When Strangers Marry (Vallerands #1)(90)

Philippe fought to catch his breath. “I went to my fencing lesson,” he gasped. “I h-heard… news about Etienne Sagesse….”

Lysette was gripped by an ominous chill as he paused. She felt Max’s presence behind her, and she leaned back against him. “Go on,” Max said, opening the door wider. “What about Sagesse, Philippe?”

“I heard that he was found last night in the Vieux Carré, near Rampart Street…. Etienne Sagesse has been murdered.”

Chapter 15

The full weight of the suspicions cast on Max was revealed by the visit of Jean-Claude Gervais, the captain of the gens d’armes. Gervais, the highest-ranking police official in New Orleans, would not have come himself unless the situation was extremely grave.

Captain Gervais fervently wished to be in anyone’s shoes other than his own. He had not forgotten the favor Maximilien Vallerand had done him not long ago, putting a few words in the right ears to ensure the gens d’armes were provided with new arms and equipment. And now he was repaying the man by intruding on his privacy and questioning him in regard to murder. Suppressing his discomfort, Gervais assumed an impassive expression as he was welcomed into the Vallerand home.

“Monsieur Vallerand,” he began, standing ramrod-straight as Max closed the library door to afford them privacy. “The reason I am here—”

“I know why you’re here, Captain.” Vallerand walked to a set of crystal decanters and held one up with an inquiring glance.

“Non, merci,” Gervais said, although he sorely desired a drink.

Vallerand shrugged and poured himself a brandy. “Sit down, if you wish. I expect this might take a while.”

“Monsieur Vallerand,” Gervais said, lowering his bulky frame into a deep leather chair, “I must begin by saying this is not an official—”

“I know that you have many questions, Captain. To save time, let us both be direct.” Vallerand smiled slightly. “We’ll save small talk for a more pleasant occasion, oui?”

Gervais nodded. “Is it true, monsieur, that you threatened Etienne Sagesse’s life the night before last, on the premises of the Leseur plantation?”

Vallerand nodded. “Sagesse had just insulted my wife. Naturally I wanted to beat him to a pulp. But a fight was prevented by both our families. And I was persuaded not to challenge him to a duel because of his condition.”

“Yes. I have been told that he drank.” Only a Creole would understand the delicate significance Gervais placed on the last two words. The phrase was an indictment of his masculinity, honor, and character. It was unpardonable for a Creole to drink more liquor than he was able to hold.

Gervais clasped his hands loosely, resting them on his plump thigh. “Monsieur, your wife and Monsieur Sagesse were at one time betrothed, were they not?”

Vallerand’s sable eyes narrowed. “They were.”

“The Sagesse family claims that you stole her from Etienne. How exactly was that accomplished?”

Vallerand was about to reply when there came a gentle knock, and the door was pushed open a crack.

“Oui?” Vallerand said abruptly.

Gervais heard a woman’s quiet murmur. “I would like to listen, mon mari, if it would not displease you. I promise not to interfere.”

Vallerand sent a questioning glance to Gervais. “If the captain has no objections. Captain Gervais, my wife, Lysette Vallerand.”

Gervais bowed politely, discovering that the young Madame Vallerand was a striking woman, with her exotic red hair and vivid blue eyes. She possessed a wholesome quality, but at the same time she summoned images of rolling na**d among fresh white bed linens… and her soft, carnal mouth brought startlingly lurid thoughts to mind. Even with her imposing husband in the room, Gervais felt his face begin to glow, and he was relieved to resume his seat in the leather chair.

“Captain?” Vallerand prompted.

Gervais started. “Monsieur… the questions I must ask may be distressing to Madame Vallerand.”

“We may be frank in front of my wife,” Vallerand said, sitting beside his wife.

“Ah, yes. The, ah, theft of Etienne Sagesse’s betrothed.”

“Theft?” Madame Vallerand repeated incredulously. “I would hardly call it that. When I first arrived in New Orleans, I left the Sagesse home of my own accord— because of Monsieur Sagesse’s ungentlemanly behavior toward me. At the invitation of Maximilien’s mother, I came to stay here— she was an acquaintance of my mother’s, you see— and then I took ill. During my convalescence, I fell in love with Maximilien and accepted his offer of marriage. I was not stolen from anyone. It is very simple, voyez-vous?”

“Indeed,” Gervais muttered. “Monsieur Vallerand, you dueled with Monsieur Sagesse over this matter, did you not?”

“Yes.”

“Would you say it deepened the enmity that already existed between you?”

“No,” Vallerand said shortly. “In fact, I ended the duel prematurely.”

“Why?”

“I pitied him. Any man who was there will concur that I could have easily killed him on the spot, in legitimate defense of my honor. But I have finally reached the age, Captain, when a man desires a measure of peace. I even dared to hope that the feud between the Sagesses and Vallerands might come to an end.” His brows quirked as he saw that even his wife was looking at him skeptically. “It’s true,” he said mildly.