These Old Shades (Alastair-Audley Tetralogy 1)

Léonie’s nose wrinkled in perplexity.

‘Rupert? Oh, you are the brother of Monseigneur!’

‘Mon – ? Oh, ay, ay! That’s it!’

Léonie skipped forward.

‘I am very pleased to see you,’ she said politely. ‘Now I curtsy and you kiss my hand, n’est-ce pas?’

Rupert stared.

‘Ay, but –’

‘Eh bien! ’ Léonie sank, and rose, and held out her small hand. Rupert kissed it punctiliously.

‘I never before was told by a lady to kiss her hand,’ he remarked.

‘I should not have said it?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Voyons, these things are very difficult to learn! Where is Monseigneur, please?’

‘Lord, I don’t now, my dear! Ours is no united household, I give you my word!’

Léonie looked at him gravely.

‘You are the young Rupert. I know. I have heard tell of you.’

‘Not a might of good, I’ll be bound. I’m the scapegrace of the family.’

‘Oh no! I have heard people speak of you in Paris, and I think they like you very much.’

‘Do they, by Gad? Do you come from Paris, my dear?’

She nodded.

‘I was Monseigneur’s pa –’ She clasped her hands over her mouth, and her eyes danced.

Rupert was greatly intrigued. He cast a shrewd glance at her short curls.

‘Pa – ?’

‘I must not say. Please do not ask me!’

‘You were never his page ?’

Léonie stared down at her toes.

‘Here’s a romance!’ said Rupert, delighted. ‘His page, by all that’s marvellous!’

‘You must not tell!’ she said earnestly. ‘Promise!’

‘Mum as a corpse, my dear!’ he answered promptly. ‘I never thought to stumble on such a fairy tale! What are you doing cooped up here?’

‘I am learning to be a lady, milor’.’

‘Milor’ be damned, saving your presence! My name’s Rupert.’

‘Is it convenable for me to call you that?’ she inquired. ‘I do not know these things, you see.’

‘Convenable, my dear? I pledge you my word it is! Are you not my brother’s ward?’