I tried a new tack. “Roux, it’s Sunday. Your only day off. Why don’t you enjoy it?” I motioned toward the stables, where he devoted every free moment to repairing our vintage Jaguar. “You could spend your day there.”
He socked me with a dark look. “Yes. I could.”
“So, go. I promise, I won’t tell Mina.” When he gave me a strange look, I snorted. “I know she’s making you follow me for protection, but it really isn’t necessary.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it and thought a while.
“It’s not safe out there. Anything could happen.”
I dropped my head against the steering wheel and kept it there.
Roux didn’t say a word. Nor did he exit the car.
“Fine.” I straightened in a huff. If he was so dedicated to making my life miserable, he would have to deal.
I sped down the driveway and swung onto the village road. The force of the turn threw Roux my way, and our shoulders brushed.
Zing!More static electricity.
I shot him an angry look and raced on.
Roux glanced around as we passed Auberre’s bakery, church, and war memorial, but he didn’t say a word. He didn’t say anything when we passed the next two villages either, but he did look perplexed when we passed the localhypermarchéwithout stopping.
“Where exactly is this small errand?” he finally asked.
I kept my eyes straight ahead. “Paris.”
He whipped around. “Paris?”
I nodded firmly.
“How is that a small errand?”
“It is small,” I reasoned. “It’s just far away.”
He stared at me suspiciously. “And what exactly do you plan to do in Paris?”
“Oh, you know. Walk along the Seine. Check out a few bookshops. Pop in to see Gordon…”
“Oh no. Absolutely not. Out of the question.” He motioned for me to pull over.
I did not.
“I have to go. I’ve been promising him for weeks.”
“Promise a little longer.”
I shook my head. “Why put it off?”
He snorted. “You mean, why wait for a time when your sister could talk some sense into you?”
“That too,” I muttered.
He huffed. “Your logic is faulty, and that’s putting it politely.”
A fair point, and I knew it. Still, I shook my head. “Gordon is my godfather. He’s looked out for us for years. I can’t just ghost him.”
“He’s a crook and a liar, and he’s used you.”
