The way the kiss had curled her toes and scrambled her brain? Yeah, that was a problem.
Claude expected Helenne St. Cyr to be pleased at the news of Bettino Calvino’s death. That she was not surprised him. He knew the old story. Oh, not because she—or anyone else—had shared it with him. Everyone thought him dull and defeated, a pale imitation of Phineas St. Cyr. Even Phineas had failed to perceive the man he was beneath the dull.
It was—he’d learned early—much better to be underestimated than overestimated. Look at Phil. Phineas had such high hopes for his son’s ascension to power. Had believed what he wanted to believe about his only son. He hadn’t minded the love affair with the Calvino girl. He had minded Phil’s honesty. Oh yes, he’d minded that. Enough to kill him? Claude was still n
