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Back The Shoe Queen
Chapters (67)
  1. Cover
  2. “And may I say, those shoes are adorable.”
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. ( I )
  7. ( one )
  8. ( two )
  9. ( three )
  10. ( four )
  11. ( five )
  12. ( six )
  13. ( seven )
  14. ( eight )
  15. ( nine )
  16. ( ten )
  17. ( II )
  18. ( eleven )
  19. ( twelve )
  20. ( thirteen )
  21. ( fourteen )
  22. ( fifteen )
  23. ( III )
  24. ( sixteen )
  25. ( seventeen )
  26. ( eighteen )
  27. ( nineteen )
  28. ( IV )
  29. ( twenty )
  30. ( twenty-one )
  31. ( twenty-two )
  32. ( twenty-three )
  33. ( twenty-four )
  34. ( V )
  35. ( twenty-five )
  36. ( twenty-six )
  37. ( twenty-seven )
  38. ( twenty-eight )
  39. ( twenty-nine )
  40. VI
  41. ( thirty )
  42. ( thirty-one )
  43. ( thirty-two )
  44. ( thirty-three )
  45. ( thirty-four )
  46. ( VII )
  47. ( thirty-five )
  48. ( thirty-six )
  49. ( thirty-seven )
  50. ( thirty-eight )
  51. ( thirty-nine )
  52. ( forty )
  53. ( forty-one )
  54. ( forty-two )
  55. ( VIII )
  56. ( forty-three )
  57. ( forty-four )
  58. ( forty-five )
  59. ( forty-six )
  60. ( forty-seven )
  61. ( forty-eight )
  62. ( forty-nine )
  63. ( fifty )
  64. ( fifty-one )
  65. Acknowledgments
  66. Acknowledgments
  67. Questions for Discussion

“He’s here?”

But Violet was already off, pushing her way through groups of people, followed by her vendeuse.

He had his back to her, but it was an unmistakable back. He was standing in the doorway, talking to Madame Hélène. He was wearing light gray trousers and a shirt of the cleanest white, ever so slightly translucent, which emphasized the long back, the broad shoulders. He was demonstrating something with his hands.

Genevieve raised her wineglass to her lips to try to hide the tremor in her face.

“That’s Paolo Zachari over there.” Genevieve’s vendeuse, clawing at her arm.

“Yes. What’s he doing here?”

“I think he has some business with Madame Hélène,” said the vendeuse. “He wasn’t at the show.” And, with a touch of envy in her voice, “Do you know him?”

“A little. He made me a pair of shoes.” As Genevieve spoke the words, Zachari turned around and looked right at her. Those dark, unknowable eyes…Her breath caught in her throat and she quickly looked away.

“I’d give anything for a pair of his shoes. Let me get you another, madame.” The vendeuse snatched Genevieve’s empty wineglass and disappeared before she could say anything else.

I mustn’t look again, she told herself. We have to leave. But, where’s Lulu? And before she could stop herself, she did look at him again. Damn it, Violet was there now. She was touching him on the arm as she spoke to him, and he was looking down at her. Genevieve could hear her overintimate tone of voice; her terrible, frivolous laughter, even from here.

“Did you know your friend Zachari is making shoes for the Marchesa Casati’s boa constrictor?” It was Lulu, back at her side, flushed with all the wine.

“He’s no friend of mine.”

“Oh, really?” All her expressions and movements were overdone. “I think you’re a little bit…sweet on him.”

“Do you?” Genevieve feigned disinterest. “Anyway, snakes don’t have feet.”

“Maybe they dream of having feet,” said Lulu. “Maybe it’s their secret fantasy.”

“Snakes don’t have dreams or fantasies.”

“No, but women do.” Lulu stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Zachari’s business—maybe his whole life—is built on women’s dreams and fantasies. You know that, don’t you, chérie?”

Genevieve glanced up at the doorway again. Violet de Frémont was still there, talking with Madame Hélène. Zachari had gone.