Danny met Marquesa in the third-floor corridor, emerging from what he assumed must be the Pink Room. He was dressed in a very structured gown of flame and copper brocade that exactly matched his hair, with three-quarter sleeves, a dramatic collar, and a flaring overskirt that tumbled down the back in richly sculpted folds to drag the floor behind him; his hair was slicked back and plaited into elaborate braids, which were arranged on top of his head like a tiara and studded with glinting topaz-headed pins. More large reddish-orange topazes in diamond and platinum Art Deco settings blazed all around his person, he carried a large square minaudier covered in gold and brown crystals, and a vast corsage of fiery ruffled orchids spilled down his left shoulder.
"Wow!" Danny exclaimed when he caught sigh of his beloved.
"Oh, damn," Marquesa replied, looking at Danny's outfit with consternation, "I should have told you what I was wearing earlier, that green waistcoat does not go with this dress."
"Does it matter?" Danny was a little wounded by the response, "We're not supposed to match, are we?"
"We probably should. We're the only two untitled 'Murricans' at this rodeo, precedence makes us natural dinner partners. I'll have Danvers tell Henri what I'm going to wear from now on so you can coordinate."
"Henri's not dressing me," Danny told him as they descended the stairs, "I guess I'm too far away from Valerien's rooms, up too many stairs. I got low man on totem pole instead, the junior-est footman on staff. But he's very sweet and very cute, so I'll make do."
"Well, I'll have Danvers keep in touch with your cute junior footman, then," Marquesa decided, turning to look back at Danny at the turn of the stairs, "Oh, darling, don't look so crestfallen! You do look lovely, that green is really fetching."
"Am I that transparent? I was trying not to look hurt. I'm not, not really."
"You're like glass to me, darling," Marquesa stepped back up to where Danny was standing and kissed him lightly on the cheek, "And I did not fail to notice that you're wearing the links and studs I gave you. I was just too full of my own petty concerns to say anything. Forgive me?"
"Nothing to forgive," Danny grinned and kissed him back, also lightly, making sure to not smudge anything.
"You're much too sweet to be real," Marquesa shook his head as he turned and continued down the stairs, "If you'd told me I clashed before telling me I looked fabulous, I'd punch you square in the nuts."
"I'll remember that," Danny laughed.
Reaching the bottom of the main stairs, they paused a moment to listen for voices, not sure which room they would be using to meet before dinner. When the Seguemonts dined en famille, they gathered in the smaller drawing-room, called the Salon des chasseurs, so named for the hunting figures in the priceless Gobelins tapestries that lined the walls; when there was a large party of people coming in from outside, guests were ushered through that room to the Salon d'or, the larger drawing room, which was of course opulently gilded and upholstered in gold damask; but with a large house party, new to Danny's experience, there was some uncertainty... and with the Chateau's two-foot-thick stone walls, one had to listen carefully to find the party.
"The Long Library," Marquesa announced after a moment's silence, and headed for the double-doors opposite the foot of the stairs.
The Long Library, as opposed to the Tower Library next door, was not quite what Danny expected a library to look like: dark and brown and woody with the lovely smell of old books and tobacco. The Long Library was lined with bookcases, but they were ivory enamel carved with golden oak leaves, acorns, birds and squirrels, with the books secured behind latticed glass doors; the gilded Louis XVI furniture was upholstered in ivory satin embroidered with wildflowers, and the Boulle tables and desks were pale golden wood marquetry; even the books were rebound in pale caramel kidskin, and were all modern best sellers and bound volumes of magazines. The whole effect was light and warm and airy, a room for socializing rather than for reading and studying.
There was nobody posted at the door to announce the arrivals... that had only been done for the first tea so that the guests would hear each other's names. Danny and Marquesa were greeted by the Comtesse, who was regal and lovely in rose-colored chiffon and Belle Epoque diamonds, were served a choice of aperitifs and cocktails on a silver tray by the senior footman, and mingled into the assembled guests.
Lady Emily, Danny noted, polished up very nicely after all: her auburn hair fluffed and swept into an elaborate wave, her slim figure draped in an exquisite bias-cut satin gown in pale green satin, her neck and ears glittering with dainty diamond and emerald pendants; she could move in heels and hold onto a handbag, which Marquesa would say were the most important elements of female grace.
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