"Don't fall asleep on me," Ray warned as he massaged Laila's fragrant healing ointment into Florian's reddened skin. A morning in the bookstore had led to a hurried light lunch and a long session in their hotel room. Florian had spent most of that session on his knees or bound to various pieces of furniture and Ray's touch was making him feel sleepy and well cared for.

"I'm afraid I was a bit enthusiastic with the whip. You might have a hard time sitting still this evening." Ray ran his hand over a particularly angry stripe that angled across Florian's lower back. "You need to tell me if I'm hurting you too much."

Florian shifted, looking up into his lover's eyes with complete openness. "You never hurt me too much, Ray. I trust you to stop before that happens and you always do."

Even after three years, it still amazed Ray that Florian could be so trusting. Almost from the start, the blond had entrusted himself to Ray and nothing had ever shaken that, not Azura's horrible betrayal, or Ray's own misguided defense of the man he once called brother. It left Ray feeling warm and protective to towards the blond, even though he knew Florian was perfectly capable of defending himself. Ray had hired an instructor to teach Florian self-defense and the blond had proven to be a fast learner. It made Ray feel better, even if it hadn't stopped the blond from stumbling into the middle of danger on a regular basis.

"We should get ready or Laila will come to find us." Florian gave Ray a wicked grin, adding. "Unless Michel has been entertaining her and we have to go find them."

"You have a dirty mind, Duke Rochefort." Ray told him, sounding impressed. Either Florian had learned a great deal thanks to Ray's influence, or he had never been quite as naive as he seemed. Ray was leaning more towards the later explanation these days. Sometimes he wondered what Florian would be like if his mother was still alive and Florian was trapped with her in that decaying mansion, still clinging to the remnants of Rochefort family pride. It seemed such a waste, but he certainly couldn't say anything about it to Florian.

"If you're planning on wearing that tonight you'll make the Countess Kourey very happy."

"What?" Ray asked, not fully registering Florian's words at first. After a second, he caught on and glanced down at the towel wrapped around his waist. He grinned and stood up, turning this way and that to model his only article of apparel. "Should I remind you that the Countess is a widow and still in mourning for her husband? To hear her tell it, she's planning to die childless and alone."

"Perhaps she should break that bit of news to her gardener and the fabric salesman who has a regular appointment to display his wares." Florian sat up, his skin glowing from the ointment and Ray's attentions. He slid off the bed gracefully and walked naked to the wardrobe to select a suit. The opera premiere was black tie so he only had two choices but he took his time, letting Ray's eyes linger as long as they liked.

"You've been spending too much time with ladies like your Cora and Matilde, they're turning you into a gossip."

"Never!" Florian turned to face Ray fully, his face flushed. "The Countess told me herself about the appointments and Alais mentioned the gardener. It's hardly my fault if I'm a good and sympathetic listener." He made a face. "I'd be happier if they didn't entrust me with their secrets. It gets tiresome trying to keep them all straight."

"My poor Florian," Ray moved closer and slid a hand down Florian's chest then up again and kept it moving past him into the wardrobe. He plucked out one of Florian's formal suits and handed it to him. "Wear that with the emerald pin. I'm wearing the amethyst."

Florian chuckled and shook his head, but he took the suit and started to dress. Ray was dressed and in the bathroom slicking back his hair when Florian joined him, stealing the brush out of his hands. "Let me or we'll be here all night. You always use too much pomade and it makes your hair sticky later. I like it softer and more natural, like this. You look too serious when your hair is slicked back."

"Is that why you never slick back your hair? Because it makes you look serious?" Ray reached up and ran his fingers through Florian's hair, letting it linger among the silky strands. Florian's hair was one of Ray's weaknesses.

"No, I don't slick it back because you hate sticky hair. Besides, I look silly like that. I look much better with bangs." Florian frowned, leaning forward past Ray and pulling a section of bangs down tight over his forehead. "I really should have gotten a trim."

