“We ate somesalade,” said Rosalyn, feeling like she was caught going off her diet by her mother.
Emma had no such guilt issues and waved her off. “Gaspard is running around with his new ladylove. Not to mention, the man has absolutely no say over our nutrition, or lack thereof. Rosalyn and I are from the colonies; we could live on popcorn and PowerBars for a year. It’s our superpower.”
Rosalyn smiled. “This is true.”
“However,” Emma added, “if it will ease your mind, know that I have no compunction about lying to Gaspard and saying we ate a sumptuous meal with you. Make up a menu and we’ll go with it.Steak frites, perhaps?”
“I madecoq au vinonce,” said Rosalyn, “in this very kitchen.”
Blondine pressed her lips together. Rosalyn imagined that on an older person, the gesture might seem bitter or angry, but on Blondine’s young face, it was adorable, somewhere between a pout and defiance.
“Did you want to go through more letters?” Rosalyn asked.
“No, I am just here to pick up some files from the office,” said Blondine. “I have to go visit some accounts tomorrow before the party.”
Rosalyn’s stomach fell at the reminder of the winemakers’ gathering tomorrow. Here was her chance to see the caves where Lucie had lived, but the thought of meeting all those people... At least now Emma would be going, she consoled herself.
“You have something to wear?” Blondine asked Rosalyn.
“Are you saying you don’t like my wardrobe?” Rosalyn asked with a slight smile.
“It’s a very nice event,” said Blondine. “Also, it is cold down there.”
“As a matter of fact, I brought a dress for such an occasion. In fact, I brought a few. I have a nice sweater I can pull on over it.” Rosalyn ran her hand through her hair. “But you don’t happen to know a decent hairdresser, do you? I didn’t get a chance to get my hair trimmed before leaving.”
“There is a woman who comes to houses and does it,” said Blondine.
“Hairdressers make house calls?”
“There’s a lot of that around here,” said Emma, “especially in the small towns. There aren’t many shop fronts, but lots of people have skills. They mostly work off the books, to avoid taxes.”
Blondine nodded. “But she’s out of town now.”
Of course she is,Rosalyn thought with a sigh.
“I could do it for you,” said Blondine, assessing Rosalyn’s hair.
“You could?”
“Do you trust her?” asked Emma.
Blondinetsked loudly, and Emma chuckled.
Before Rosalyn quite knew what was happening, she found herself wrapped in a towel and sitting on a tall stool in front of Blondine, who was armed with a comb and a huge pair of shears. Emma drank champagne, barking out the occasional piece of unnecessary advice, until Blondine stopped and yelled at her, making them all laugh.
With a start, Rosalyn realized it was the first time she had laughed like this since Dash died.
She felt disloyal. She felt relieved. And just as she had in the car, she felt a fleeting moment of... nothappiness, exactly.
But notunhappiness, either.
Chapter Thirty-two
Lucie
Laboring in the vines is hard work, but I relish the chance to leave the dank caves.
Unfortunately, we have to sneak out of the cellars under the cloak of night, so as not to attract the attention of the enemy. Still, breathing deeply of the damp soil, feeling the dew under our fingers, seeing the stars and moon overhead, make us feel alive again.
