When she was gone, I leaned down. “From an estate in the south, near Courville. He’s apparently grown weary of the reclusive nature of his family, which is why he’s in Trianon.” I smiled mischievously, hoping my eyes glittered with the promise of the best of gossip. “He’s rich as sin and stands to inherit his family’s entire fortune.” I licked a bit of frosting off my bottom lip. “He’s also handsome enough to drive even the most moral of women to become sinners.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Titled?”

I shook my head. “No, but I think that will change soon enough.” Which was the polite way of saying he was here to find himself a titled wife. The dressmaker did not miss my point, and I could see the wheels turning in her eyes as she considered which eligible young noblewomen came from families in need of coin – as well as the value of knowing the girl who stood to become said gentleman’s mistress, if she was not already.

She turned me to face the mirror, fussing at the lace that dangled from my sleeve. “What is his name?”

I hesitated, telling myself that the pause would increase the drama. But in reality, I was afraid. The moment I revealed Tristan’s name would be the moment I painted a target on his back for Anushka. But it had to be done.

“Yes, darling. Who is this young gentleman of whom you speak? And why is it you haven’t mentioned him before?”

I froze. Very slowly, I looked over my shoulder and met my mother’s piercing gaze. “Mama! Returned so quickly?” Rattled, I turned back to the mirror. I was in a heap of trouble with her, but I couldn’t afford to have her curb my freedom now. “Are you feeling better?”

“Much.” Her voice was cool. “But don’t keep us in suspense, dearest. Who is this gentleman?”

My tongue felt dry, and I fussed with the neckline of the dress. But withholding the information now would seem strange. “His name is Tristan de Montigny.”

Chapter 39

Tristan

Relying half on Cécile’s vague instructions and half on false confidence, I managed to check in at the Hôtel de Crillon without exposing my complete lack of knowledge about such activities. The first thing I did, once I was ensconced in my rooms, was to shut all the draperies against the brilliant afternoon sun. Then I let my disguise go, the warmth of magic falling away from my face.

“Trying to set the mood?” Chris asked, examining the tower of teacakes sitting on one of the tables before selecting one for himself and one for the dog.

“I’m starting to wonder about you, Christophe,” I said, opening one of the chests of gold so that I could look at the gleaming metal the servants – no, the porters had struggled to carry up. All the coins were identical to those created in the Regent’s mint for ease of spending. The mint in Trollus had the capacity to create the coinage of any of the continental kingdoms we traded with, and we paid the merchant and pirate captains in the currency of their choosing. To do otherwise would invite questions, and importing all the food Trollus required without attracting the broader attention of our human neighbors was complicated enough.