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“I have found the perfect man, sir. His name is Max Valland and he has asked me to marry him, and I have said I will.”
Aphrodite gave a little gasp. “Marietta! You naughty girl, you kept this secret from me.”
Marietta tried to read her eyes. “Are you glad?” she whispered. “I am sorry I will not be following in your footsteps, Mama, but I…I do not think I would make a very good courtesan.”
Adam’s eyes had been fixed on their faces, and now he laughed. The laugh turned into a spluttering cough, and Aphrodite fetched him a glass of cordial and held it to his lips. He drank, coughed again, and managed to regain control of himself.
“She reminds me of you, my dear Madame,” he said at last, his voice husky from exertion. “Beware of following your heart, Marietta. It can lead you into places you would rather not be. Isn’t that so?” This last was to Aphrodite, who pulled a mocking face at him.
“Life is for living,” she retorted. “I may have made mistakes, Adam, but at least I have lived.”
He nodded, all humor gone from his face. “You are right. Make certain that this Max treats you well, daughter, or he will have me to answer to.”
“He is a duke’s son,” Marietta said. “At least he was…”
“I don’t care,” Adam retorted. “You’re too good for him.”
Marietta was delighted. This was the first time since she had met Max that anyone had said such a thing, and it warmed her heart.
Aphrodite took both their hands in hers. “I am very happy,” she said. “I did not think it was right for you to be a courtesan, Marietta, and Max…He is a gentleman, and I can see he loves you very much. Please, be happy.”
Adam squeezed her fingers. “Perhaps Marietta, you will come and visit me in the country? I have a house in Somerset, and there I live a simple life. Do not laugh, but I even work in the garden with my hands, potting plants and watering them.”
“I would very much like to come and visit you at your house in Somerset,” Marietta said firmly.
“Good, good.” He patted her hand and smiled, and it was as if he could not think of anything else to say. He exchanged a meaningful look with Aphrodite.
She turned to Marietta. “I have something important to tell you, mon petit puce. Aphrodite’s Club belongs jointly to me and Adam, and we agreed many years ago that as our child, it should be yours when the time comes. We want you to be the owner of Aphrodite’s Club, Marietta. What do you think of that?”
They were both watching her intently.
Marietta did not know what to say. Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh,” she whispered.
“It is a business,” Adam said quickly. “You should think of it like that, my dear daughter.”
“It is a house of pleasure first and a business second,” Aphrodite retorted.
Marietta smiled to hear them bickering.
“Are you shocked?” Aphrodite asked her gently, her watchful eyes serious. “Do you wish to say no?”
“We will understand,” Adam murmured.
Marietta didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Aphrodite’s Club would be hers! In a way, she would fulfill her dream of following in her mother’s footsteps, and she would have Max, too.
“I would be proud to be the owner of Aphrodite’s! Thank you both so much.”
Adam nodded, pleased, and Aphrodite sighed. “Then I am glad, too, Marietta. But let us hope that day is far off, oui? Now,” she stood up, “your father is tired. We will leave you to rest, Adam. Perhaps Marietta can come again before you return to Somerset?”
“Of course, I would like that. It has been too long.”
Marietta hugged him tightly, and then they left him. Aphrodite peered at Marietta a moment, and then curled an arm about her waist. “Do not fret, mon petit puce. It is sad that such a thing has happened to him but he is fortunate in other ways. You should not pity him.”
“I don’t pity him,” Marietta said thoughtfully. “I just wish he was able to walk again, for his sake, not mine.”
“I had planned another task for you, remember? You were to meet your Max at the masque ball at Vauxhall Gardens. Do you still wish to go ahead with this?”
“Oh yes, thank you!” It would be a celebration of their happiness, a triumph for love.
