.’

‘Nobody can do that, Delphine.’

‘Not working for a milliner, but what about dancing away the hours?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘This morning after you’d left I got up and dressed my hair in this new style. Do you like it?’ She did not wait for a reply. ‘Then, when the hour was right, I set off for the best dancing school in New York and charmed Monsieur Rousselot himself into employing me as an assistant teacher and dancing partner to his pupils!’ She sprang to her feet and whirled around triumphantly before stopping abruptly to face Louise again, her skirts still swirling about her. ‘Don’t say no, I beg you!’

Louise had heard of Monsieur Rousselot’s highly respectable establishment before Daniel had mentioned it as the location of the ball he had hoped to take them to. She also knew of the Frenchman’s reputation as a master of the dance. It was not only from what she had read and heard about him in New York, for not long after her marriage he had replaced the former dancing master in instructing newcomers to Versailles in the latest dances. ‘Why didn’t you tell me what you planned to do?’

‘I was so afraid you’d stop me from applying just because you couldn’t keep an eye on me all the time. Especially as it was Daniel who unwittingly put the thought of it in my mind.’

Louise smiled ruefully. ‘You must think me an ogre.’

‘I don’t! You’re the best sister in the world!’ Delphine hugged her in quick reassurance before drawing back to fling out her arms imploringly. ‘So, what do you say?’

‘When can I see Monsieur Rousselot?’ Louise inquired with a smile.

Delphine flung back her head and laughed in her delight. ‘I said I hoped that you would call on him this evening.’ Then she paused uncertainly. ‘There is only one small complication. He says I must have some fine gowns as he has such a rich clientele and his standards are very high.’

Louise thought of her jewellery. There was a ring she could sell. ‘If I approve of the conditions you shall have whatever you need.’

The dancing school was in a fine mansion on Broadway, almost opposite the City Hotel. Louise guessed that the dancing master must have found American investors willing to back him in his enterprise, for she doubted that he could have set up on his own in such style. It was like entering the private residence of a rich aristocrat and she and Delphine were escorted up a splendid staircase to the ballroom.

Monsieur Rousselot came forward to meet them, using a silver-topped cane as tall as himself, which was ornamented with ribbon streamers. He was a slightly built, thin-faced man with a pointed nose and protuberant blue eyes, his face painted with a black beauty spot just at the corner of his mouth. His white wig was immaculately curled, his cravat a waterfall of lace, and he was dressed in an embroidered satin coat, knee breeches and white stockings with silver-buckled shoes. Before greeting Louise he followed the Versailles custom of matching the depth of his bow to her rank. ‘Madame la Marquise de Vailly, I am greatly honoured.’

‘It is a pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Rousselot,’ Louise replied, thinking how strange it was to hear her title used again. ‘Although I was never your pupil at Versailles, I watched many of the dance entertainments that you devised.’

‘Ah, the great days of France.’ He sighed nostalgically. Then he waved a graceful hand in an encompassing gesture as they entered the ballroom, leaving Delphine to follow behind. ‘As you can see, I’ve done my best in the decor to recreate the atmosphere of Versailles that you will remember so well.’

She had already noticed that there had been an attempt to capture something of the Palace’s beautiful Hall of Mirrors, where she had danced so many times in the lovely light of more than three thousand candles. This clutching at the past made her uneasy, but she could understand that people who had never seen Versailles would take pleasure in imagining themselves to be there at his weekly balls. It was probably the secret of his enormous success and for that he was to be commended.

She paused to look around her. The ballroom, although large, was barely half the length of the original and, instead of tall graceful windows balancing arched mirrors on the opposite wall, there were mirrors on each side. Gilded, high-branched candelabra on plinths, similar to those she remembered, were spaced to double the glow of the candle flames in their reflection. A pair of crystal chandeliers, instead of ten twice the size, were suspended from a ceiling painted with mythical scenes.

No lessons were in progress, but musicians were gathering on a carpeted dais in readiness, including a lady harpist. A stately-looking woman, no longer young, with a patrician profile, she wore a scarlet ribbon around her neck, her hair powdered, and her full-skirted gown was of black silk. Louise had recognized her instantly.

‘As you can see, madame,’ Monsieur Rousselot was saying, ‘there is an orchestra at the evening sessions for my advanced adult pupils. You will have heard of the balls that are held every Saturday, when a buffet supper is served in the room that lies through those double doors. These attract New York’s highest society. For those wishing to improve their dancing at the same time, I have my best instructors, men and women, who unobtrusively give guidance in the steps.’

‘Would my sister be present?’

‘No, not for some time to come. She is a natural dancer, but far from being up to my standards yet. I shall teach her to be more than competent in all the finer aspects of the art of noble dance, even to the delicate angle of a fingertip and the pointing of a toe. Perfection is always my aim.’

Louise thought to herself that it would do Delphine good to aspire to such high achievement or else her enthusiasm might wane. ‘There will be no problem with silk gowns for my sister.’

He hesitated. Nobody knew better than he did what it was like to arrive in this savage land without money and this would mean an immediate outlay. Yet he was within his rights to insist on correct attire as he paid higher than average wages to allow for the expense. ‘Three at least for afternoon classes, madame? Plus two gowns of cotton or muslin for morning and during my tutoring of her?’

‘She shall have them.’

‘You need never be concerned about your sister when she advances to adult classes that include gentlemen and – later when her dancing is perfect – to partner at the balls, because a chaperone is always present. I also ensure that my young ladies are taken home afterwards by carriage under strict supervision. I will not have my establishment tainted by any breath of scandal.’ He indicated the lady harpist with a graceful sweep of his hand. ‘This evening our chaperone is the Comtesse de Valverde. I taught both her nieces at Versailles. You are already acquainted with her?’ He had seen Louise and the countess exchange smiles of recognition.

‘Yes, I am.’

He escorted her across to the dais. Hortense de Valverde stepped down from it at once to greet Louise emotionally and kiss her on both cheeks. They had never been close friends, always on formal terms, but the sight of a familiar face in alien surroundings meant a great deal to them both. The dancing master left them together and Hortense’s face saddened as she mentioned Louise’s widowhood.

‘We were grieved to hear of the Marquis de Vailly’s fate. A fellow émigré gave us the news.’

‘I trust your husband is safe?’

‘Yes, he is here in New York with me. Our three sons and their wives and children have taken refuge in England, but we hope for a reunion in our beloved France one day. Are you alone in New York?’

‘No, my sister is with me.’ Louise beckoned Delphine to join them. The Comtesse greeted her warmly.

‘I shall introduce you both to our circle,’ she declared animatedly. ‘We have all kinds of social gatherings. Not like the old days, of course, but nonetheless enjoyable. I’m holding a card party next week and I want you both to come.’

They talked a little more, exchanged addresses, and Hortense wrote down the name of an émigré seamstress for Delphine’s new gowns. Then the sisters left as the first of the evening dancers began to arrive.

The next day Louise took a ring to the jeweller she had dealt with previously. Afterwards three lengths of silk were purchased and a couple of sprigged cotton lengths for two other gowns. These were left with the recommended seamstress, who took measurements and a note of Delphine’s wishes as to style and trimming. Then an order was also placed with a cobbler for three pairs of dancing pumps. During the time everything was being made, Delphine worked out a week’s notice with the milliner. Then the morning came when, in a high state of excited anticipation, she set off for the dancing school in her new sprigged cotton.