“Hello,” Luc grumbled.
Luc snapped his case shut.
“We were—” Étienne began, but his brother shushed him.
“You spirited Nina away from Haduier’s party the other night,” Luc said, his eyes fixed on Hector.
Hector suddenly understood the cause and extent of Luc’s irritation.
“Yes. She wanted to leave,” Hector said.
“Do you realize the kind of talk that leads to? A gentleman and a lady, alone at night?” Luc asked. “You did not escort her to the party, you had no business taking her home.”
“We are friends and well acquainted. We spent plenty of time alone at Oldhouse.”
“It doesn’t matter and you know that.”
“I did not withdraw my courtship request, thus if anyone dares to say anything, Nina can tell them Gaetan approves of me.”
“That is nonsense. No one will ask her what is going on between you and her, they’ll whisper behind her back. It aggravates me.”
“It aggravatesyou?” Hector said. If any man had a cause to be upset with him, it might have been Gaetan, since Nina was his cousin.
Luc’s face changed from angry to petulant. He looked now not like a sulking child but a boy who has scarfed down a whole cake, but does not care if he will have a stomachache. It absolutely rankled Hector.
“I have spoken with Gaetan Beaulieu, and he has agreed I may court Nina. I would like to marry her sooner rather than later.”
“Has she been informed of this?” Hector replied, unable to suppress a chuckle. “I’m not sure she knows.”
“Are you making fun of me?” Luc turned to Étienne. “He is making fun of me.”
“I don’t think he’s making fun of anyone,” Étienne replied. “Luc, let’s get you a drink.”
“I don’t want a drink. I want him to stay away from my bride.”
As if to emphasize his point, Luc slammed his hand against the table;then he lit his cigarette and leaned back in his chair, challenging Hector with his gaze.
“She’s not yours,” Hector replied.
“Pardon me?” Luc said.
“She’s not yours. She’s not mine. She’s nobody’s. Stop behaving like a brat.”
Hector spoke sternly, and for a moment he thought Luc might regain the use of his senses and see how utterly peevish he was being, but instead the young man grew more stupid.
“Now, listen to me, Hector. You had your chance. You didn’t take it. This is my time now, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to have you weaseling your way back into her life.”
“What do you want?” Hector asked quietly. “Do you want a fight? Will that make you feel better? I’ve done you no wrong. She wished to go home, I took her in my carriage.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I will offer no apologies to you.”
Luc tossed his cigarette at Hector. It was headed toward his lap, but Hector stopped it midair, his talent at work, then flicked it away, crushing it under the sole of his shoe.
Luc did not seem happy with this display, having thought he could pelt him with the cigarette. “I want no apologies, but if I even think you’ve spoken to her again, I’ll break your jaw.”
“Try it now,” Hector shot back.
