SHE WISHEDGAETAN WOULD GOaway and let her be, but he kept buzzing around her, stubborn. He never sensed anything about her, too obtuse to notice her moods.
“But, darling, you cannot possibly stay home,” Gaetan said. “It’s the Haduier party.”
“Why not?” Valérie replied. “Make an excuse for me.”
He was standing behind her, and she could see his sour face in the mirror. Agnes Haduier was a gossipy, wrinkled wretch. Lucian Haduier was a boor, the kind of fellow who in his cups would loudly bellow the most indecent words. Besides, the Grand Season was brimming with parties. They had already been to the De Villiers’ and the Gannels’, which were the more important balls of the early season.
Valérie adjusted the sash around her waist and stretched out a hand, running her fingers along the bottles filled with oils and perfumes, settling upon a jar containing a new face cream she’d purchased at Ambre. It smelled like almonds; it would be delicious against her skin.
If she’d been alone, she could have enjoyed trying it on. But he was standing there, eyeing her without truly seeing her.
Gaetan didn’t see anything.
“Go by yourself.”
“I cannot go without my wife. And after I bought you that new dress! And the brooch! Twenty perfect seed pearls. You were supposed to wear my brooch tonight.”
“I’ll wear it another time.”
“When a man goes through a monumental expense for a party, he does not expect this response,” Gaetan said.
He had not heard her or did not care. It was all about him.Hiswife who would not wearhisdress andhisbrooch.
“Besides, Nina will be there. We haven’t seen her in a long time,” he added.
As if that would induce Valérie to go. She watched as Gaetan took off his jacket, muttering to himself. Was he really going to stay in? She hated him when he acted like this.
“With this migraine, I can’t do anything but go to bed. Head off on your own,” she said, hoping the prospect might induce him to simply leave her be.
“No, it’s fine. I am tired and could use the rest. I’ll miss seeing her, though.”
She really did have a migraine, and this development was not going to improve it. Valérie decided to make the best of it since he had offered her an opportune opening.
“Take Antonina to dinner sometime,” she replied, making a vague motion with her hand. “Speaking of Antonina, did you meet with Luc Lémy?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.”
“He is a pleasant man.”
“Pleasant enough. I don’t think he knows how to do anything but have fun and drink.”
“He’s young. Besides, he told you about his business idea, didn’t he?”
“Yes.” Gaetan nodded as he undid his necktie. “It’s not a bad one, and I think he said he has a fellow interested in providing a portion of the financing, Longder might be the name. Though more backers are needed.”
“Then what is the trouble?”
Valérie turned around, fixing her husband with her gaze. He sighed and shrugged and did not answer, which made Valérie frown.
“Well?” she repeated.
“He seems boyish.”
“As if Antonina is the pinnacle of maturity. He is what, twenty-four? About time he settled down and married, and since Nina ruined her first Grand Season by focusing her sights foolishly on a single man, who knows how she might fare this spring? It is one thing to be the new face at all the balls and another to be returning without an escort, milling around the edges.”
“Valérie, don’t be harsh.”
“I am being honest. She followed none of my advice, did not pursue any of the young men I introduced her to.”
