Aubrey 53

Chapter 53

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***

Aubrey's gifts never saw the light of day. The crafts and silks she bought in Lavonne did not fill the hearts of the noblewomen in the capital. Other things were more important to them.

"How was your visit with Lord Hemburg? Did you get to know him at all?"

Aubrey nodded at the gifts that had been pushed to the back of the room.

"Did he say anything else about marriage?"

Jeffrik asked from where he stood. He licked his lips with his tongue, trying to appear nonchalant but feeling his insides burning.

"He said something about a ceremony. He said he’d let me choose the season."

Finally, Jeffrik breathed a sigh of relief.

"And when did you say you would do it?"

"Perhaps a cooler fall or spring would be better than a hot summer?"

"Uh, no. I didn't say anything."

The Ravant couple’s faces cracked slightly at the flat answer.

"As I told you, aunt, I have no intention of marrying any time soon; I'm more anxious to finish the screenplay properly."

"What the hell is going on!"

Jeffrik shouted, unable to contain himself.

"How many times have I told you? Please stay out of trouble and behave yourself! How do you think it makes sense that this damn scene writing is more important than marriage!"

"Honey!"

"If you truly cared about our family, you wouldn't behave like this!"

Now Jeffrik seemed to see nothing in his eyes, the anger he'd been hiding beneath his stoic expression rising to his face.

"I won't accept any excuses. You're marrying Murfrio Hemburg, and when the Hemburg set a date, whatever that may be, you're going to obey."

"My dear, let your excitement subside for a moment."

Barbara gingerly grabbed his arm, only to have it jerked away coldly. Aubrey jumped to her feet and glared at Jeffrik, while Barbara panicked and patted her hand. How dare you, you filthy, despicable human being, being unfaithful while completely deceiving Barbara. But Aubrey's behavior, in its own way, angered Jeffrik.

"Normally I wouldn't have to say this, but you really don't know your position.”

"..."

"You have no idea how much he cares for you. You could be put in a carriage and driven to House Hemburg right now and you wouldn't have a word to say!"

Jeffrik stalked toward them. Aubrey jumped to her feet and naturally bowed her head. It was a posture she'd gotten used to over the years of living in the manor. A cold voice spoke over her head.

"For someone like you, Murfrio is your salvation and your lifeline."

"...."

“And you have a duty to complete this marriage to show your gratitude to us.”

Glancing back at his contemplative wife, Jeffrik lightly squeezed Aubrey's shoulder as she bowed her head in front of him.

"So you'd better not mess things up any further. If you have any gratitude for your aunt, that is."

Like daughter, like father. The words Emily had spoken to her one day were now coming out of Jeffrik’s mouth. Aubrey glared at Jeffrik, who turned away coldly. A hatred she couldn't hide flashed in her green eyes.

 ***

Back in her room, Aubrey paced the room for a long time. Her lower lip was swollen from biting and chewing. She couldn't put off the wedding any longer. She didn't know when Murfrio would burst in, and she didn't know what Jeffrik would do if she refused.

"Tell me. Get rid of that fat man. Get him out of sight, out of mind, forever.”

Aubrey didn't answer, for she didn't know what his intentions were, but she pushed his hand away and stepped out of the man's close distance as he stood over her like a trap. She cursed herself for thinking, for a moment, that she had seen a kinder side to him. He was not a man to show favors without expecting anything in return. Khaled Karnus was a man who preyed on the weaknesses of others and stood on their backs.

It was enough to use him to get the job; any more than that, she knew in her gut, would have irreparable consequences. An uneasy walk ensued, until finally, standing tall, Aubrey stared with pursed lips at the closed doorway-or, more accurately, beyond it.

She couldn’t stand still any longer. She must make the first move. Jeffrik Ravant must be stopped. So that Murfrio Hemburg could no longer covet her. So that the man's grasp on her weakness would not grow. Aubrey knew how to end this situation cleanly.

***

Aubrey knew about Jeffrik’s affair, but she didn't know how to use it as a weakness, and she wasn't about to go to Barbara and tell her about it. Aubrey didn't want to hurt her.

To use Jeffrik’s weakness without telling Barbara. Aubrey thought it was in that shadowy place: to go there and catch him in the act. That was Aubrey's plan. For two days, Aubrey used the square as an excuse to stroll through Langton Park, then headed straight for Touraine Alley. It wasn't hard to find her way back.

16th Avenue Touraine. The house, rumored to be a gentlemen's promiscuous playground, looked exactly the same as it did then. Aubrey followed a small wooden path to the doorway, but didn't knock before exploring the house further. As she waited in hiding, she saw many gentlemen. Their entrance was unremarkable. They knocked, the door opened, and the same person from the last time recognized them and let them in.

But they were all men, well-dressed gentlemen. There was not a single woman coming here, not even a shabbily dressed commoner. It was the third day. No longer did she look forward to going there. All Aubrey had learned about the place was that it was a dismal establishment disguised as a fine tavern for gentlemen under the name of Salon.

