Excerpt from The Countess de Mondeau

Hi, I’m Ben Leyb, and here’s an excerpt from my novel The Countess de Mondeau, just out from Eirelander Publishing.

http://www.eirelander-publishing.com/thecountessdemondeau.htm

Excerpt from The Countess de Mondeau by Ben Leyb
© 2010 by Ben Leyb

“Mademoiselle Kerlec, we are grateful for your visit.”
“Her Excellency is kind to invite us.” Cecile half-dropped a curtsy.
“We don’t use those ridiculous titles here.” The countess waved her hand as if to banish such nonsense from her presence. “Call me Amandine. And have one of these delicious tartes aux fruits that my cook made. No, have two.” She stopped the heavy-set, blonde serving-woman who was passing around a silver tray and Cecile selected a tiny apricot dessert in a circle of scalloped paper.
Edouard couldn’t help but notice that the countess had her blue dress cut low all around, exposing all of her lovely pale neck and shoulders. What looked like a mere suggestion of sleeves barely covered a portion of her thin upper arm. The dress allowed a generous decolletage to peek from her neckline. The countess is not at all deficient in that area, Edouard remarked to himself.
“We’ll start the program in a little while,” Amandine said, “as soon as people have had dessert and a bit of amaretto to loosen their tongues. I love a good argument, don’t you?”
“I suppose I do,” Edouard said, admiring her boldness.

***END EXCERPT