Jean Marc leaned back in his chair. “Mydear Juliette, those damned Jacobins have taken over the government and I’m trying to keep them from stealing everything I own.” He smiled. “However, I didn’t realize I’d been missed. Perhaps if you’d saids’il vous plaît, Jean Marc, I would have—”
“I believe Catherine’s with child.”
Jean Marc went still. “No.”
“I am afraid it is so. She’s not had her flux due a fortnight ago. At first I couldn’t believe it.” Juliette smiled bitterly. “You’d think God had given her enough to bear and would spare her this. What are you going to do?”
“I must think about it.”
“Think?Dosomething. Catherine is so filled with shame, she’s drowning in it. She wakes screaming every night.”
“I said that I must think.”
Juliette took a step closer. “And while you’re thinking, what if it occurs to her that she’s with child and she kills herself? Do you wish such a thing to happen?”
Anger surged through Jean Marc. “And what should I do? Find a dirty old woman in one of the back streets to kill the child in her womb? Did it ever occur to you to kill the child might also kill Catherine?”
“Don’t be foolish—or misunderstand me in this. Catherine would never accept the murder of her babe, but she can’t be made to suffer even greater shame. I’ve been thinking about it.” Juliette paused. “You must find her a husband.”
“Indeed? Who?”
“How do I know? It’s your responsibility. You’re the one who was too busy to come when she needed you. Now you should be the one to help her.”
He lifted a brow. “Are you suggesting I offer myself on the marital altar?”
“Bon Dieu, no! She already quakes when you frown at her. She’d snap like the ribs of a fan before you’d been wed a month.”
“I’m not an ogre and I don’t appreciate you—” Jean Marc stopped, his gaze narrowing thoughtfully. “But if not me, perhaps she could—”
“No!” Juliette immediately realized where his logic was leading. “You’re thinking of Philippe. She wouldn’t marry him.”
“Why not? She’s always been fond of him.”
“Fond? Sheadoreshim. She’s besotted with him. She blushes at the mere mention of his name.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. It’s time Philippe married and it will be an advantageous match for them both. He always has loved Vasaro and will continue to be an excellent manager.”
“Settled? You haven’t even discussed it with him.”
“I’ll speak to him immediately. I’m sure there will be no problem. Philippe likes Catherine and he appears genuinely remorseful for—”
Juliette adamantly shook her head. “Anyone else. Not Philippe.”
“You make no sense whatsoever.” Jean Marc frowned. “Philippe will treat her with the greatest tenderness.”
“Haven’t you been listening to me? She loves that beautiful peacock. Do you think she’d force herself on him in marriage when she won’t even allow herself to be in the same room with him?”
“I’ll talk to her.” He started for the door. “It’s an excellent solution and it’s unreasonable of her to—”
“Dear heaven, she’s inpain. How do you expect her to be reasonable?” She rushed after him. “You must not tell her she’s with child.”
He stopped with his hand on the knob of the door. “You’re sure she doesn’t know?”
Juliette shook her head. “She’s like a child herself now. You shouldn’t tell her. She’ll accept that she has to wed to hide her shame. She mustn’t know there’s anything else to hide.”
“It’s not something you can hide indefinitely.”
“Perhaps she’ll be better soon,” Juliette said desperately, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “She has to get better, doesn’t she?”
