Juliette stood in the doorway of the study, gazing at him defiantly. She had removed her dark green bonnet and was swinging it by its ribbons. As he watched, she ran nervous fingers through her tousled dark curls. “You needn’t glare at me. I told you that you were the one who should go with her but you wouldn’t listen to me. Now she has only Philippe and you know how she feels about him, but—”
“What the devil are you doing here?”
“I’m going to stay here.”
He felt a leap of emotion he refused to identify. “Not likely.”
“Well, where else am I to go?”
“Vasaro.”
“I can’t go to Vasaro. François said I’m smothering Catherine, and I’m not sure he’s right, but I—” She stopped. “No, that’s not true. Heisright.”
“Nonsense.”
She shook her head, her fingers opening and closing on the ribbons of her bonnet. “I don’t know how to let go. I wasn’t sure I could let her go even when I knew I should. Do you think it was easy for me to do this? I’ve never had anyone but Catherine and I didn’t want to believe him.”
“I can see I’m going to have to have a discussion with Monsieur Etchelet,” Jean Marc said grimly as he set his pen back in its holder. “I suppose he brought you back here from the barrier?”
She shook her head. “François doesn’t know I didn’t go with them. I had the carriage stop on the street before we reached the barrier. I got out and watched until they let Catherine through, then I started back. François was talking to the guards and never looked into the coach.”
“And just how did you make your way here?”
“I walked. I believed you would be angry, so I thought it best if the carriage were well on its way before you knew I wasn’t on it. You are angry, aren’t you?”
“Exceedingly.”
“Then I was right to—”
“You were not right,” he interrupted icily. “You were thoughtless and stupid and reckless. Why the hell have we been keeping you off the streets of Paris? What if you’d been recognized or—”
“I was careful. I wore my bonnet and kept my head down.” She frowned. “And I didn’t even ask directions when I became lost.”
“Merde, it’s a wonder you weren’t captured and thrown into prison. Do you have any idea how we’re going to get you out of Paris now that you’ve seen fit to destroy our plans?”
“I’m not going to leave Paris. At least, not right away. Do you think I’d upset Catherine and walk halfway across the city to turn around and meekly follow them to Vasaro?”
“And just what is your intention?”
She gazed at him warily. “I think we’d better discuss this after supper.”
“Now.”
“I’m hungry,” she said. “And I’m tired and my feet hurt. I’m going to wash and eat and then we’ll talk.” She whirled on her heel. “Tell Marie to fix supper.”
“Juliette.”
She glanced over her shoulder.
His tone was soft but edged with steel. “I’ll wait totalk to you, but this is the last time you’ll ever give me orders in this house.”
Pink rose to color her cheeks. She started to speak, but thought better of it. Her gaze clung to his and suddenly he was startled to see the bravado fade into desperation. She looked hurriedly away and gave a careless shrug. “I doubt it.”
ELEVEN
May we talk now?” Jean Marc’s tone was impeccably polite as he placed his napkin beside his plate and leaned back in his chair.
Juliette reluctantly set down her spoon. “You didn’t eat very much. Are you sure you won’t have some more of Marie’s lemon syllabub? It is—”
