She worked steadily for a few hours, and finally took a break to stretch. It was starting to get dark out and she realized it must be close to five. She dug through her wardrobe and pulled out a midnight-blue dress made of silk. Uncle Julien would approve, she thought as she looked in the mirror, but after adding combat boots to her ensemble, told herself he might not, after all.
Descending the stairs, she found her brother pacing nervously at the entrance to the drawing room. He looked as if he had put a little more thought into his appearance than he was accustomed to, sporting a black jacket and gray tie. Natalie took his arm and sniffed the air near his ear delicately.
“You look quite dashing, brother,” she said with an innocent smile. “And are you really wearing cologne? That means you’re trying to catch some one’s eye!”
“Maybe,” he answered, noncommitaly. “But she rather scares me.”
“Oh, Angelique seems harmless enough,” Natalie replied. “Although I bet she could eat you for breakfast if she wanted to.”
“Gee, thanks for that boost of confidence,” he said with heavy sarcasm.
When they entered the salon they made a beeline for the wet bar, where Calvin mixed a Campari and soda for his sister and helped himself to a bottle of Peroni.
“Well then! Aren’t you going to mix a drink for me?”Angelique asked, sidling up to him unexpectedly. She had spotted them as they came in and immediately made her way over.
Calvin took in her sparkling eyes and slinky black dress and became hopelessly tongue-tied for the second time that day.
“My brother makes the best champagne cocktails,” Natalie jumped in, realizing Calvin probably needed a moment to compose himself.
“Oh, I’d love to have one,” Angelique said. “Every Frenchwoman adores champagne, in all its various forms.”
Calvin nodded and rummaged under the counter for a chilled bottle. He was grateful to his sister for buying him some time and giving him a task to occupy his hands. For some reason, this woman made him terribly nervous and obliterated his normal confidence. Normally he didn’t suffer from shyness when it came to the opposite sex, even if they were beautiful, as Angelique most certainly was.
“So,” Natalie asked her, “how are you enjoying working for Uncle Julien? I’ve heard he can be rather fussy and demanding.”
“Oh, Julien is a pussycat!“ Angelique cried. “He tries to be tough, but I have him wrapped around my little finger.” She held up her pinkie and winked at Calvin, who nervously took a hasty swig of beer.
Natalie laughed. “Oui! He’s a sucker for beautiful women, my uncle, I mean!”
Angelique turned serious for a moment. “It’s hard work hard, though, and the best job I’ve ever had. I’m learning so much, and I don’t want to lose it,” she confided. “I was an accountant for about six months, but it was so boring compared to this!”
Calvin had regained a bit of composure and asked, “What exactly do you do?”
“Well, lots of things. Julien has the oddest requests sometimes, and I do my best to tackle any task he hands me. I hunt down rare books or handwriting samples. Once, he was sure that a certain gentleman was trying to pass off a simply gorgeous Modigliani as a forgery! Can you imagine that? Usually it’s the other way around.” She took a sip of the champagne Calvin handed to her. “Mon Dieu, this is wonderful! I’ve had such a trying time with Julien gone!”
“But why would anyone want to pretend an authentic painting is a fake?” Natalie pressed.
“Well, this family bought an old house in Montmartre a while back and found a painting in the attic. It’s a little complicated, but they decided they’d find a buyer on their own and sell it themselves. Not a good idea, if you ask me.”
“Then what?” Calvin asked.
“Oh, they found a buyer all right,” Angelique continued, “who knew he was looking at the real deal, but he kept that opinion to himself and asked if he could have the painting authenticated before he made an offer. They agreed, and he told them they could choose the person to perform the inspection. The couple brought it to Julien, of course, because he is of course regarded as one of the foremost experts in the field.”
“But who was trying to make it look fake?” Natalie asked.
“Oh, that was the tricky part,” Angelique said. “The buyer had contrived to be left alone with the painting before it was taken to Julien, and he actually had some acrylic paint with him, and, rather ineptly I might add, touched it up. He figured that if he could get it declared a forgery, he could buy it for next to nothing. Then he would clean it up and sell it for what it’s really worth.”
“I take it his plan didn’t work?” Natalie asked.
“Of course not. Only a complete fool would have been taken in by such a thing, and Julien is no fool. My part in the affair was to find a buyer for the couple who would give them a fair price. In the end, they came away with a more than fair price, if I might be allowed to brag a little.”
Calvin saw an old acquaintance waving him over from across the room, and excused himself.
“Your brother is so handsome!” Angelique gushed after he’d gone. “Is he seeing anyone special?”
“Not at the moment. He’s been in Africa for several months, and he would have mentioned it if he was. We’re pretty close.”
“Hmm …” she said, looking pleased. “I think I’ve found my next victim.”
“Oh dear,” Natalie said, giggling. “I’m afraid he might enjoy that position very much.”
They were still laughing and making bawdy jokes when a man appeared at their side. He was very tall and good-looking, with dark, seductive eyes and a warm smile. “Hello Finn,” Angelique said warmly. “Have you met Julien’s niece yet?”
“I haven’t had the pleasure,” he replied, extending his hand. “Finley Constance. I’ve worked with your uncle on various projects.”
’An American,’ Natalie thought, deciding she rather liked his deep voice and charming accent.
“Finn works tirelessly for Verdipax,” Angelique interjected.
Natalie brightened. “Oh! Then you’ve already earned my utmost respect. I have always regarded Verdipax as one of those nonprofits that are above reproach in its efforts to fight big business and clean up the environment.”
Finn beamed, warmed by the lavish praise.
“And it’s especially admirable that you do all of that without accepting any funding from governments or corporations,” she continued.
“Yes, it’s essential we remain independent from all outside influences that may only have their own best interests in mind,” Finn replied. ”But I’m honored to be so regarded by you.”
Angelique drifted off in search of Calvin, and Finn told Natalie that he too, respected the work she was doing in the field, and had read many of her articles on the subject, as well as her last book. But that wasn’t the only reason he stayed with her, however. He found Natalie Romarin to be a woman both restful and mysterious, and wanted to know more about her. She seemed to be in her own world, and almost untouched by it, but at the same time, an integral part of her surroundings. He could not have explained to anyone how she had immediately taken hold of his senses.
“What brings you to Paris?” he asked her. “I’m told I was very lucky to find your uncle in town. Julien said he has just returned from fetching