‘He has a lot of work at the moment and he can do that here.’ Imogen had been surprised to discover the rear of the château accommodated offices for staff involved in running the Girard family’s commercial interests. It was there Thierry spent his days, often working late, though always coming to share meals with her.
‘Nevertheless, a bride should expect more of her husband. I’ll speak with him.’
Startled, Imogen saw a flash of something like disapproval in the older woman’s eyes. On her behalf?
‘No! Please, don’t. We’re content as we are.’ The thought of Thierry’s grandmother telling him he had to spend more time with her...
‘Content? What is that? Have you no passion, girl? No fire?’
Imogen drew herself up. ‘It’s not a matter of passion. It’s a matter of common sense. Anyone can see Thierry has a lot on his mind right now.’
And she’d added to his burdens. It was only since she’d returned to Paris that she’d begun to realise how hard he worked. When he’d been with her before, she’d seen only the carefree side of him, the man who revelled in seeing her pleasure at her first hot-air balloon ride, or tasting her first glass of champagne.
‘You’re willing to take second place to business while he does so?’
‘I have no complaints. Thierry has responsibilities and I knew that when we married.’
‘The marriage was very sudden.’ Those dark eyes glinted. ‘Thierry didn’t tell me exactly how long you’ve known each other but I don’t recall him mentioning your name in the past.’
Imogen stared straight back at her interrogator. ‘It was a whirlwind romance.’
‘I see.’ She sounded as if she didn’t like what she saw. ‘So, perhaps you have mutual friends. Is that how you met? You moved in the same circles?’ Her gaze skated over Imogen’s rumpled clothes.
Imogen held the basket close, as if that could protect her from the other woman’s curiosity. If only she’d been warned of the visit, she’d have dressed up. Which was probably precisely why they’d had no warning. Thierry’s grandmother struck her as a very canny woman.
‘No, we don’t have any mutual friends. We met by chance at a party in Paris and...’
‘And he swept you off your feet?’
Imogen shrugged, ignoring the trace of a blush she felt in her cheeks. ‘Something like that.’ Deliberately, she held the older woman’s gaze.
‘I see.’ Madame Girard tilted her head as if to get a better view of her. ‘And your work? Do you have a job?’
Imogen’s hands tightened on the basket but she drew a slow breath and released it, reminding herself it was natural Thierry’s grandmother wanted to know these things. Did she think Imogen was unemployed, looking for someone to sponge off? One thing was for sure, she wouldn’t mistake her for one of the idle rich, not in these clothes.
‘I’m an accountant. From Australia. I was visiting Paris on holiday.’
‘Where you met my grandson, had a passionate affair and found yourself pregnant.’
Imogen’s breath hissed in and for a moment she felt the world wobble around her.
‘Come! You need to sit.’ A surprisingly firm hand gripped her upper arm, guiding her back down to the seat.
‘That’s better.’ Madame Girard took the seat beside her. ‘I don’t have any patience with this fainting nonsense.’
‘Good.’ Imogen lifted her chin. ‘Because I don’t faint.’
To her amazement the other woman chuckled. The sound was unexpectedly rich and appealing. ‘I’m very glad to hear it.’ Then she nodded. ‘With some coaching, you might even do for him very well.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Imogen stared, torn between relief and offence.
‘Your clothes, your lack of French... We’ll have to work on both if you’re to take your place beside Thierry.’
Imogen blinked at the ‘we’. His grandmother intended to coach her? Or had pregnancy hormones made Imogen lose the thread of the conversation?
‘How did you know I was pregnant?’
‘Jeanne, of course. She’s been at the château for years. As soon as she realised...’ Madame Girard gave a fluid shrug. ‘Of course she contacted me.’
‘Of course.’ Imogen paused, caught up in an unexpected tide of relief that she had one less secret to keep from this formidable lady. More than that, sharing the news with another woman made her feel less alone. So often she wished her mother was alive to talk to about the pregnancy. She had so many hopes and fears for this baby.