Hopefully, she'd run into Jeffrik on his way in, but there was no such coincidence. As usual, she hid behind a thick wooden beam and peeked through the doorway. A silhouette appeared, unlike any she'd ever seen before. It was a woman wearing a bright red dress. Her dress was cinched tightly around her waist, and  there were many layers, it billowed with every step.

That was the woman who worked there, Aubrey realized. She was with a gentleman. After a quick trip outside the bar, they approached the entrance to Booker's Salon. Three more knocks followed. The door swung open. Maybe, just maybe, now.

Aubrey didn't miss a beat, scurrying to stand behind the woman. The staffer stepped forward to identify them and show them to their seats, so they might be seen as a group, and the woman's wide-brimmed white hat might hide her. But the employee who was about to let them in finally recognized her.

"Pamela. Who's that behind you?"

The woman glanced back. Aubrey quickly bowed her head and spoke in a low voice.

"Oh, I'm here to see Count Lavonne, and I have an appointment."

"I thought Count Lavonne was not visiting today."

"He will be here soon, I arrived a little early."

It was a lie, of course. But she couldn't wait. She had to say something, she had to catch Jeffrik. She had to get in there somehow.

"So why don't you wait here for a while?"

"Oh, I'd like to go inside and wait."

"That's not going to work."

Perhaps she shouldn't go in after all, and ask the man for help.

"That's pretty brave of you, Jonathan."

Pamela's voice was like soft velvet. It had just the right amount of weight to it, and it was so inviting.

"You dare to stop Count Lavonne's guest at the entrance?"

"Pamela. If you don't know what you're doing, stay put. How do you know who she is?"

The hem of Pamela's red dress came into Aubrey's view. The finish was perfect. Not a single thread peeked out, and it was even studded with gold thread at the ends.

"Jonathan, how can you be sure this lady isn't lying, and if Count Lavonne comes in a few minutes from now, he won't be in a good mood?"

Pamela's perfume wafted subtly from above her head. It was a scent she had never smelled before. It was sweet enough to make her feel like she was drowning in sugary candy.

"I'd make room for her, if I were you, unless you have an immediate job offer."

With a ticklish laugh, the hem of her red dress slid out of view.

"Follow me."

Jonathan's crisp shoes moved away.

***

Jonathan remained nervous to the end. He tried not to give away the presence of the woman who had come here alone. She was led to the same table on the second floor as last time.

"What time do you have an appointment with Count Lavonne?"

Jonathan asked without taking her order.

"He'll be here in about thirty minutes."

Aubrey tried to look away from Jonathan, who stood in front of her, and toward the first floor. The tables at Booker's Salon were full, even in broad daylight. Gorgeously dressed women glided among them, their gestures fluttering, money clutched in white hands.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Aubrey nodded quickly, then put on her best innocent smile. Like a harmless lady who had come here for no other purpose. Jonathan walked away, his eyes never leaving hers. Now all that remained was to explore.

Aubrey’s green eyes darted unusually quickly in the dimly lit second floor.

But it wasn't easy to find Jeffrik in this crowd of gentlemen. They were all dressed similarly and smiling similarly. She immediately passed over ten blond gentlemen who looked like him. Just then, a glass was placed on her table. The glass was cold and half full of a clear, golden liquid. Aubrey lifted the glass to her lips, her eyes fixed on the ground floor.

And there he was. Jeffrik Ravant. Her heart sank. Her stomach churned as she thought of him stamping in for work at the Booker Salon as usual today, and how pathetic and clueless Barbara would be. Aubrey shook off her emotions and tilted her glass. The golden liquid flowed into her mouth with a faint scent and slid heavily down her throat. It was bittersweet whiskey.

"Pull yourself together. Focus."

Aubrey muttered, turning her attention back to the disgusting man and woman. The woman on Jeffrik’s thigh giggled, her breasts bare. Jeffrik, on the other hand, with his characteristically impassive face, ruffled the woman's hair and touched her bare breasts. Aubrey got up and stood on the railing to get a closer look. Just then, a red curtain fell across the stage. It looked like someone was coming on stage.

A few moments later, the curtain was lifted and a woman emerged in the dim light. It was Pamela, newly dressed. Her dress, deeply cut below her breasts, threatened to split open at any moment. She walked with grace even though the dress clung tightly to her body. Her mere presence was enough to make the place fall dead silent. All the men's eyes were on her, and when she smiled brightly and blew a kiss with her hand, they groaned.

Then Pamela began to sing. Her voice was as mesmerizing as her appearance. Aubrey stared at her mesmerized, forgetting why she was here. Pamela slowly raised her head, her gaze still on the gentlemen on the first floor. Then her eyes locked with Aubrey's, who was standing close by on the second floor. Pamela's face was clearer than ever.

Dark scarlet hair that cascaded down to her waist, skin that glistened with whatever she'd applied, a pointy chin, full lips that looked like she was biting into a red rose, and....... Aubrey studied her face for a moment longer and felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Run away!”

It was Phoebe, the red-faced girl, screaming. The glass Aubrey was holding fell to the floor. There was a clatter and the sound of women screaming.

***

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