"You're fine. I'm fine." Ray closed the container of pomade and tossed it down on the sink, reaching over to wipe his hands on a towel. "Shall we go?"

"Just a moment." Florian fussed with Ray's tie, then smoothed his lapels. He leaned in and stole a quick kiss before pulling back and pronouncing Ray acceptable. He was still laughing even when Ray pinched his sore backside.
XXXXX

"They're twins," Laila almost shouted in her excitement. She and Michel had joined Florian and Ray and the foursome were in a carriage on the way to the restaurant to meet the Countess for dinner. Laila had been telling Ray and Florian about the new sapphires and her new theory. "Twin necklaces. That has to be the explanation."

"But that doesn't explain the rest of it," Michel reminded her, placing a calming hand on Laila's arm. It wouldn't do to arrive for dinner flushed and excited or the Countess would demand to know what had happened. Michel turned his attention to the other men, leaning in slightly to tell them how, when he'd reached into his pocket for change to buy Laila a flower, he'd found a wad of bills - the exact sum he'd already paid the old woman for the sapphires.

"Clearly someone wants us to have these gems, but why? They're cursed." Florian's eyes widened and he turned to Ray. "Do you think they want to curse us? I once read that a cursed item can be given, but if it's purchased, the curse loses its power."

"I imagine it's possible, but the person planning this would have to believe in curses and be very wealthy. If Laila is correct and there are two Pleiades necklaces, we would need fourteen specific twin star sapphires. Even discounting the two in Noel's bear, given how rare and expensive the gems are, even if they were all in one place, it would cost a fortune to acquire them. Factor in the research and travel involved in gathering them from across Europe, perhaps even beyond, and the cost could easily double, even triple. Who could possibly want to curse us badly enough to go to such trouble and expense?" Ray paused, looking at each of them meaningfully. "And that doesn't take into account the efforts to make Florian ill and the people like that woman at the museum who were most likely hired to discredit him or create a scandal."

"What about the false Noir?" Laila wondered, giving Florian a pitying look; the man seemed to be shocked into temporary silence while he pondered Ray's words. "We haven't heard anything about him lately, but wasn't he stealing only twin star sapphires?"

"He was," Ray confirmed. "And he was also very careful to make sure his victim saw him after each robbery. That suggests that he wanted the blame placed on Noir."

"But why? And why did he stop? Do you think he only did it to steal the rest of the Seven Sisters to make two complete sets?"

"That's the most reasonable explanation. But we'll have to continue this discussion later. We're nearly at the restaurant." Ray leaned back, his eyes unfocused as he concentrated on putting all the pieces together. In the silence, Florian remembered something, but before he could ask about it, the carriage jerked to a stop.

"Count Courland." The Countess brushed past Florian and Ray to extend her hand to Michel. "I'm so pleased you could join us." With a rustle of silk she turned and acknowledged Ray, Florian and Laila briefly, her expression unusually stiff. Linking her arm with Michel's she led the man off towards the private room that she'd reserved.

Florian and Ray exchanged a confused look, wondering what had caused the Countess to resort to such a slight. For a woman such as her, ignoring a social peer was the gravest insult she could offer. They followed several steps behind her, not speaking until they entered the private room. There were a group of waiters circulating with trays of champagne and platters of dainty appetizers. Alais was there in an ill-fitting gown of yellow silk that made her look jaundiced. She started towards Florian and the others only to be called back sharply by the Countess. On the other side of the room, Cora and Matilde huddled together watching everything avidly.

"It appears that we've done something unseemly." Florian said, trying to make light of it but not quite succeeding. He was clearly reviewing all of his actions over the last few days and coming up with only one incident likely to earn him such treatment. "Perhaps you were right about someone trying to create a scandal; they must have heard about the scene in museum."

"They could be speculating about our relationship. Whenever they get bored that gets dragged out again." Ray drained his flute of champagne and signaled for another. Beside him Laila snorted in disgust and headed off towards Alais determined to get some answers.

