These Old Shades (Alastair-Audley Tetralogy 1)

‘Work for him,’ said Léon lamely. He encountered a searching glance, and his big eyes fell before it.

‘Very well,’ said Justin at last. ‘We will leave it at that. Et puis ?’

‘Then Jean bought the inn in the Rue Sainte-Marie, and – and after a time he met Charlotte, and – and married her. Then it was worse, because Charlotte hated me.’ The blue eyes flashed. ‘I tried to kill her once,’ said Léon naïvely. ‘With the big carving-knife.’

‘Her hatred is not inc

omprehensible,’ said Justin dryly.

‘N-no,’ replied Léon doubtfully. ‘I was only fifteen then. I remember I did not have anything to eat all day – besides the beating. And – and that is all, Monseigneur, till you came, and took me away.’

Justin picked up a quill and passed it through his fingers.

‘May I ask why you tried to kill this Charlotte – er – with the carving-knife?’

Léon flushed, and looked away.

‘There – there was a reason, Monseigneur.’

‘I do not doubt it.’

‘I – oh, I think she was very unkind and cruel and she – she made me angry. That was all.’

‘I am both cruel and unkind, but I do not advise you to try and kill me. Or any of my servants. You see, I know what the colour of your hair denotes.’

The long dark lashes lifted again, and the dimple showed.

‘Colère de diable,’ Léon said.

‘Precisely. You will do well to hide it with me, my child.’

‘Yes, Monseigneur. I do not seek to kill those whom I love.’

Justin’s lips curled rather sardonically.

‘I am relieved. Now listen to me. You will henceforth be my page; you will be clothed and fed, and well provided for, but in return I will have obedience from you. You understand?’

‘But yes, Monseigneur.’

‘You will learn that my word is law with my servants. And this is my first command: if anyone should question you as to who you are, or from where you come, you will answer only that you are Avon’s page. You will forget your past until I give you leave to remember it. You see?’

‘Yes, Monseigneur.’

‘And you will obey Walker as you would myself.’

The firm chin was tilted at that; Léon looked speculatively at the Duke.

‘If you do not’ – the soft voice, grew softer still – ‘you will find that I too know how to punish.’

‘If it is your will that I obey this Walker,’ said Léon with dignity, ‘I will do it, y-your-r-r Gr-r-race!’

Justin looked him over.

‘Certainly you will do so. And I prefer that you call me Monseigneur.’

The blue eyes twinkled wickedly.

‘This Walker, he has told me that when I speak to you, Monseigneur, I must say “your-r-r” ah, bah! I cannot, enfin!’