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“I’m a man of action who sometimes enjoys letting my partners take the lead.”
She swats my hand playfully. “First off, I’ll need to see the script before I agree to anything.”
“Understood.”
“What I’d like to hear from you, Louis, is if you can throw in a perk that will be hard, very hard”—she makes a deliberate pause—“to refuse.”
I stifle a smile. “I believe I can do that.”
Good thing I followed my hunch and asked Angie to keep my schedule free tonight!
Initially, I was supposed to meet with my second cousin Arnaud and his fiancée Sasha. They live in Cannes, and they wanted to drive over for dinner at Negresco where I’m staying. But we moved our meetup to lunch tomorrow, just before I fly back to Lisbon to resume my ambassadorial duties.
Magdalena leans toward me, revealing her generous cleavage. Her pouty lips part. She’s about to speak when someone knocks at the door.
It had better be important!
“Yes?” I call as Magdalena draws away.
The door opens, and Angie peeks in, her mien apologetic. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have an urgent message for the marquess.”
“I’m listening.” I trust Angie to determine if it’s something she can relay in front of Magdalena.
“You are summoned home,” she says.
“To Lisbon?”
“No, to the château.”
To Mount Evor?“Whatever for?”
“Your grandfather wants to see you tonight.”
I spring up to my feet. “Is he…?”
“That is not the impression I got from his attendant,” Angie says. “But he’s sending for the entire family. Apparently, it cannot wait.”
Magdalena rises from her seat. “Go. Family comes first. We’ll continue our conversation after I’ve read the script.”
“You’ll have a say as regards to your character.”
“Why didn’t you open with that, darling?”
From her familiar address and the way she smiles at me, I dare to hope she’s already made up her mind.
CHAPTER3
LOUIS
I’d almost forgotten how stunning the view from thechemin de rondeis. Atop the walkway, Rudy and I look down over the rampart.
“Did you miss the château, my lord?” Rudy asks.
My gaze travels to the moat and then to the verdant Arrago valley beyond it. Turning around, I survey the grounds, the orangery, the terraced gardens, the outbuildings, and the château itself. If I go around the watchtower, I’d be staring up at rugged cliffs.
“More than I used to,” I admit. “Promise to not let me grow sentimental in my fourth decade of life and quit my diplomatic career!”
His eyes crinkle up. “I’ll do my best.”
