Tell Me Something Good (18 page)

Lyrissa peered up at her. “Uh, not too
late.”

“It was almost midnight,” Mama Grace
said.

Her expression would have made any
professions gambler proud. It gave nothing away. It was no use
hiding under the covers like a kid. There would be no escape. She
had to face them both eventually. Lyrissa sat up and combed her
hair with her fingers.

“Really? Well, I just came in and fell into
bed. Didn’t look at the clock.” Lyrissa yawned loudly and stretched
“Guess I better get these bones moving.”

“I suppose you talked about the art.” Mama
Grace picked up Lyrissa’s shoes and placed them in the close She
turned back to stare at her, waiting for an answer.

“Sure. Like I told you, they’ve spread the
collection around. Guess rich families are like that.” Lyrissa got
out of bed.

“Careless, with no sense of appreciation for
the thin; they own.” Mama Grace eased down onto the bed.

“They do care, in their own way,” she added
quickly.

“Proud as peacocks. They love to strut in
front of everyone else.” Mama Grace clasped her hands tightly
together in her lap.

“I suppose.” Lyrissa searched through her
linger drawer.

“That young man is no different. I can see it
in him- arrogance. It’s their most plentiful family legacy.” Mama
Grace’s voice was rough with bitterness.

Lyrissa gazed at her. Deep lines etched her
face “Mama, I’m going to try very hard to find the painting But it
won’t be easy.”

“It’s there.”

“They might have sold it years ago.”

“They’re unscrupulous, greedy, and a lot of
other things. But not stupid.” Mama Grace wore a tight, humorless
smile. “Georgina knows she’s holding onto stolen goods.”

“Maybe so.” Lyrissa shifted uneasily.

“They’re lying low, hoping the Joubert
descendants don’t even know that painting exists. But we do.” Mama
Grace’s eyes blazed with the fire of revenge.

“Noel hasn’t mentioned it. I think he might
if I asked.”

“No!” Mama Grace stood up. “He might get
suspicious.”

“I doubt that,” Lyrissa said with a laugh.
“Noel hasn’t paid much attention to his family’s collection.”

“Oh, really?”

“Noel St. Denis has been into a lot of
things, but vintage art isn’t one of them.” Lyrissa bustled around
in preparation for getting dressed.

“No doubt he’s a womanizer like his father
and all those St. Denis men before him.” Mama Grace pursed her lips
with distaste.

Lyrissa ignored her jab at his character
“He’s a hard- headed businessman type. You know, the one always
closing deals.”

“He seems to know its value well enough. I’d
say he’s paid attention to it more than you think,” Mama Grace
insisted.

“You couldn’t look at that collection and not
realize it’s worth something.” Lyrissa twisted a small hairbrush in
her hands. “He does seem to really appreciate some of it, I mean
beyond its worth in money.”

“I see,” Mama Grace said in a flat tone.

Lyrissa glanced at her, then away. “What? All
I said was...” Her voice trailed off.

“Sit down for a moment, child.” Mama Grace
looked grave as she patted the bedspread.

“I feel like I’m about to get a spanking,”
Lyrissa said with a nervous smile.

“No, just a reminder of whom you’re dealing
with. They’re a breed apart” Mama Grace delivered her verdict with
a frown.

“Come on, that’s so twentieth century,”
Lyrissa joked. Or at least she tried to. Mama Grace didn’t
smile.

“It doesn’t matter what century this is.”

“Yes, but—” Lyrissa stopped at the look her
grand-mother gave her.

“He’s not for you, cher. Noel St Denis will
find the ‘right’ girl.” Mama Grace clutched Lyrissa’s hand as
though to make the point

Lyrissa stared at herself in the dresser
mirror. She touched the fingertips of one hand to her skin. Could
every moment of last night have been an act?

“You’re beautiful, but he’ll never see it.
Not the way he should.”

Lyrissa closed her eyes against the harsh
words. Her body grew hot at the thought of Noel’s arms and legs
entwined with hers. Mama Grace could well be right. Noel had
beguiled women before her. She thought of Julie Duval. Surely the
woman must have some reason to be so jealous. Lyrissa opened her
eyes to reality. She looked at her grandmother and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’m sticking to the plan,” she
said firmly. Both of them, she mused. She would reclaim the
painting and keep a firm grip on her heart.

Mama Grace continued to look at her for a
time before she nodded. “Be very careful.”

