My family had been nothing to hold up one’s head about, she meant. My father had been a martinet, bankrupting the estate and leaving it derelict. My cousin from Canada, who might or might not have a claim on the house—the courts would decide—now occupied it while I was kept by my second wife in homes belonging to her son.
Major Auberge, on the other hand, was the epitome of respectability, other than running off with other men’s wives, of course.
I wondered abruptly if Carlotta’s fear about bringing scandal upon Gabriella was tied to her guilt over abandoning me and unlawfully marrying Major Auberge. She’d had to keep up the pretense of faultless virtue, in case someone questioned the perfect life she’d built for herself.
Carlotta drew a breath to argue further, but I held up my hand to check her words. Gabriella and Emile were hastening from the back of the house, and I prayed they hadn’t heard us discussing them.
Emile gave no sign of it, though Gabriella had lost some of her brightness.
“Sir?” Emile asked in English. “Did you convince Captain Vernet to release Claude?”
“Shall we walk outside and discuss this?” I answered. “As my man pointed out, it is a fine evening.”
“Certainly,” Emile said before Carlotta could object. “Excuse me a moment, Madame Auberge. I really have been most concerned for my cousin. Excuse me, Gabriella.”
“I will walk with you,” Gabriella announced. The stubborn light in her eyes, so like what saw in my own every day, indicated she’d not be deterred.
I did not argue. I did not want the pair to begin married life by keeping secrets from each other.
Carlotta was clearly not happy that Gabriella stuck by her soon-to-be husband, and I could have uncharitably stated that she had never learned the habit of it, herself.
Then again, Carlotta had remained with Auberge all these years, so perhaps it was me she’d felt no loyalty to, not husbands in general.
Before I could utter anything unforgivable, I strode out of the house, slapping on my hat as I stepped into the cool evening air.
The sun was just slipping behind the hills, streaking the sky and its few clouds in scarlet and gold. Fields rippled across the land to lush woods on their edge, and the fresh scent of flowers from beds around the walkway scented the air.
It was a beautiful place, full of abundance, and it was no wonder Gabriella loved it so. I was glad, in spite of my anger at Carlotta, that she’d been able to grow up in such a setting.
We strolled a little way beyond the house, taking the path Gabriella had pointed out to Brewster, which wound up a gentle hill. Of Brewster, there was no sign.
Emile, oblivious to any discomfort of my past and present colliding, regarded me in both worry and hope while he waited for me to speak.
“Vernet will no doubt release Claude,” I told Emile as we walked. “He should be home soon, if he is not already.” I wondered if Claude would return home by himself or if his contingent of uncles and his father would escort him.
Emile exhaled in relief. “Thank you, Captain. I was certain you’d talk sense into Vernet. I am forever grateful, and I am certain Claude is as well.”
“I spoke at some length with Claude,” I said.
Emile’s sunny smile began to fade. “Did you? I—I thought you’d only see Vernet.”
I watched Emile closely. “Captain Vernet allowed me into Claude’s cell, and your cousin and I had an interesting conversation. Claude admitted that he’d been in a wine tavern earlier that night. And that he’d been seen arguing with Signor Gallo himself.”
“Ah.” Emile flushed. “Yes, I knew that. But Signor Gallo departed without him.”
“He did.” I slowed my steps, both to rest my leg and to fix Emile with a stern gaze. “I ascertained the second fact directly from the tavern keeper in La Guillotière.”
Emile’s uneasiness increased. “Did you?”
“Yes, the tavern keeper was very forthcoming.” I continued to study Emile, while he grew more and more flustered.
Gabriella regarded us both in worry. “What are you saying, Father?”
Emile turned quickly to her. “Perhaps you should return to the house, Gabriella.”
Gabriella lifted her chin with a hauteur worthy of Donata. “No indeed. I would like to hear the entire story. Did Claude scuffle with Signor Gallo? Is that the difficulty?”
“No, nothing of that sort.” I debated what to reveal, then decided that Gabriella ought to know what things Emile got up to. “The proprietor said you were there, Emile. With Claude. I’d like to know why you chose not to tell me this.”
