He’d been thinking that for days now and took her back to the car. Before starting the engine, Raoul took a deep breath. “I have a lot of work to do, which will help me stay away from you tomorrow. As for tonight, it’s getting late. I’m going to take you back to the apartment and we won’t be seeing each other again until Thursday morning.”
She chuckled. “I didn’t know you were so old-fashioned about not seeing the bride before the wedding.”
“Surely you realize I have to let you go right now because I don’t trust myself to be around you any longer. At 6:30 a.m. Thursday, my assistant, Félix, will come for you in his car.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Gossip will follow that you’re moving out of the apartment for good. Which you are. He’ll load your luggage and everything you’ve bought. Be sure to wear something to suggest you’re dressed to travel. He’ll drive you to the helipad beyond the château and my pilot will fly you to a hotel in Dijon where I’ll be waiting.”
“So this is it?” The disappointment in her eyes made him want to drive into the night with her and never return.
“It would be a mistake to touch you again once we get back to the estate. Just remember that the next time we do this, you’ll be my wife.” On that fierce note he leaned toward her and kissed her fully, losing himself in the love this magnificent woman miraculously returned.
* * *
Raoul saw Abby to the door of her apartment with her things, but he didn’t reach for her. She trembled uncontrollably when she heard him drive away.
Everything had to be kept secret. It seemed wrong, but her mother thought it was best and she had to trust Raoul that this was the only way for them. As soon as they were married, they’d go immediately to the château and announce it to his family in his grandparents’ suite.
Trying to throw off her worry, she took out her dress and opened the other bags. She wished her friends were here to see the knee-length white lace dress and celebrate with her.
Abby hadn’t planned to tell them until after the wedding, but she was too excited to hold back. Since it was late, she texted both of them and to let them know what was going on before she went to bed.
When morning came she still hadn’t heard back from them. Afraid that Raoul might send a maid with her breakfast, she repacked everything and put it out of sight. Since she couldn’t stand to be alone with her thoughts any longer, she looked up some addresses in Dijon, then phoned for a taxi.
After it arrived, she asked the driver to take her to the jewelry store address on her list. It was very small and they spoke English. For the next hour she looked at all the men’s wedding bands. “Do you have any special, unique kinds of bands?”
The jeweler brought out another tray. When she saw the yellow gold one with a small cluster of round purple jewels in the center, she knew she’d found what she wanted. “This looks like it was made for a vintner.”
“Indeed it was.” The jeweler looked pleased. “I’ve been wondering when someone would buy it.”
She smiled. “I think it’s been waiting for me. What’s the price?”
When he told her, she blinked. It would take all the money she’d planned to spend on her vacation, but she decided it didn’t matter because she only intended to be married once. She could never do enough for Raoul to show him how much she loved him.
“Will you engrave something for me on the inside?”
“Bien sûr.” He handed her a pad and pencil.
Abby printed the words for my beloved in French and the date of the wedding.
Mon bien-aimé, le 9 juin.
“It won’t be ready for a couple of hours.”
“Then I’ll be back.” She paid him with her credit
card and left to get lunch at a café she’d seen around the corner on her way here. Once she’d given her order, her phone rang. Her pulse raced, thinking it was Raoul. But when she pulled it out of her purse, she saw the caller ID and answered.
“Zoe?”
“So you’re really going to do it!” she blurted first thing.
“Yes.”
“Without giving me or Ginger a chance to be there?”
“We’ll get married again in church in front of all our family and friends, but we have to be married civilly first.” She gripped the phone tighter. “Do you think I’m crazy?”