“They won’t catch me. Not before we can sue
to get the painting back.” Lyrissa started to stand, but Mama Grace
stopped her.

“Your own heart can betray you, cher. It can
convince you of the most foolish things,” she said softly.

“I’ll be okay.”

Lyrissa tried to sound surer than she felt.
She hoped the clear light of day would help. But the words they’d
whispered to each other rushed back inside her head as she prepared
for work.

The drive to Miss Georgina’s mansion gave her
more time to think. Noel had everything he could want, including
his pick of women. Much as it hurt, she had to admit that Mama
Grace made sense. Men like Noel always went back to women like
Julie. He would not seriously consider bucking his entire family.
Lyrissa called up the weight of her experience. That alone helped
her gain perspective.

By the time Rosalie let her in, Lyrissa had
herself in hand again. She stubbornly refused to acknowledge the
kernel of regret in her stomach.

“I’m going to enjoy the ride and get off when
I’m ready,” she mumbled.

“What did you say? Had my mind on the grocery
list.” Rosalie stared at the paper in her hand.

“Nothing. How are you?” Lyrissa put on a
bright smile.

“Humph! I could be a whole lot better. Had to
deal with her highness already.” Rosalie jerked a thumb to the
ceiling.

“She’s extra cranky today?”

“Cranky ain’t the half of it, sugar.” Rosalie
made a hissing sound through her teeth.

“Mrs. St. Denis has her ways, but I’ll bet
she can be nice sometimes. She can,” Lyrissa asserted, when the
woman stared at her wide-eyed.

“Uh-huh. You don’t mind hanging round here, I
guess.”

“I’ve dealt with more difficult rich folks,
trust me.” Rosalie lifted an eyebrow. “Yeah. Speaking of which, Mr.
Noel is here. Stopped by on his way to the office.” Lyrissa kept
her expression neutral even though her pulse raced. “I’ve got a
date with a dusty attic. Hopefully I’ll be out of your hair for
good soon.”

“Sure you don’t want to see him?” Rosalie
stared hard at Lyrissa.

Lyrissa glanced away. “No, don’t need to.
Don’t you just love this cool spring weather?”

“Uh-huh.” Rosalie wore a knowing smile, but
said no more. “Go on into the study. I’ll bring you a cup of coffee
in a minute.” She took out a pair of reading glasses and looked at
the list again.

Lyrissa nodded and went through the double
oak doors. She found a copy of the list of art along with another
sheet of paper on the desk. Names and addresses were handwritten in
neat print with cryptic notes behind each. Rosalie came back with a
tray loaded with a matched server set.

“Here ya go, darlin’. Miss Georgina is still
getting dressed. She can’t move so fast these days—not that I’d let
her hear me sayin’ that.” Rosalie chuckled to herself. She set the
tray down and poured rich, dark coffee into a cup. Lyrissa accepted
it gratefully, inhaling the wonderful aroma.

“Thanks. She seems to do well for her age,”
Lyrissa said and took a sip.

“Yeah, especially when she’s got a bee up her
you- know-what,” Rosalie said in a stage whisper.

Lyrissa laughed out loud then caught herself.
“She’s a very determined lady.”

Rosalie grinned. “That’s a nice way of
puttin’ it. Well, let me go. I gotta get this dinner party
organized. The family is comin’ over here Saturday night.”

“Really?” Lyrissa hurried to delay her exit.
“Bet it’s a job planning for all those people.”

“Won’t be that many, it’s just that they’re
so damn picky, picky, picky.”

“They like getting together, I suppose.”
Lyrissa probed gently, searching for insight into what was going
on.

“Not that much, darlin’. I got a feelin’ this
is more family business than pleasure. Somethin’ about the
company.”

“Oh.” Lyrissa wondered if the art were
involved. Rosalie’s good-natured voice interrupted her
thoughts.

“Good luck with her highness this morning.”
She patted Lyrissa’s shoulder, and then bustled out. “Yell if you
need something.”

“I will,” Lyrissa called back. “Now, what are
the chances I can get an invitation?” she murmured as Rosalie
disappeared through the doors.

Noel rubbed his hands together as he stood at
the window. Then he walked to the round antique mirror on the wall
and gazed at himself. He straightened his shirt collar. His coat
and tie were draped over the back of the sofa in his grandmother’s
sitting room. Miss Georgina sat at a small antique writing desk.
She studied the neatly typed inventory arranged as a table with
notations on age, location, and description. Noel glanced at the
door several times. Finally he walked to the window again.

