“So he takes it out on you. What was his excuse before he was afflicted?”
Raoul rubbed the back of his neck. She doubted he’d ever been asked that question before. “That my grandfather was still looked to as the true head.”
“And now it’s the way everyone looks to you.” They stared at each other. “You rarely talk about your mother.”
“She’s lives for my father and what he decides. If she’s ever defied him, I don’t remember it. I’m sure she loves me and my siblings in her own way, but it has always been clear our father came first with her. I learned early that trying to appeal to her for something that went against my father’s wishes fell on deaf ears.”
On that note he started for the door. “We’ll have to talk later. I don’t know how long this will take, but I’ll call you.”
She followed him. “I’ll find a way to stay busy.”
He left without kissing her. Since leaving the cemetery his behavior had changed. For the time being she was helpless to do anything about it.
* * *
Raoul left her apartment and drove to the château. His parents’ suite was on the second floor in the opposite wing from his grandparents.
“Maman.” He kissed her cheek after entering their salon.
“Now that you’ve come, I’ll be in the garden.”
Maman was too thin, but with her strawberry blond hair and fine features, she was still attractive. He watched her leave the room like the good wife his father had trained her to be. Jean-Marc stood near the fireplace with a foul expression on his face.
Their uncle Pierre, filled with resentment to have to be in this situation at all, sat in a chair across from their father whose wheelchair had been rolled in. He couldn’t manage it alone. Josette and Paul sat on the couch.
Raoul lounged against the wall and looked at his father. “What is it you want to say?”
“Jean-Marc has undermined Pierre twice on prices to foreign buyers.”
“Because they’re too high!” his brother argued. In principle he was right, but the Vosne-Romanée wine region would always demand the highest prices.
“Did you hear that?” his father almost shouted. “This can’t go on. I won’t allow it. You said you had an idea.”
His father wouldn’t be happy, but Raoul had to try for all their sakes. “Forget what’s happened in the past. Jean-Marc has always been very good with people. He knows how to handle them. If you want my opinion, he should be working where he can do the most good.”
With that remark, surprise broke out on his brother’s face.
“Go on,” his father barked.
“Pierre and Grégoire see eye to eye. Why not let father and son work together from now on? I’d like to pull Jean-Marc from the exporting department and give him a new position that’s been needed for a long time.”
“What do you mean?” His father always seemed to growl.
“For want of a better word, let him be the concierge of the estate with an office in the main building of the domaine. We’ve never had an official one, but I believe it’s time to make some important changes. We need someone to meet and greet, to act as a liaison for all the different aspects of the business.”
“That’s part of your job as CEO,” he fired at Raoul.
“When you can find me.” He shook his head. “I have other concerns to do with our investments that require my full attention these days. Jean-Marc and I learned the business from you. No one knows more about our history than he does. He’d be our most valuable asset.”
For once his father didn’t have a comeback.
“I recommend that he and Grégoire start their new jobs today. Then everyone should be happy. Now you’ll all have to excuse me.”
“Where are you going?”
He glanced at his brother-in-law. “I was hoping to have a business conference with Paul. Are you free now?”
Paul eyed him in surprise. “Of course.”
“Good. Then I’ll leave it to you to sort everything else out, Papa.”
“I want an answer to a question before you go. How soon will the American be leaving?”
His father couldn’t resist. “You asked me that before. Remember she and her friends were cheated out of their vacation in Switzerland because Auguste’s estate had to be sold. She’s still not through sightseeing.” How he enjoyed saying that. “À bientôt.”
He left the room with Paul and they drove away from the château.
* * *
Abby had no idea how long Raoul would be. Since she had the afternoon ahead of her, she decided to go for a walk through the vineyards.
The sky had darkened by the time she stepped outside moments later. Not used to the climate yet, she couldn’t tell if it might rain later. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to explore for as long, but it didn’t matter. She started out on the main road, then took a different road to the left. The workers were already out. Some waved to her and she waved back.
Every so often she passed little huts or shacks. There were a couple of men in pants and work shirts talking outside the third one. They eyed her with unmistakable male interest.
“Eh, bien. Mademoiselle Grant.”
“Oh—Jean-Marc!”
He turned to the other man who seemed close to his age. “Gilles? This is the Americaine I was telling you about who’s visiting the domaine.”
The other guy flashed her a smile. “You’re the one from California.” He spoke with a heavy French accent. “I saw you with Raoul at the dinner last night.”
She nodded. “He thought I’d enjoy seeing what goes on in the world of a vintner.”
His eyes squinted at her. “How do you like it so far?”
“I’m still trying to take it all in.”
Gilles smiled. “I’d be happy to show you more after work.”
With that comment, Jean-Marc moved closer to her. “I’m free now and will do the honors. We’ll talk
