***
Marian and Claire strolled down the street, their parasols shading them from the late afternoon sun. Marian’s thoughts kept returning to Nicole. She was expecting Jean’s baby and Marian felt sorry for the young woman and her unborn child. Marian had sought Nicole out to see if she could tell Marian anything that would help her learn why Jean married Nicole and Layla. Also to help her understand why Jean had sought other women, but the answers to Marian’s questions seemed to have been buried with Jean. Nicole was just as hurt and betrayed as Marian, if not more.
“You’re certainly quiet today,” Claire said as they walked away from the last dress shop they’d visited.
“I’ve had some things on my mind today is all,” Marian replied, not about to reveal Nicole’s confidence to her sister. “I went to see Nicole today.”
“Whatever for?” Claire asked.
Marian shrugged. “I needed to understand why Jean married her and Layla. I knew he didn’t love me, but still I needed to know if Nicole knew of a specific reason why he no longer found me attractive.”
Claire turned toward Marian, her brows drawn together in a frown. “You’re being ridiculous. It had nothing to do with you personally. Jean only thought of himself. What did she tell you?”
Marian shook her head. “You’re my sister, you’re prejudiced. My life with Jean left me feeling unattractive, unappealing, and matronly. I know I’m not as thin as I once was. I did put on some weight when I had the children, and I’m not a girl of eighteen anymore, but I don’t think I’m so ugly that a man would be frightened of me.”
“Dear sister, you are being ridiculous. Think of the man you married. He was a bastard.”
“Yes, even Nicole I believe is beginning to realize that Jean wasn’t the nicest of fellows. She feels more betrayed than I do. And I believe she has reason to feel that way. After all, if the man you thought you were happily married to died and you found out that you weren’t even his legal wife, but wife number two out of three! I can understand her feelings.”
Claire shook her head. “I don’t think it’s good for you to become friends with his other wives.”
“We’re not friends. But she and Layla are the only ones who understand even a fraction of how I feel regarding Jean.”
“You hadn’t loved Jean in years, it’s not your fault he found two other women,” Claire reassured.
“It’s odd, Claire, I just want to understand how this happened and why. If I know why then it can never happen to me again.”
“Oh tosh! You’re being silly. Jean made his choices in life. Good riddance, I say.”
“I wish it were that simple,” Marian said thinking of Nicole and her unborn child and her own fear that she was so unattractive that her dead husband sought other women to slake his desire. Jean’s only legacy was of pain and heartache.
The two women continued down the street on their way to a favorite restaurant. The face of the maitre d’hotel brightened at the sight of them and he hurried over to greet the two sisters.
“Mrs. Cuvier and Mrs. Bienvenu, how nice to see you again.” He smiled. “Your favorite table is available. Would you care for it?”
“Thank you,” Marian nodded and followed him to the little table situated close to the fountain in the courtyard. Water splashed down the stone statue, the gurgling noise peaceful and soothing.
After they ordered, Claire glanced at Marian. “You haven’t mentioned Mr. Fournet in days. I miss your tales of his attempts to rid the office of a woman.”
Marian sighed and wished her sister weren’t quite so perceptive sometimes. She hadn’t spoken to Louis since the night he’d come to the house at her bidding and they’d gotten into that terrible row.
“I haven’t spoken to him in several days. I didn’t go into the office today.”
“Why not?”
“I wanted to see Nicole and then ... I don’t know. I wasn’t quite ready to face him. We had an argument the other night when he came to the house.”
Claire put her menu down, her eyes questioning as she gazed at Marian.
“It was partly my fault.”
“I don’t think you’d say anything vile to the man. So what new trick is he up to?”
“Actually he’s been rather nice to me of late. You remember how Jean never included me in any of the decision-making for our family?”
“Yes, as his wife your place was to be seen and not heard.”
“Yes, well, Louis made some business decisions and forgot to tell me about them. I became upset even though he had made most of these resolutions before he accepted our partnership. I just kept thinking that his actions were exactly like Jean’s. And then I mentioned the fact that he’d known about Jean’s other women and never told me about that either.”
“Did you really expect him to?” Claire asked. “I mean men take up and cover for one another just like women do. So don’t you think your expectations were unrealistic? Did he even know you then, Marian?”
“I know. You’re right. Louis didn’t know me and he said that Jean’s affairs were none of his business. I thought it through later and realized I had overreacted, but I didn’t want to go back and tell him,” she admitted.
That evening as she had stood there staring at him in his tuxedo, she’d realized just how much she was attracted to this handsome man she shared a business with and she could think of nothing worse in this world at that moment.
“So what are you going to do?” Claire asked.
Their food arrived and spared Marian from having to answer right away. Claire waited for their waiter to walk away and then repeated the question, not giving up on obtaining Marian’s response.
“I’ll go back to the office tomorrow. I just took today off.” She sighed, her memory of his apology still amazing her. “And I guess I now owe him an apology. Do you know he actually told me he was sorry about what Jean had done to me and the other women? God, I was so mad at him and I didn’t want to like him, but he apologized and it—few men have ever done that to me.”
Claire smiled. “Are you certain you don’t like Louis a little more than you’re letting on?” She laughed. “I haven’t seen you this animated about a man since grade school.”
“Oh please, Claire! Don’t start this. I can honestly tell you that my intentions are to remain unmarried and focus on this business and my children. I am not going to be involved with a man again.”
“You know it’s really all right if you wanted to. You married Jean so young. If you found the right man and married for love this time, it could be different.”
“How can you say that? Haven’t you been listening? I don’t want another man in my life again. And besides I couldn’t keep Jean interested in me, how would I keep a man like Mr. Fournet attracted?”
Claire looked at her. “You know Marian, I don’t think the problem was with you, but rather Jean. You could have danced naked around Jean’s bed and he would have found some excuse to go to another woman. You are a beautiful woman. You could have more children!”
Marian felt her face flame with embarrassment. “Claire watch your language. We are in a public restaurant and I would appreciate your not talking about me dancing around any man’s bed naked.”
“Oh all right, but it’s true.”
“Finish your lunch, I need to get home.”
“I will, but I still think there is more going on inside that devious mind of yours regarding Louis Fournet. I just don’t think you’re ready to admit to it, even to yourself.”
Marian glanced away from the table and ignored her sister’s comment. She would not admit or deny anything else Claire said about Louis Fournet. No matter how much she ignored her attraction to the handsome man, she knew she was losing the battle. Even though they argued the other night, his apology had stunned her...
For the first time in more years than she cared to admit, she found a man attractive. She wanted him and that both infuriated and tantalized her. But she wasn’t willing to ma
rry any man again. Especially not the handsome Mr. Fournet, no matter how much he apologized.
Wronged (Book 1) Page 26