Bartholomew Clark snapped his fingers. “I know where I’ve heard of Monaco before. That’s where that Cary Grant movie,To Catch a Thief,was filmed. I’m a big Cary Grant fan. I’ve seen all his movies. Nowhewas anactor.”
Max’s toe caught a root in the soil and he nearly fell on his face. Yes, Cary Grant had starred inTo Catch A Thief.
And so had his grandmother, Grace Kelly.“That was a great movie.”
Casimir and Arthur, who’d been walking ahead of them, turned back. They both crossed their arms and watched Maxence.
“What?”Max asked them.
The two of them didn’t speak but just kept looking between Maxence and Bartholomew Clark expectantly.
Bartholomew had picked up on it, because of course, he had. They were being so obvious that Dree’s old dog in the dog bed in the corner of the kitchen could have picked up that they were hinting at something. He asked, “Something going on?”
Dree had told Max not to tell her family about the royal thing, so Max had to trust that she knew what was best.
Maxence said, “My grandparents met while that movie was being filmed. My grandfather was from Monaco, and my grandmother was an American working on the film.”
“Your grandmother was American?” Bartholomew asked, his smile broadening.
“She was born in Pennsylvania and had been living in California, working in the film industry.”
“Did she get to meetCary Grant?”Bartholomew asked, his light eyes widening.
Oh, yes.“I believe she must have.”
“Well, that’s just wonderful. We’ll try not to hold living in California against her.” Bartholomew reached up and clamped his big rough hand on Maxence’s shoulder, shaking him around a little. “I didn’t know your grandmother was American. That’s all well and good. What did your grandfather do for a living?”
“He worked for the government, too.”
They all started walking back to the house again.
Maxence raised his eyebrows at Casimir and Arthur because their sabotage attempt had backfired.
Just as they started back again, Bartholomew grumbled, “You are going to get her a proper ring, aren’t you?”
Casimir and Arthur turned around. Arthur clapped his hand over his open mouth, lest he laugh out loud at that.
Maxence paused. “I beg your pardon?”
Bartholomew grimaced at him. “That chunk of plastic on her finger can’t be real. You get my daughter a nice diamond for her engagement ring, not some piece of cubic zirconia horse-hockey. Three months’ income, Maxence. That’s what I want to see on her finger.”
His grandmother, Grace Kelly, had owned two engagement rings, the one he’d given Dree, and a ruby and diamond eternity ring in the colors of Monaco. His grandfather had given Grace the eternity band first, and then he’d bought the ten-carat Cartier white diamond when she’d needed a prop forHigh Society,her final film before she’d married.
Maxence said, “Of course, sir. It’s a family tradition to have two engagement rings. I think my grandfather would be pleased if it happened again.”
“I knew you two were already engaged when you walked in, no matter how she tried to hide the ring under the table,” Bartholomew said, hiking through the tall grass. He clapped Max on the shoulder. “At least you did the right thing eventually. We’ll get along fine, I think, Maxence.”
“I’m glad, sir.”
He really was.
Chapter Eighteen
Barn
Maxence
The rest of the afternoon and evening was uneventful, thank Mary and all the saints. No additional talk of Monaco, Grace Kelly, or royal things occurred.