"This might be messy." Ray commented, trying to hide his amusement at Laila's expression. Poor, meek Alais didn't stand a chance.

"Speaking of mess, Earl Bainbridge is here with his son." Florian watched as the Countess made her excuses to Michel and swooped down on the Earl. "Oh dear, I think I've been replaced as a prospective suitor for Alais. Poor Dudley." Florian leaned over his champagne glass and added in an undertone. "His boyfriend will be most annoyed."

Ray's sudden burst of laughter drew everyone's attention, and a glare from the Countess. He raised his glass to her in salute and smiled pleasantly.

"Florian," Michel said as he rejoined the two men. "The Countess tells me you've been a very bad aristocrat. It's not that you're a womanizer, you understand. In fact she's glad to finally put those perverse rumors about you and your Count to rest at last. It's just that you chose someone so common... so unrefined... so not Alais."

"Ah." Florian said nodding before signaling for another champagne. He was starting to feel just the slightest but floaty but he took another sip anyway. "So now we know my crime. But what, pray tell, has Ray done to earn the Countess' wrath."

"I can answer that one," Laila said as she rejoined the group. "Apparently you didn't answer her letter."

"Letter? What letter?" Ray broke off, one hand reaching up to pat his inside jacket pocket automatically even though he was wearing his tuxedo and not one of his usual suit coats. Realization struck and he swore under his breath. "I forgot about the damned thing entirely." He looked around at the others defensively. "And you know it."

"Yes, I do." Laila said placidly. "And when I explained to Alais about someone trying to poison Florian she was most sympathetic. I'm not sure I've done you a favor, however." Laila gestured discretely towards the Countess who was conferring with one of the staff. "It looks like one of you had better be prepared to discuss the weather with Alais at dinner."

And indeed, that's exactly what Ray found himself doing for two interminable hours while Florian sat at the Countess' right hand and Michel sat at her left. Dudley found himself at the far end of the table beside Cora and across from Matilde. Ray envied him every minute of those two hours.

"You don't mind if I steal your Count away, do you dear?" Countess Kourey gave Florian a wide smile and latched onto Ray's arm, tugging the man away, completely oblivious to his expression. For a moment Florian wondered of Ray was going to shout at her or try to run away. Either option seemed likely and Florian was torn between trying to save him or sitting back and watching the show until Michel moved in and averted the potential crisis.

"Can we go yet?" Ray demanded quietly as he returned to the side of the room where Laila and Florian were waiting. Countess Kourey had hired carriages to take them all to the opera house even though it was only a short walk from the restaurant. Ray was tempted to walk anyway if only to settle some of the enormous meal. He usually didn't eat so much but whenever he ran out of things to say to Alais, or whenever he wanted to say something to the dimwitted girl, he'd taken a bite of food instead. Now he was irritated, overfull and dreading three hours of listening to people scream at each other with orchestral accompaniment.

"It's the story of King Arthur," Florian reminded him gently, brushing an imaginary hair off Ray's shoulder just so he had an excuse to touch him. "And it was written by a Parisian. A pity he didn't live to see this debut. I've heard the opera house here is magnificent."

"Much the same as any other," Ray sniffed, but his expression softened in response to Florian's obvious delight. The blond adored opera and plays while Ray usually found them a bother. The works themselves were fine but the amount of socializing required before, during intermission, and after was often irritating or tedious.

"Let's go see what your ladies are gossiping about." Laila suggested with a wicked gleam in her eyes. If the Countess Kourey was going to monopolize Laila's escort, then Laila would have to find her entertainment elsewhere.

"Take Florian. I'm going to the lounge for a cigar. Who knows if I'll have time for one later." Ray hurried out, a cigar already clenched in his teeth.