“You and Ms. Rideau need to look at these.”
Miss Georgina tapped a finger on the paper.

“That’s what I’m going to set up today. I’ll
call Cousin Augustin and two others,” he replied.

“Fine.” Miss Georgina shuffled through her
files, glasses perched on her nose.

Noel swung his arms and walked in a circle
around a small table. He fiddled with flowers in a vase. A noise
made him look up sharply. Seeing no one at the door, he let out a
long breath and paced.

“Noel, take a look at these journals. I’m
thinking of contacting the Amistad Center to display them.” Miss
Georgina glanced where she thought he was standing.

“Did you say something?” Noel rubbed his jaw
as he stared outside.

Miss Georgina squinted at him. “What have you
done?”

Noel turned and grinned at her. “I’m not ten
years old anymore.”

“I don’t care how old you are. I know
you.”

“That old bluff won’t work, Grandmother.” He
assumed a casual pose to throw her off the scent.

She gazed at him with a bland expression.
“I’ll find out soon enough. Might as well save us both the trouble
and confess.”

Noel laughed easily. “Dealing with the family
has you paranoid, cherie.”

“Mon Dieu!” Miss Georgina burst out with a
scowl. “1 swear some of them can be so infuriating!”

His grandmother launched into a diatribe
about her relatives. He sighed with relief that his tactic worked.
The last thing he needed was drama about his relationship with
Lyrissa. They’d not had a chance to talk it out. His heart hammered
at the sweet memory of holding her in his arms. She’d felt so good.
His body was still in shock.

“Wow,” he said to himself.

“Wow is right! Your Aunt Aline is
impossible!” Miss Georgina seemed to vibrate with outrage.

Noel blinked back to his surroundings.
“Huh?”

“Pay attention. We’ve got serious matters at
hand here. I know what you’ve been doing, Noel Phillip.”

Noel stiffened. “You do?”

“You’ve been letting this tug of war with
Carlton distract you. I thought you two would act like adults and
work together.”

Noel scowled at the mention of his cousin.
“Carlton is like a big kid still angry because I took his toy.”

“Be patient.”

“I have been and it’s getting old,” Noel
retorted.

Miss Georgina sighed and put down the sheet
of paper she held. “I know you have. I also know how much stress
you’ve been under, running the company. Being the boss of a family
owned business isn’t easy.”

“The business part is easy. It’s the family
part that’s a pain.” Noel wore a grim smile. “But I’ll handle
them.”

“I have no doubt of that. You’re like your
grandfather,” she said proudly.

“I may have to deal with Carlton soon,
Grandmother. I won’t tolerate his running to board members behind
my back much longer.”

She nodded. “Do what you have to, son. Just
give me fair warning. I’ll have to deal with his parents, you
know.” Satisfied with her support, Noel nodded back. “Fair
enough.”

The intercom on the desk phone buzzed. “Miz
Rideau is here,” Rosalie said.

“Thank you, Rosalie. Let’s join her in the
study.” Miss Georgina stood. She gazed at him. “Noel?”

“Yes, sweet one?” Noel put an arm around her
shoulder. “What were you thinking about so hard a moment ago? It
wasn’t Carlton or the company.” Miss Georgina studied him closely
as though she had the answer already.

“I’m always thinking about business. You know
that,” he replied smoothly.

“Hmm.” She continued to study him. “Who are
you dating these days?”

Noel shook his head in wonder. Georgina St.
Denis missed nothing. She could zero in on a target like a fine-
tuned guided missile.

“I’m thirty-two years old. Don’t be nosy.”
Noel pecked her on the cheek.

“I know how old you are, Noel Phillip. It’s
time to settle down,” she tossed back at him.

“Lyrissa is waiting, dear. You can lecture me
on that well-worn subject later.” Noel opened the door for her.

“Don’t think I won’t.” Miss Georgina wore a
resolute smile as she walked past him. “I need to talk to Rosalie
first. I’ll be there shortly.”

Noel straightened his tie. “Good.”

His grandmother’s dark brows came together.
“What?” “I’m sure you’re getting the dinner all planned,” Noel
replied.

Miss Georgina looked at him hard. “I won’t be
long.”

“Take your time, sweet Grandmother. I’ll
answer any questions Ms. Rideau might have,” he said over his
shoulder as he headed down the hall.