“I had no idea that’s what you were thinking about when you got out of that old black car. Thank you for bringing me here to meet your grandparents. I loved seeing Byron’s work in his own handwriting. It was a moment I’ll never forget. Please know your grandfather’s secret is safe with me.”
“You’re not going to tell your coworkers?”
“Much as I would love to claim I’d come across something of great worth from Byron, in this case it’s not my secret to give away, not even to my friends. You told me your grandfather has kept this quiet all these years. It’s his secret to keep.
“To be honest, it means much more to me to meet the two people who’ve had such a great impact on your life.”
“As long as you don’t think I’m the con artist par excellence, I’ll sleep better tonight.”
“Raoul—” She leaned across the seat and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for today, for everything. I’ll cherish these moments and this book forever.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “I’ve done my part, but we haven’t talked about your flight to Venice. Have you booked it yet?”
She fought to stifle the pounding of her heart. “No. I didn’t know how long we’d be with your grandparents.” The thought of leaving him was too painful to consider.
“In that case, would you be willing to attend a funeral service with me first? It starts at noon. I’d rather not go alone. We’ll deal with your flight after.”
She couldn’t think about leaving right now. “That’s why you’re dressed in black!”
“Yes. It’s for one of the estate employees.”
Maybe heaven had heard her because she’d been given a reprieve. “After what you’ve done for me, how could I turn you down?” she answered without hesitation. Besides wanting to be with him, she knew any funeral would be painful for him to get through. If it helped him to be with her, it was the least she could do when he’d given her a gift beyond price.
He kissed her hungrily. “Do you have something black you can wear?”
Abby nodded. “One all-purpose black dress in my small, pitiful wardrobe.”
“Then I’ll drive you to your apartment and wait while you change.”
She slid back to the passenger side, dying inside because he’d been the one to ask her if she’d booked her flight to Italy yet. He’d brought the subject up first. Did it mean he was prepared to let her go? It hit her hard that leaving him was the last thing she wanted to do. Abby was in terrible trouble.
CHAPTER SIX
WHILE RAOUL SAT in his car in front of Abby’s apartment, his cell phone rang. His brows furrowed to discover it was his brother. He picked up.
“Jean-Marc?”
“Rumors are that you haven’t phoned Solange about tonight’s dinner since you got back from Switzerland!” he blurted without preamble.
Raoul’s hand tightened around his phone. “Now that you’ve gotten that off your chest, did you see the text I sent you earlier?”
“I haven’t checked my messages.”
“Then you need to. Since I’m busy, you and Josette will have to take the parents to the Laroche funeral at the church today. It starts at noon, so plan ahead to make certain father’s wheelchair is put close to the front before the priest begins the service. The flowers have been taken care of. À bientôt.”
In a few minutes Abby emerged from the petit château. At her appearance he drew in a deep breath. The female lines and curves of her figure were made for the simple short-sleeved black dress that fell to her knee. In the darkest room, her hair and eyes would gleam gold and green fire.
He got out to help her into the car. If he didn’t suppress the urge to devour her mouth, they would never make it to the funeral. In moments, they headed for the local church.
“Who is the person who passed away?”
“André Laroche. He’s been our director of viticulture for sixty years and died at eighty-three. He left a widow, three children and four grandchildren.”
“How hard for them. What did he do exactly? That’s a long time to carry out one job.”
“He managed multiple terroirs, a difficult task.”
“It’s a coveted position, right?”
Raoul nodded.
“I presume there are many others who would like to step into his shoes.”
“You have no idea.”
“Then you’re going to miss him terribly.”
Abby had amazing insight and compassion. “His sons have helped him, but he’s virtually irreplaceable. Still, he has one grandson with a feel for the terroirs. Working with his grandfather has helped him to understand climate, soil type and geomorphology. Not everyone is gifted with that sensibility. I have great hopes for him and am grooming him to take over.”
“Did André know you wanted his grandson to replace him one day?”
“I assured him of it last month after he’d been put on bed rest for failing kidneys. His heart attack happened after that.”
“Oh, the poor thing. But to give him that news was a great compliment and must have thrilled him. You helped him die a happy man.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
Raoul swallowed hard and clung to her hand. Before long the church came into sight. Already a large crowd had gathered. He found a spot and parked the car. “Stay by me today.”
She darted him a puzzled glance. “Where else would I go?”
“One of the relatives might try to take you aside.”
“Don’t worry,” she murmured, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
“We’ll go in now and pay our respects to his family before the funeral starts.”
She held on to his arm as they lined up behind the people and waited their turn to enter the nave. If this hadn’t been such a solemn occasion, he would have laughed to see the way every eye in this closed, provincial group of mourners stared at him and Abby.
He saw shock and disbelief in every expression. Angélique had been his duchesse-to-be, revered in their elite community. To see him bring another woman to an occasion not
