Jean Marc was strangely moved. Juliette, too, was like a child frantically seeking reassurance. Mother of God, he wanted to think only of her strengths, not herweaknesses. Yet he found he couldn’t deny her comfort. “We will find a way to make sure she gets better.”
Juliette’s gaze clung to Jean Marc’s. Abruptly, then, she glanced away and stepped back. She moistened her lips. “You won’t speak to her about Philippe? It will only make her weep.”
“I’ll wait until after I speak to Philippe at least.”
“I don’t know why you even bother getting his approval on the disposition of his life.” Her tone was especially tart. “Doesn’t everyone do as you wish them to do?”
He smothered a smile. “For the most part, but one must display a certain courtesy. I shall speak to Philippe and then talk to Catherine.”
She sighed and shook her head. “You’re making a mistake.”
Jean Marc frowned as he came down the steps toward Juliette and Philippe, waiting for him in the foyer.
“I told you it would do no good,” Juliette said, reading his expression. “You should have listened to me.”
“I’m getting exceptionally tired of listening to you,” Jean Marc said in a clipped tone. “I wonder the nuns were able to tolerate you for more than a fortnight.”
“They considered me a scourge, good for their souls.”
An unexpected smile banished the look of annoyance from Jean Marc’s face. “As do I.”
Juliette’s own exasperation melted away as she looked at him. It was difficult to be angry at a man who could smile after being proved wrong. “I suppose you made her cry.”
Jean Marc grimaced. “I never imagined she would become so upset. Perhaps you’d better go to her. She seems distraught.”
Philippe took a step forward. “Perhaps I should go up and explain that this marriage is entirely by my will.I can’t understand why she has so suddenly taken this dislike to me. I only want to helpla pauvre petite.”
“And have her see you pitying her?” Juliette started up the stairs. “Even Jean Marc would be a better husband to her than you.”
“You’ve reconsidered my eligibility, then?” Jean Marc asked.
“You needn’t be sarcastic just because you were wrong and I was right. You’d do much better to channel your thoughts to finding a solution to Catherine’s predicament. I don’t see that a husband should be a problem. François says you’re very good at bribery. Buy her one.”
“Oh, now I should buy her one. At a slave market on the vast Arabian desert? Where am I to find this convenient husband?”
“That’s your affair. I’ve told you what’s needed. It’s your place to supply it.”
The door to Catherine’s chamber closed behind Juliette and she stood there silently cursing Jean Marc and mankind in general. Catherine was lying on the bed sobbing in an attitude of complete desolation, her slight body shuddering with sobs.
“Stop it.” Juliette strode forward. “There’s no reason to weep. All the stupidity is over.”
Catherine quickly rolled over and sat up. “I can’t do it, Juliette. Jean Marc is angry with me, but I can’t do it.”
“I know you can’t.” Juliette picked up a linen handkerchief from the table beside the bed and gently wiped Catherine’s cheeks. “No one is going to make you marry Philippe if you don’t wish to.”
“How could Jean Marc ask him to do such a thing?” Catherine asked wonderingly. “He loves Philippe. Philippe deserves a wife who can come to him clean and free from the taint—”
“Philippe would be fortunate beyond belief to wed you.”
“No, I’m not fit—”
“Stop spouting this nonsense.” Juliette tried to temper her impatience. “I won’t try to persuade you tomarry Philippe, but you do realize it’s necessary for you to marry someone?”
Catherine shook her head. “I shall never marry.”
“Youmustmarry.”
“That’s what Jean Marc said. Is it because of what they did to me? Because I’m disgraced?”
