Forbidden French

Fay Davenport’s home is as impressive as I assumed it would be. Right in the heart of Boston, the historical property has been restored and well cared for. When I knock on the front door the day after Christmas, a butler greets me.

“May I help you?” he asks with a heavy air of formality.

“Yes. I’m Emmett Mercier, a friend of Lainey’s. I was hoping to have a word with her.”

He looks unimpressed, inspecting me down the bridge of his nose. “She’s not in residence.”

I hear a familiar scornful voice behind him. “Who is it, Jacobs? Who could be rude enough to pay us a call the day after Christmas at such an early hour?”

Fay Davenport appears behind her butler with a sharply disapproving expression, but as soon as she sees me standing on her doorstep, her glare cools. In fact, she almost looks pleased.

“Ah, Jacobs, no need to block his way—this is Lainey’s betrothed.” She motions me forward impatiently. “Come in already. It’s freezing cold out there, and you’re letting all of my warm air out.”

Jacobs steps back to allow my entry, and then I’m led down the hall to a formal sitting room where Fay takes a seat on a couch and beckons for me to sit across from her.

“Coffee? Tea?”

“Coffee, please. Black.”

She nods to the butler at the door. “Make it two cups, Jacobs. Extra sugar for me. Thank you.”

Once he’s off preparing our coffees, Fay focuses her astute gaze on me.

“So you’ve come to see my granddaughter?”

“I’d like a word with her, yes.”

“After the stunt you pulled at dinner, I would think you’d want a bit more than a word.”

I almost chuckle.

“Yes, I think you’re right. She isn’t home?”

“Gone on a walk. I have no idea when she’ll be back. I’m afraid you’ll have to keep company with me instead.”

I’m not entirely sure if I mind that or not. I’m more than a little intrigued by Lainey’s grandmother.

She rests her hands primly on her lap. “If you’ve come to ensure she’s called off the engagement, there’s no need to bother. She seems to have already moved on.”

“That was rather quick…”

“Yes, well, it was all for show now, wasn’t it? It’s not as if she had developed real feelings for you.”

“You sound so confident of that.”

“I know my granddaughter.”

“I’d like to think I know her well too.”

Her brows arch in contradiction. “And yet you treated her with so little regard these last few months? I feared the day she would encounter a man like you. They had a word for it back in my day.”

I can barely hold back my smile. “I’d like to hear it.”

“A rake, my dear boy, and you’d better cover that smile. There’s no need to look so proud about it.”

“I only think it’s funny that you have me pegged so incorrectly.”

“Tell me where I’m wrong and I’ll gladly eat crow.”

“I care for your granddaughter.”

She rolls her eyes as if she doesn’t believe me, and I decide I might find better success with a different approach.

“Did you marry Lainey’s grandfather because you loved him or because it was expected of you?”

Her shoulders stiffen. “It was a different time…”

I sit quietly, making it clear she hasn’t answered my question.

She continues impatiently. “My marriage was arranged, and to be frank, it was the last thing I wanted, but I placed duty above self-interest, and I have no regrets about that.”

“I respect that, but I could never do the same.”

“Marry someone you didn’t love?”

I balk at the idea. “Never.”

“So that was the issue with your betrothal to Lainey?”

“Not at all.”

She frowns then, annoyance evident across her face.

“Stop circling the truth and spit it out.”

“I think it would be best if I spoke to Lainey first.” I stand up and apologize for the quick visit.

Jacobs hasn’t even returned with the coffees, but if Lainey isn’t here, I see no reason to stay.

“Please tell her I stopped by.”