“Of course it does. That’s why I asked Etienne to come in my place and make my apologies in person. He texted me around six and told me all was well, adding, ‘She took my breath. How did you manage that, Dom?’”
Heat crept into those beautiful cheeks. “I realized something important had held you up.”
“Yesterday I had a phone call from my cousin Raoul. After living in a tumultuous marriage, he’s decided it has to end and has asked his wife for a divorce, grâce à Dieu. He should never have married her.”
“How sad.”
“I had to help him with some important business. You have no idea of the turmoil he’s been through.”
She breathed deeply. “More and more I’m relieved I ended it with Guy. Your cousin’s situation reminds me of what I avoided by not marrying him.”
Dominic wanted to believe her. He put down his coffee cup. “Raoul is my best friend and always has been. Over the last couple of years I’ve seen him so unhappy. His wife is making demands. I’m trying to help him. We didn’t get back from Nice until ten.”
“He’s lucky to have you.”
“One of these days his nightmare will be over. In the meantime he’s rooming with me in my apartment at the chateau.”
“Where does your cousin usually live?”
“In the other wing of the chateau.”
She blinked. “I know it’s massive, but you all live there together?”
His brows lifted. “A horrifying thought, isn’t it?”
“Only if you want to be private.”
Dominic smiled at her. “That’s why I lived in Paris for as long as I did.”
“But you came home once in a while.”
“Yes, for visits and vacations. If I decide to stay in Vence, then the day is coming when I’ll buy my own home. Raoul is planning to do the same thing. It’s just as well they’re separated until they go to court and a settlement is made.”
“I feel terrible for him. Did they love each other before they got married?”
“He’d been seeing her, but hadn’t proposed marriage though both their families wanted it desperately. One night he met a girl and overnight fell deeply in love with her, wanting marriage. But then came the news that Sabine was pregnant.
“Raoul had only slept with her once and regretted it before breaking it off with her. But hearing the news about Sabine’s pregnancy, he had to end his relationship with the woman he loved. At that point he did the noble thing and married Sabine. Sadly their baby died a month after she was born. He buried his heart with his little girl. Since the funeral there’s been an emptiness in him that worries me.”
“I can’t imagine so much pain.”
Their eyes held.
“You’re not a Fontesquieu,” Dominique murmured.
He noticed her shudder.
“Would you believe Etienne was pressured into his marriage at around the same time? He should have married a girl he was crazy about, but the family didn’t consider her good enough to marry and wouldn’t hear of it.”
She shook her head. “Does that mean he’s also on the verge of divorce?”
“It could happen, but they have a little girl, Sophie, to think of.”
She pushed herself away from the table to retrieve dessert from the counter.
“I shouldn’t have unburdened myself to you. You’re far too easy to talk to.”
“Please don’t say that. Your worries help me forget my own.” She brought the two tartes aux pommes to the table and sat down. “I’m curious about something. Since you all live at the chateau, are your offices there too?”