But Hector had not been long at his post when he heard a couple of ladies commenting that Mrs. In his excitement, he arrived unfashionably early, not wishing to miss Valérie, and after greeting his host had positioned himself strategically so that he could watch every elegant guest who entered the vast ballroom. White gloves and mother-of-pearl studs completed the ensemble. Hector had dressed according to the weight of the occasion in a new double-breasted black dress coat, white shirt, and a white bow tie. He had no direct connection to the De Villiers-or hardly anyone else in Loisail, for that matter, having spent the past ten years abroad-but he did know Étienne Lémy, who was able to secure him an invitation. He was glad to discover she was in Loisail and, moreover, that she would be at the ball thrown by the De Villiers. The first thing he’d done upon disembarking was to make discreet inquiries about the whereabouts of the lady. He knew no one here except for Étienne and Luc, and he was waiting with breathless expectation for the arrival of Valérie Beaulieu. He had attended many glittering balls, but none in this city.
The revelers might as well have been wild animals ready to tear off a chunk of his flesh.Īs Hector watched from a corner of the room, ladies and gentlemen partnered to dance, women fanned themselves and smiled, and men greeted each other with a tilt of the head. Hector was like a castaway who had washed up on a room of velvet curtains and marble floors. Please enjoy this excerpt of The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, on sale. The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.īut great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina - and himself-that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences.
When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis-neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse-and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a sweeping romance with a dash of magic.
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