***
Marian sat in her office several days later, reflecting on how happy she’d been the last few days. Louis had come to the house and taken Philip to a baseball game, while she and Renee had gone on a shopping excursion. Then later they met at Antoine’s in the French Quarter for dinner.
Her children responded to Louis as if he was a good friend and he treated them well, catering to them and spending more time with them than their father had. They were waiting for just the right moment to tell Philip and Renee they were marrying. But in the meantime, Louis came to the house for dinner every night and later while the children were in bed, they’d sat in the parlor and kissed until their lips were swollen and they were frenzied with desire. Then she’d sent him home.
Her heart warmed as she reflected on the way her life seemed to have changed in these last few months. Even before Jean’s death she’d been unhappy, but now she felt almost giddy with joy. Slowly her heart and her mind were both agreeing that marrying Louis was a good decision and when she gazed at him, she knew deep in her heart she really did love him. But she had yet to whisper those three little words to him. She wanted to, but somehow every time fear seemed to clog her throat and keep her from saying them aloud.
A knock on her door jerked her out of her reverie and she looked up to see Jon standing in the doorway.
“Mr. Fournet is not here and a Mr. Stephen Hudson is here to see him. I wondered if you could talk to him,” Jon said.
Marian nodded her head. ‘‘All right, bring him back.”
Less than five minutes later an older gentleman with a scruffy-looking face entered her office.
“Mrs. Cuvier, I’m sorry to intrude. Maybe I should come back later when Mr. Fournet is here?” he said looking at her hesitantly.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure I can help you,” she said.
“It’s just that I didn’t want to disturb you. Mr. Fournet informed me you were in mourning for your late husband.”
She glanced at him oddly. Why would Louis tell him she was in mourning when he knew she’d hardly grieved the death of Jean?
“It’s all right, Mr. Hudson,” she said. “Please come in and have a seat”
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” he said walking in and shaking her hand. “I was terribly sorry to hear about the death of your husband.”
“Thank you,” she said politely. “How can I help you?”
The man frowned. “Mr. Fournet told you that I’m the attorney handling the sale? Right?”
She knit her brow in confusion. “Sale? What sale are you referring to, Mr. Hudson?”
He took a deep breath his eyes widening. “Why the sale of Cuvier Shipping, of course.”
“Cuvier Shipping?” Marian asked, in stunned disbelief.
“Yes, Mr. Fournet came to me and asked that I arrange to sell the business for you and him. I’m here to talk with you regarding signing the final papers.” Marian felt as if the world was suddenly ripped away from her and for a moment she sat there staring at the gentleman, her heart crumbling. She cleared her throat and reached for the glass of water sitting on her desk, anything to bring her back to the present and not the devastating black void his words had sent her spiraling into.
All Louis’s words of trust and marriage and happily ever after seemed to rise in her throat, choking her.
That lying bastard had arranged to sell the business without her knowledge. His words of caring and affection rang empty and hollow in her heart, and she wanted to cry, but refused to let the tears come, knowing once they started, it would be hard to stop. There would be plenty of time for that later, but right now she must deal with his deceit.
“Mr. Hudson, Cuvier Shipping is not for sale.”
“Are you certain?” he asked staring at her, his expression full of doubt and confusion. “Mr. Fournet said there was another business he wanted to invest in and he needed the money from the sale of the shipping company to start that business. He asked me to rush the sale.”
Unspeakable rage filled Marian as she remembered his talk of wanting to start a business involving his father’s plantation. Suddenly everything seemed to fall into place and she realized her earlier fears were correct. He only wanted to marry her for her signature and the subsequent sale of Cuvier Shipping. That tiny niggling doubt she’d felt concerning Louis had been right.
“Mr. Fournet owns only half of the business and I own the other half. I’m not interested in selling.”
“He told me you wanted to sell your half, but he asked me not to bother you, since you were in mourning for your husband.”
The bastard had whispered words of trust and affection and then intended to ask for her signature. “How considerate,” she said sarcastically.
“So what do I tell the buyers?” he asked, perplexed.
“You tell them there’s been a huge mistake and that Cuvier Shipping is not for sale. It never has been for sale.”
The man stared, his mouth open in shock. “I don’t know what to say, Mrs. Cuvier. I’m sorry you had to find this out from me. Are you certain you don’t want to sell? I have an excellent buyer who will pay well.”
“I’m certain,” she said feeling her strength slowly draining from her.
He sighed. “All right, I will go back to the buyer and tell them that there will be no sale.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hudson,” she said standing so he would get the message that their meeting was over. She could feel her composure beginning to crumble and she didn’t want to break down in front of the man.
He stood and gathered his hat and briefcase. “Good day, Mrs. Cuvier.”
“Good day,” she said, and watched him walk out the door. She sank back into her chair, and her carefully constructed self-control disintegrated. She lay her head down on her arms and sobbed. Damn Louis for hurting her this way. Damn him for his deceitfulness and damn him for wooing her heart only to break it!
Wronged (Book 1) Page 48
