Page 54 of A Secret Correspondence
“We did.” Aurelia yawned, resting a hand over her rounded belly. “He came to share his news.”
News? Marguerite’s stomach clenched. He had done it then. He was going to marry Miss Farrow.
“I’m pleased for him,” Aurelia said.
Eliza sighed. “He has long since wanted to be married. It was sweet how eager he was to share the engagement with his friends.”
Notallhis friends. Marguerite had not received a visit. Neither had she heard the news in a letter from the kissing gate. He could even have told her this afternoon when he had come to the shop, but he refrained then, as well.
Her feelings smarted at the slight, but she supposed it was a blessed thing she had learned of the engagement in this manner,so she was prepared to congratulate him. If Samuel had been the one to mention it, her face could have betrayed her true feelings.
“The visitors are victorious!” Ruth lifted her battledore in the air and curtsied. “Well done, everyone. Shall we retire to the parlor for more refreshments?”
The group muttered general agreement and moved in that direction. Marguerite found herself in the corner of the parlor, alone with Armand again, while the majority of the group filled plates and drank glasses of lemonade.
“You are not hungry?” he asked.
“Not anymore. I have eaten more apples and tarts today than I have for the entirety of the year.” She smiled to soften her statement. If Eliza was ready to leave, Marguerite would happily agree. Instead, she realized she had an opportunity to extract information from Armand, and she needed to take advantage of it. Lowering her voice, she leaned closer to him. “May I ask a few delicate questions?”
Interest sparked in his eyes. “Oui.”
“How long did you remain near our home? Have you been there all these years?”
“Non. We stayed for eight more years, but we all had to fight. My brothers all died.” He swallowed hard, looking away. “My parents are gone. My sister is married—she lives in Bordeaux.”
A bittersweet disclosure, but she was glad to hear about his sister. “That is wonderful news.”
“She will be glad to hear I have seen you.”
Marguerite’s heart thudded. “I had hoped this would stay between us.”
Armand’s deep brown eyes peered deeply into hers. “Perhaps I can convince you to change your mind.”
She laughed lightly in an effort to dispel the heaviness their conversation. She glanced around the room, hoping no one else noticed the nature of their tete-a-tete, and found Miss Delacourwatching them curiously. She snapped her eyes back to Armand. “A man as handsome as you surely has a woman waiting for him.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “There was one, but these things change. You cannot control love, Marie?—”
“Madame Perreau,” she said sharply.
He shook his head. “Very well. Though I do not like the reminder that you were married.”
And he would never learn the truth—shehadn’tbeen. It was a lie.
Eliza joined them, her smile soft. “Jacob called for our carriage, Marguerite. Are you prepared to leave soon? We must be returning to Peter and Lydia.”
“Of course.” She curtsied to Armand, glad she would soon be seeing the back of him for the evening. “Thank you for being my partner tonight.”
“The pleasure was entirely mine,” he said, rising and bowing low. His eyes held hers until she broke the contact and turned away.
Eliza took her by the elbow. Together they bade their farewells and walked arm-in-arm toward the front door.
“Did you learn anything of note?” Eliza asked quietly once they reached the corridor.
Marguerite glanced at her sharply.
She grimaced. “Ruth told us everything. I hope you are not angry, for we would like to be of help.”
“Not angry, no.” She was worried, however. The more people who knew details of her background, the more likely it was they would uncover her secrets. She let out an anxious breath and nodded. “I did gather interesting information tonight. Mr. Leclair certainly knows who I am, and he would like to pursue a relationship of some sort. I am not certain if it is a courtship he is after, or something different. He also told me his family has all died, except one sister who is married and still lives in France.”