"I wish he'd enjoy these events a little more," Florian said wistfully. He really did like attending the opera and didn't want to spend most of the evening fretting over his temperamental lover. He'd heard tales of the Brussels Opera House with its magnificent giltwork and murals on the ceiling. He was looking forward to seeing it in person. He felt a little foolish, but some part of him felt protective towards his beloved Paris opera house. Even as a young teen he'd loved going there and dreamed of having permission to explore all the corners and passageways of the beautiful place. While some boys dreamed of faraway lands, Florian craved adventures in places much closer to home.

"Rochefort, old man." Dudley approached with the air of someone on the verge of panic. Some of his hair had escaped its dressing and was hanging askew over one eye. "I should thank you and the Count for whatever you did that got me off the Countess' list of likely prospects. It's not that I dislike Alais, you understand, but could you imagine having the Countess as part of your family?"

"She is part of his family if you go back far enough," Laila said with enough of a smile that Florian knew she was having fun at Dudley's expense. The man was almost twitching with nerves now but he'd had more than one joke at Florian's expense over the years so the blond wasn't in a hurry to soothe his concerns. "In fact," Laila continued, glancing at Florian for a second before skewering Dudley with her eyes. "I believe she's connected to your family tree as well."

Dudley made a strangled noise and, giving each of them a look, excused himself and hurried off towards the gents room. Florian was feeling a bit bad for the man and was ready to follow him when one of the restaurant employees announced that the carriages had arrived.

"Go along with you," Dudley's father waved off Florian and Laila before they could do more than indicate where Dudley had gone. "I'll be along shortly with that son of mine." His tone of voice promised nothing good for Dudley and Florian felt even worse for teasing him. He thought of the man's "companion" waiting at home for him and felt kinship for Dudley in a way he never had before. It was an open secret among certain people that Dudley would be forced into a marriage, probably sooner rather than later to help him get over his "phase". It was at times like this when Florian found a small bit of comfort in being the last of his line; there was no one to separate him from Ray.

"Let's get going," Ray grumbled, reappearing at their sides with the pungent scent of cigar clinging to him. Florian turned towards him and inhaled, taking in both the familiar scent and the presence of his lover.

It was milder than usual for that time of year and Laila was glad she didn't have to worry about a cloak in addition to the volumes of material in her gown. She was much better at wearing "proper" clothes for these events, but she didn't think she'd ever consider them comfortable. Why women insisted on shoving themselves into unnatural shapes and putting on clothes that were so confining was something she'd never understand.

"You look lovely this evening." Michel said, leaning close and murmuring in her ear. His breath ghosted over the bare skin of her neck, the small patch not covered by her wrap. Laila shivered a little and smiled, reconsidering, just for a second, the advantages of dressing this way.

Michel leaned even closer and put his arm around her shoulder, drawing her against his side. Across the carriage, Ray had his arm around Florian under the pretense of plucking away an imaginary loose thread. The two Courlands looked each other in the eyes and exchanged brief smiles. They might not always agree on, well, anything, but they were no longer in needless competition with each other.

When the carriage stopped, Ray didn't protest when Michel exited first and turned to help Laila out. Michel was on his best, most charming behavior for the evening so Ray promised himself not to goad the man. He'd save that for the next morning. After all, Michel would be in town for as long as they were so there would be plenty of opportunities to annoy him.

Ray left the carriage and turned to watch as Florian descended, wishing he had an excuse to offer his hand to the blond. Instead, Ray took out another cigar and lit it. Michel and Laila went inside but Florian remained at Ray's side, keeping a companionable silence while Ray smoked.

"We should find our seats soon," Florian said quietly, his eyes bright in the glow of the streetlamps. "The curtain goes up in twenty minutes and I'd rather not have to climb over anyone."

"Not to worry," Ray said nonchalantly. "I've hired a box."

"A box?" Florian's tone was a mix of astonishment and delight. "However did you manage that? This opera's been sold out for weeks."

"It's always good to be prepared," Ray replied, giving Florian a smug little grin. "Don't I always tell you that?"

