She crosses her legs. “This is le milieu, baby. It’s just how it works.” Her gaze trails over me. “I’m not sure what I envy you more for, your ignorance or your freedom.”
I look away. How ironic. As for ignorance, there’s nothing to envy. She unknowingly takes the prize. She has no idea how wrong she is about my freedom.
“Hey.” She gets up and nudges my shoulder. “The men are smoking cigars in the study. They’ll be in there for a while. I can bum a cigarette from one of the guards. Want one?”
I think about the night Maxime had taken my virginity. “No, thank you.”
“Suit yourself.” She pushes off the wall. “Will you cover for me?”
“What should I say?”
“That I’m in the bathroom touching up my makeup or something.”
“Sure.”
She winks. “I love your outfit, by the way.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
Backtracking to the steps, she rambles off a number. “That’s my telephone number. Remember it. You’re going to need a friend to go shopping.” She salutes before cutting across the lawn to where a man stands guard.
I’m not ready to go back inside, but I’m cold. I leave the wine on the coffee table. Rubbing my arms, I go over to the mantelpiece and inspect the photos. Most of them are of a younger Sylvie and Noelle.
“Lunch is ready,” Noelle calls from somewhere in the house.
Maxime comes to find me, smelling of cigars and winter. He drags his nose through my hair. “What have you been doing with yourself?”
“I spoke to Sylvie.” I scan his face for his reaction.
“Good.”
“You’re not upset?”
He cups my neck and brushes his thumb over my nape. “Why would I be?”
“I didn’t think you’d want me to speak to your family.”
“Sylvie is a good girl.” He kisses my lips. “What I said about Alexis stands.”
“Where is he, by the way?”
His face darkens. “Miss him?”
“That’s not what I said. I was just wondering.”
“No need to waste your wonderings on my brother, little flower.”
Taking my hand, he leads me to the dining room. A table is set with the finest porcelain and crystal I’ve seen. I’m out of my depth, even more so when Hadrienne announces I’ll sit between Sylvie and Noelle, separated from Maxime.
I hold onto his hand when he moves to take his seat.
He looks at me. “What is it?”
“What are we eating?” I whisper.
He frowns. “Why?”
I look from under my lashes at the array of knives and forks next to each plate. “I’m not educated in all those eating utensils.”
A laugh bursts from his chest. It’s loud and uninhibited, and it makes everyone look at us, but he doesn’t seem to care.
Lowering his head to my ear, he says in a low voice, “Just follow my lead.”
Embarrassed about the room’s attention on us, I pull away to take my seat, but he holds me back.
“For the record, Zoe, you’re a little uncultured, but you’re not uneducated.”
Raphael clears his throat. My cheeks are hot when I take my seat. Cecile sits as straight as a statue, her eyes on her plate.
I don’t know how I get through the three hour-long, five course ordeal. The only people who speak to me are Maxime and Sylvie. The rest pretend I don’t exist. Still, they speak English, which leaves the two older men mostly quiet. The afternoon is a disaster. It was a mistake to bring me.
When the table is cleared, we move to the lounge for coffee. Noelle carries in the tray I’ve prepared.
“Oh, dear,” Cecile says, eyeing the tray.
Noelle giggles.
I look between them. “Is something wrong?”
Sylvie snatches up the sugar pot. “Nothing.” She disappears down the hallway and returns with a silver pot filled with sugar cubes.
“That’s such an Anglo Saxon thing,” Cecile says.
Hadrienne lights a cigarette. “Don’t get me started on the clothes.”
Maxime stands. “Emile, Hadrienne, thank you for lunch.”
“You’re leaving?” Hadrienne asks. “Already?”
Maxime takes my hand and helps me to my feet. “We have a long way home.”
It takes almost thirty minutes to say goodbye, and by the time we get in the car I’m emotionally exhausted. I don’t want to repeat one of these lunches any time soon.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Maxime asks as he turns the car onto the coastal road.
“It was nice meeting Sylvie.”
“I’ve been busy with work, but now that the deal’s done, we’ll go out more.” He takes my hand. “I promise.”
I give him a sideway glance. “You don’t have to make an effort. It’s not like we’re dating.”
“I said I’d look out for you if you behave, and you’ve been behaving very well.”
I scoff. “I’m glad you approve.”
“Don’t spoil it now.”
“I’ve been thinking.”
He smiles. “What has been going through my little flower’s mind?”
“I want to learn to speak French.”
He raises a brow. “I didn’t expect that.”
“Will you teach me?”
He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “I can do better. I’ll get you a tutor.”