approximately seven months, two weeks and three days’ time. Not that I’m counting.’
‘I expect regular updates,’ he said as he stared out over the wild Maracey valley. Gabrielle had warned him that there would be children. He was happy for her.
‘How’s the vineyard restoration going?’ she said.
‘The vineyard’s a mess,’ he said, looking around it.
‘And the prince thing?’
‘An even bigger ask.’
Gabrielle sighed. ‘The thing is, when I look at you I can see why Etienne came for you. I know you can do the things he asks of you. So does Etienne, I suspect. The thing is, will you?’
‘Is this a rhetorical question?’
‘Possibly. But feel free to answer it anyway. I’m curious.’
‘I don’t know what I plan to do,’ he admitted. ‘I haven’t made up my mind yet.’
‘Are you happy there?’
He didn’t know the answer to that question either. ‘Sometimes.’
Gabrielle sighed again. ‘Will you come and visit me soon?’
‘Yes.’ Finally a question that didn’t require major contemplation.
‘At Caverness?’
Rafael hesitated.
‘Or if not Caverness, you could stay at Hammerschmidt. The vineyard restoration is coming together beautifully, and we’re aiming to have most of the house restoration complete by the time the baby comes. Luc and I have decided to raise our family there. It’s different now, Rafael,’ said Gabrielle softly. ‘Champagne. The village. Even Caverness. Just come. Come now.’
‘Soon,’ he countered. He knew it was time. Ready or not, he had to see Simone again and deliver his apology. ‘How’s Simone?’ he asked gruffly.
‘Rafe…’ she said, and something in Gabrielle’s voice had every muscle in his body tensing. ‘There’s something I have to tell you. About Simone.’
‘Is she ill?’ he asked sharply.
‘No. Not exactly. Rafe…’ He could hear Gabrielle’s struggle to find the right words. She really didn’t want to deliver this news.
‘Just say it,’ he said.
‘I’m not the only one who’s expecting a baby around here, Rafael. Simone’s pregnant too.’
The view shimmered before clicking back into focus. Once. Twice. Like reality gone wrong. ‘Who’s the father?’
‘She doesn’t say.’
The next question lodged in his throat, as if by holding it back he could put a brake on where his thoughts might take him, but they were already there and he had to know. ‘When’s it due?’
‘Around the same date as mine. Rafael—’
‘Stop,’ he whispered.
‘Rafael, I’ve never seen Simone so broken. She doesn’t eat, she doesn’t sleep, she doesn’t even attend to her work. She just sits in the gardens of Caverness, and it’s almost as if she doesn’t even know that she’s there. As if she’s lost and can’t find her way home.’
‘Why are you telling me this?’ He knew why. Heaven help him, he knew why.
‘Because I love her. And because I think she loves you and is carrying your child and you don’t even know it.’
Rafael closed his eyes and forced air into his lungs. He didn’t know how much more he could take of this. Any of it.
‘How does it feel, Rafael?’ asked Gabrielle quietly. ‘To walk in your father’s shoes?’
RAFAEL stepped out of the car Etienne had loaned him and onto Champagne soil for the first time in nine long years. Caverness stood, as it had always stood, grey and forbidding, dominating the village below it as it had dominated him as a child. He’d sworn on his soul back then that he would never return to this place, but here he was and he could not regret it.
Some souls were more valuable than others.
He ran a hand through his hair, flexed his shoulders as if in preparation for battle, and headed for the kitchen door. He stopped abruptly, not knowing which door to use. Kitchen door or front door? Guest or family? Welcome or not?
He was spared further indecision when the kitchen door burst open and Gabrielle flew out, her face alight as she flung herself into his arms. ‘You came,’ she said as she covered his cheeks with kisses. ‘I knew you would.’
Luc appeared in the doorway, his stance relaxed but his expression guarded. Gabrielle herded Rafe towards the door. Luc headed down the steps and started towards them. Rafael met his gaze warily. He knew this man like a brother. He knew exactly how fierce Lucien could be in defence of the people he loved.
‘Gabrielle,’ he muttered. ‘Maybe you should go inside.’
‘Have a little faith,’ she whispered as she studied her husband. ‘Luc sees both sides of this mess.’
‘He has to do right by his sister. Honour demands it,’ murmured Rafe as he set Gabrielle firmly behind him. He didn’t think Gabrielle quite understood a brother’s feelings towards a man who would take a woman to his bed for the night and then walk away without a backward glance. No matter what his reasons for doing so.
‘If I didn’t love you, I’d kill you,’ said Luc simply as he stepped forward and drew Rafe into a fierce embrace. ‘I still might.’
‘You will not,’ said Gabrielle sternly. And as Rafael stepped out of Luc’s embrace, ‘We’ve been waiting for you to arrive for two days. What took you so long?’
‘I drove. I needed time to think.’
‘Told you,’ Luc said to his wife. ‘Pay up.’
‘Later,’ said Gabrielle. ‘You drove? You must be exhausted?’ She eyed him critically. ‘You are exhausted.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘Fatherhood’s going to suit you,’ murmured Luc.
‘It will.’ He exchanged another long glance with Luc.
‘Told you,’ Gabrielle said to her husband. ‘Pay up.’
‘Where is she?’ said Rafael. Much as he wanted their company, he wanted Simone’s more.
‘In the old orchard garden,’ said Gabrielle.