"Yes, but... a box." Florian gazed up at the large building as if seeing it with different eyes. His face was tinted a delicate pink, a mix of the cool night air and excitement. Unable to help himself, Florian cast a quick glance around then reached out and squeezed Ray's hand. "Thank you." However Ray had managed such a feat, he had done it for Florian and the blond intended to be very, very grateful when they were back in the hotel.

Laila and Michel were obviously in on the secret because they were waiting by the door to the private box when Florian and Ray arrived. They stood back and watched as Ray opened the door for Florian and ushered him inside.

The blond looked around, eyes wide, taking in the burgundy and gold dИcor, the plush velvet cushioned chairs and the fine brocade draperies. He stepped up to the edge of the box and surveyed the theatre, marveling at how different everything appeared from here as compared to his usual vantage point among the crowd.

"Don't fall over, you'll crush someone." Ray teased, earning a glare from Florian. But the blond was so delighted he couldn't even hold the pretense of annoyance for long. Instead, he came back to Ray's side and stood as close as he dared while any number of eyes might be watching them.

"Your glasses," Michel said, pushing two pairs of opera glasses at them before seating Laila. There was room in the box for two people to sit in front, and the other two to sit behind, slightly elevated by a step. Ray insisted that Florian sit beside Laila in the front and took the seat behind him while Michel was seated behind Laila. After the lights went down, Ray slid his chair forward and, using the advantages of dim lighting stretched his legs forward so his leg was brushing against Florian's.

Despite his complaints, Ray didn't really mind opera and he found the first act interesting enough to hold his attention, or at least keep him awake.

"I need a drink." Michel announced as soon as the house lights came up for intermission. He offered Laila his arm and the two took off as if they were being chased. Ray and Florian followed at a more sedate pace, the end of the first act still lingering in their minds.

"There you are, dear boy!" The Countess swooped down on Florian with Alais in tow, looking a bit worse for wear. "I was so hoping you'd be seated near us. You didn't tell us you had a box. Such a terrible tease you are dear Florian. Not even a word about such a thing, and here Alais would so enjoy the chance to see a private box. I simply can't justify such an indulgence you know. Your Count must be extremely fond of opera."

"Indeed he is," Florian stumbled over the words as his eyes scanned the crowd for his lover. He caught a brief glance of the man's back as he fled towards the bar and cast a few dark thoughts in his direction. "About the box, Miss Alais. I really couldn't presume..."

"Nonsense," Michel scolded, appearing at Florian's elbow with Laila at his side. They each had a half-empty wine glass and looked like they were enjoying this show far more than the opera itself. "I'm sure Ray wouldn't deny Alais the chance to see a private box. There's time yet, Florian, if you escort her there straight away."

Florian gave Michel and Laila a look then turned and bowed to Alais, extending his hand gracefully. "My lady, would you do me the honor of accompanying me? I assure you I will have you back in time for the curtain." Alais giggled breathily and wiped her hand not so discretely on her gown before extending it to Florian. Together the couple disappeared into the crowd.

"I really should have a word with the Earl about Dudley, but I wanted..." The Countess craned her neck, looking for Ray but not finding him in the sea of bodies. "Ah well, I just wanted to tell him about the sapphire." She leaned in towards Michel and Laila. "We were on the train together last week. The one where I was practically assaulted by that horrid Noir. But the Count was so kind and helpful that I wanted to make sure to tell him what happened. I had intended to contact my solicitor about the sapphire Noir stole, but when I arrived at my dear friends' house - she was so kind as to offer me a place to stay when I simply couldn't face being alone in a hotel where I could be assaulted again - well, there was a package waiting. Apparently someone sent me this stunning pin - you see here, the one with the emerald and pearls? Well, there was a note and it simply said "to replace your sapphire. Can you imagine that?" She leaned in even closer and said, "You don't suppose the Count... " She broke off with a giggle and actually blushed, causing Michel and Laila to drain their glasses and look around frantically for a servant with more wine.

:end chapter 13: