‘Luc.’
He raised his head and blinked as if he wasn’t sure what he was seeing.
‘Hattie? What are you doing here?’
‘I came to tell you I love you and I’m staying. Whether you like it or not.’
He stared at her. ‘Can you say that again?’
‘You heard me.’
‘I know but I just wanted to be sure.’
‘I’m sure. It took me a while to get here. Remember what you said to me the first time I saw you?’
Luc frowned, looking adorably confused.
‘You said, “Are you going to knock or just stand there all day, hoping the door will open by itself?” Today I realised that I need to get on and walk through the door instead of being a coward and walking away.’
‘What made you change your mind?’ asked Luc, as if he were worried that she might change it again.
‘Watching you get into the ambulance alone. I asked if you needed me and you said you’d be fine.’
‘I lied. I wanted you to come but I knew you’d be torn. I saw you taking care of him. Was that Chris? He looked in a bad way.’ Luc lifted his shoulders in a what-could-I-do shrug. ‘It wouldn’t have been right to make you chose. I love you. I want you to be happy. I want to look after you.’
She lifted a hand to cup his face and he turned his head to kiss her palm. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. What made you decide?’
‘Because you didn’t make me choose. You never tried to force the issue.’
‘Marthe said in the ambulance I didn’t fight hard enough for you.’ He swallowed. ‘I’ve grown up with the expectation that most people leave. Like the au pairs. My parents always did. I wasn’t important enough for them to ever change their plans.’
‘Not this time.’ She took his hand and laced her fingers through his. ‘I’ve got so much to stay for. You, Fliss, Solange, Alphonse, the château and the champagne.’
‘Well, the champagne is on hold for the time being but, like I said, I’m not giving up.’
She’d been thinking about this all the way here. ‘And you won’t have to. With a wedding and events business at the château, we’ll do our best to make enough money to buy the grapes from your father and outbid Roban. Maybe not this year, but next. Dorothea’s already going to tell all her Parisian friends about the château and put a piece in her magazine. Apparently she’s very well connected.’
Luc laughed. ‘Just a bit. You must have made a good impression. She’s an editor atParis Match. She knows—’
‘Monsieur Brémont,’ a voice called from the door. Luc’s grip tightened. ‘It’s the doctor.’
ChapterThirty-Nine
It took a second or two for Luc to round up his limbs. Swallowing the sharp acidic bite of fear, he rose, Hattie’s hand still in his. ‘Will you come with me?’ he whispered.
In answer she wrapped her arm around his and squeezed. ‘I’m right here.’
He bent to pick up the champagne.
Together, they crossed the floor towards the young doctor standing in the doorway through which Marthe had been rushed as soon as they’d arrived.
‘You’re here with Marthe Brémont?’ he asked, looking up from the clipboard he held in the crook of one arm. ‘I’m afraid it’s family only,’ he said, eyeing Hattie.
‘It’s all right. This is my wife,’ said Luc. Hattie didn’t so much as flinch, just gave his arm another quick squeeze and smiled beatifically at the doctor.
The doctor lifted one sceptical eyebrow and when Luc thought he might refuse to let them through, he said in a dry voice. ‘Congratulations. Come with me. Although I don’t think she’ll be needing the champagne this evening.’
