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“Hello, Grand-mère” Marcus sounded as aard as he felt He tried to cover his nerves by taking her hand and kissing it He had missed her more than he had realized
“Marcus” Ysabeau’s tone was cool, as if a stiff breeze had blown across the Seine Happily, no one but Marcus noticed She turned to Paine “Mr Paine Welcos?”
“It is much better, madame,” Paine replied “And how is our dear comte?”
“Busy with his affairs, as usual,” Ysabeau said “As you know, he takes a keen interest in how Alance in Marcus’s direction
“Youme a copy of Mr Burke’s letter to Monsieur Depont,” Paine replied
“Philippe felt sure that you would want to knoas being said in the clubs of London” Ysabeau lowered herself into a waiting chair It was deep, as chairs needed to be in order to support the birdcages women wore around their waists, not to mention all the silk and satin that was draped over theht-backed stool and a cushion, but not Ysabeau
“I a led toward her “He intends to publish the letter, and I wish to have an answer at the ready There is no reason France cannot become a republic, as America did May I impose on the comte further, and visit your house to discuss it with him? There is no man whose opinion I value more”
Marcus looked from Ysabeau to Paine and back to Ysabeau
“Of course, Mr Paine The doors of the Hôtel de Clermont are open to all with serious political views” Ysabeau’s green eyes fixed on Paine as though he were a plu for her next hts on the marquis’s celebration?”
“It is not s to the nation”
Ysabeau held up her hand, stopping his words “You are too modest, Gilbert Without you there would be no nation We would still be living in the kingdo their tithes to the church Isn’t that right, Marcus?”
Marcus hesitated, then nodded Veronique and Marat would not agree, but Lafayette had drafted the new constitution, after all
“I think the people need to see what they are being asked to believe in—democracy, in this case,” Paine said “What harm can there be in a parade?”
“Exactly!” Lafayette said, nodding his head enthusiastically “It is not a ‘vain spectacle,’ as Monsieur Marat claims It is a ceremony of harmony, a ritual of fraternity”
The clock on Lafayette’s mantel struck four Marcus leaped to his feet, shocked to see so much time had passed He was late
“I o,” he said “I have an appointment with friends”
“My carriage can take you,” Lafayette said, ringing a bell that rested by his elbow
“My appointment is just down the road, and I’ll be faster on foot” Marcus was strangely reluctant to leave Paine, and for ahis plans, but his loyalty prevented it “Good-bye, Mr Paine”
“I hope our paths cross again, Monsieur de Clermont,” Paine said “At the marquis’s celebration, if not before”
“I’d like that, Mr Paine Grand-mère” Marcus bowed to Ysabeau
“Don’t be a stranger,” his grandmother said, the corners of her mouth lifted into the shadow of a smile
Marcus headed for the door as quickly as he could without alar Mr Paine
“Marcus?” Ysabeau called after him
Marcus turned
His grandmother had picked up the red wool hat that Marcus had left on his chair in his haste to get away It was a visible sign of Marcus’s allegiance to the ideals of the Revolution
“Don’t forget your cap,” she said
—
CAFÉ PROCOPE WAS PACKED with hot, sweating bodies There was barely rooainst the current as he tried to make his way fro
“Marcus? Is that you?” Fanny waved her hand in greeting She earing a plain silk gown in revolutionary white Her unpowdered hair was tu adopted by all the finest ladies, and she wore a version of Marcus’s distinctive red hat—hers made by one of the most expensive milliners in town
“Fanny!” Having successfully avoided his family for almost two months, Marcus could not seem to avoid them today “You’re far from home”
“This is the Quartier Latin, not Africa,” Fanny replied, h a series of deftelbows into ribs, and batting her eyes at the h town is terrible, of course, so I abandoned e on the Pont Neuf and walked the rest of the way What brings you here?”
“I live here,” Marcus said, his eyes searching the room for Veronique
“With Danton and his band of murderers and thieves?” Fanny shook her head “Charles said you and Veronique were crammed into a tiny attic with six other creatures It sounded dreadful You should move back into my house It’s far more comfortable”
“Veronique and Ifor Veronique with his eyes and tried using his nose and ears instead “We’re living in a second-floor apartment now One closer to the Sorbonne”
“Who is your tailor these days?” Fanny wondered, looking hi in Lafayette’s salon, not the Cordeliers Club Except for the cap, of course”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed at her mention of the marquis “What are you and Ysabeau up to, Fanny?”
“Ysabeau?” Fanny shrugged “You’re spending too much time with Marat Now you think there are conspirators behind every door You know perfectly well that we don’t get along”
It was true that his grand conversational barbs into each other at fa ed
“Liberté! Égalité! Fraternité!”
The chant of the Cordeliers Club echoed through the rooreed to meet Marat
The crowds parted and Jean-Paul e over one eye, holding a fist of paper in his hand Georges Danton was behind hiround lair he would occupy tonight With them was Veronique
“Marcus!” Veronique’s cheeks were flushed She earing the authentic revolutionary dress on which Fanny’s fashionable version was o”
“I was delayed,” Marcus apologized He moved to kiss her
Veronique sniffed his coat
“You’ve been with Ysabeau,” she said “You promised—”
“Ysabeau was visiting Lafayette,” Marcus said, interrupting Veronique in his haste to reassure her that he had not broken his word “I had no idea that she would be there”
“Lafayette! You see, I told you he cannot be trusted,” Marat muttered to Danton “He is a de Clermont, and like all aristocrats, he would rather slit the belly of your wife and rip out the heart of your infant son than give up one of his privileges”
“You know that isn’t true, Jean-Paul” Marcus couldn’t believe what his friend was saying
“Co on his sleeve “There’s no point in arguing with him”
A knot of spectators was gathering around thehly dressed and well into their third or fourth drinks Most of thes tied around their necks to absorb the sweat and gri menial labor at the Champs de Mars
“Wake up, Marcus,” Marat said, his tone vicious “Those people are not your true family Lafayette is not your friend They want only to use you for their own purposes, to further their own designs You are a de Clers” o;Hello, Grand-mère” Marcus sounded as aard as he felt He tried to cover his nerves by taking her hand and kissing it He had missed her more than he had realized