“We are three fortunate women,” her grand-mère said, “despite how the two of you counted on your hearts winning over rakes who could as easily have left you stranded.”
Serena and her mother stared at one another, then smiled.How wonderful to have beaten the odds!
“How did you meet Pépère?” she asked Adèle.
“The old-fashioned way. My parents made an arrangement with Henri’s parents.”
The notion of a forced engagement seemed terrifying, but Serena knew it had been commonplace.
“Of course, we met secretly to make sure we were suitable,” Mémère added off-handedly. “Otherwise, by mutual agreement, one of us would have done something to cause the wedding’s cancellation.”
Serena’s mother burst out laughing. Then she asked, “Such as what exactly?”
Adèle shrugged, blushing a little. “He would have been found publicly in the embrace of someone else. Or I would,” she said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “As the fates would have it, we liked each other on sight, and his embrace interested me more than any other.”
Serena admired her grandparents’ plan of escape had they not suited one another.
The door opened, and the men strolled in, each taking a seat beside the woman he loved.
“That was the quickest cigar you have ever smoked,” Hélène said to her husband.
“It’s Branley’s fault,” Serena’s father declared. “He couldn’t wait to rejoin the company of our daughter.”
“How sweet.” This from her grand-mère, who continued to dunk her biscuits, receiving amused glances from Pépère until she stuck one in his mouth.
“I hope never to be out of her company for very long,” Malcolm said. “No more trips to France or Belgium or Russia for me.”
Her grand-père coughed.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with France,” Malcolm hurriedly added. “I meant no moreassignmentsto the Continent. Most assuredly, we’ll visit. Yearly, if it suits you. Or more often whenever possible.”
Serena put her hand over his to shut him up before he agreed they should move back to Paris permanently.
“Any regrets about giving your resignation to the Crown?” her father asked his future son-in-law.
“None whatsoever.” Malcolm glanced fondly at Serena, then he spoiled the romantic moment by adding, “Better to be henpecked by a wife than shot at by a soldier.”
Luckily, the notion of bossing him around amused her enough not to be insulted, but the other men laughed a little too hard.
“Actually, I do have a regret, come to think of it.”
Malcolm’s words surprised her, and she leaned forward. The anticipation from herself and her loved ones was palpable.What could this successful man with a distinguished career, a fortune, an upcoming title, and now a fiancée possibly regret?
“In my years of service, I never managed to meet the renowned Fox. Some think maybe he doesn’t really exist but rather is a composite of more than one Parisianintelligencier, a group of spies in one. Regardless, I would like to have known such a character, if he existed.”
First Serena’s mother, then her father, and then her grand-père began to laugh.
“Why is that so funny?” Malcolm demanded.
Serena glanced at the other members of her family, until Mémère nodded.
“You did meet the Fox, as you call the famous spy,” Serena said. “I promise you.”
Malcolm cocked his head, and then he looked around the room. She could see it was dawning on him, and yet when he turned to her, he asked, “You?”
The room exploded in laughter again.
“Well, her hairisred like a fox,” Malcolm explained, his face flushing to match at his ridiculous guess. “But I know she is too young. Still, she was so helpful in Paris, I just thought for a minute...,” he trailed off.
