Royally Seduced - By Marie Donovan Page 0,58
field, the heat and sun and buzz of cicadas almost loud enough to drown the pounding of the blood in her ears. “Jack, it smells like those fields where we…toured the plants,” she finished.
Simone gave her a knowing smile. “That is the power of scent. One wears it outwardly to communicate with others but it conjures the most personal and private memories to the wearer.”
“Almost like a secret—I know something that you don’t know.”
Jack brushed her hair back over her shoulder, his fingers lingering on her collarbone. “The mystery of a woman. Inviting and intriguing to us poor men as we strive to discover the hidden depths.”
Lily covered his hand with hers. “You men can be pretty mysterious yourselves.”
Simone interjected, “Ah, but that is the wonder of life, eh?” She clapped her hands together. “Enough philosophy. Let’s get to work.”
For the next hour or so, Lily sniffed test strips until they all started to blend in her poor, untrained mind. She stepped outside a couple times to clear her head, but even the town smelled of flowers, so that didn’t help much.
Finally, though, she and Simone had put something together that was floral but woodsy, sweet but exotic. “It’s not quite there,” she said in disappointment. “The lavender and vanilla are wonderful together along with the base of cedar, but it’s missing something.”
Simone smiled and dipped a paper tester strip into a bottle, adding it to the wand of papers. Lily cautiously sniffed and her cheeks pulled into a wide grin. “That’s it!”
Jack leaned in for a sniff and nodded in approval. “Wonderful. Whatever did you add?”
The perfumer spread her hands wide. “Lily, of course. One cannot make perfume for Lily without any lilies.”
They burst out laughing. Jack bent down and kissed Simone on the cheek. “Ah, Simone. The ‘nose’ knows, as they say.”
“Always. Now, Jacques, we still have your cologne formula if you need a new bottle of it.”
“You’ve done this before?” Lily didn’t know why that would surprise her since he and Simone were obviously old friends.
“A long time ago, but no, Simone, I don’t need any more fragrance.”
The perfumer shook her head. “But, Jacques, you know that the oils start breaking down after about a year and quality suffers. Certainly you will not wear your old supply anymore?”
“Well…”
She scoffed. “If you do, don’t you dare mention where you got it. I will not have people wondering why Jacques Montford is wearing something of ours that smells like a Marseilles alley.”
He sighed in exasperation and threw up his hands. “I promise to throw away that bottle if you will make me another.”
“Bon.” Simone smiled like the cat with the canary. “You know, Jacques, we should go into partnership. Put your fragrance into mass production and split the proceeds. We could call it—”
“Merci, but no.”
Lily thought it sounded like a great idea. “But you could use the money, Jack. Especially since you’ve been ill and aren’t working right now.”
“What?” Simone eyed him from head to toe. “You’ve been sick?”
“I caught a bug overseas but I am much better now. And I am working—working for Jean-Claude.”
“Well, that is certainly a switch. I hope you’ve been kind to him.”
“Always.” Jack smiled. “And Lily is getting all of Marthe-Louise’s recipes.”
“I wish—she probably knows several thousand.” At the mention of food, Lily’s stomach rumbled.
He pulled her to her feet. “Lunchtime, eh? Would you care to join us, Simone?”
“No, no.” She waved her hand dismissively. “I must mix both bottles for you and besides, I would not want to intrude on your tête-à-tête.” She stood and kissed Lily first on both cheeks, then Jack. She clasped his hand for a second. “Please take care of yourself, Jacques. You are very important to all of us.”
“As are you, Madame Simone.” He gave a quick bow and kissed the back of her hand. “Mmm, you smell wonderful.”
“Ah, Jacques, be gone.” She waved him away, laughing. “Come back later for your parfum.”
Jack took Lily’s hand and guided her out of the perfume lab. “Anything you want for lunch, it is yours.”
She looked up at him in worry. “Jack, we have to stop this crazy spending. Custom perfume and fancy lunches must be cutting into your budget. At least let me help. Since we’re staying at the guesthouse, I haven’t used the money I planned for the hostels.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and guided her down the crowded sidewalk. “You are a generous woman, chérie. But don’t worry about the money. I do still get my