Page 85 of All the Gossip from Paris
Liam checked his phone. It was after eleven o’clock. He and Ryan had been working in the office of the atelier for the past two hours. There was still no sign of Sophie.
I wish we could have spoken last night. Got some things cleared between us.
To make matters worse, Patrice the prick, had been lurking about all morning. Prancing around like he owned the place. The way he dealt with the staff was nauseating. One minute he was praising them, the next he was giving them blunt commands. It was obvious he’d learned nothing from the earlier confrontations with the heads of the atelier teams.
The loud bang of a door being closed had Liam looking up from the laptop.
“I am leaving now,” yelled Patrice.
“It’s not an airport. You don’t need to announce your departure,” muttered Liam.
“The guy is a first class asshole, but he’s not your problem,” quipped Ryan.
Liam met his brother’s gaze. “I might go see if I can find Sophie. I’d rather speak to her before we have to sit down for a two hour, six course meal,” said Liam.
Patrice continued making his grand exit from the atelier. Barking orders to the team as he headed out the door. A string of angry words, all spoken in French, followed in his wake.
I don’t need a translator to figure out what they think of him.
Liam waited. He’d give it a minute for Patrice to clear the staircase, before leaving to go in search of Sophie. “I’ll catch up with you in the dining room at twelve.”
“Actually Camille and I are heading into Paris. She wants to go shopping at some of the baby boutiques. We might end up staying at her apartment in the city tonight,” said Ryan.
Ryan retrieved his thick winter jacket from off the back of his chair as he got to his feet. “Oh, and I almost forgot. There was an interview which François apparently gave to French Vogue that was due to come out this morning. It might pay to read it before you go sit with the Royal family at lunch. I’m sure Patrice will have absorbed it word for word. He’ll be looking to score points from those who haven’t.”
“Thanks. I’ll see if I can find it online then go look for Sophie.”
Rugged up in a woolen coat and thick scarf, Sophie stuffed her feet into her waterproof boots and headed out from the chateau. With only an hour at her disposal she headed straight for the river.
Rollo’s leash was slack in her hands. The dog trotted happily ahead, stopping to sniff and then pee on every second tree or bush he encountered.
While the path was familiar, she was less at ease with the thoughts in her head. Everything felt different. The berating she’d got from her father last night, sat at the forefront of Sophie’s mind. She’d been so hurt. So humiliated. His harsh words about the inclusion of the gown had been the last straw.
There was nothing she could do about her father or Patrice—they wouldn’t listen. She doubted they ever would. But there was an important person in her life who had wanted to talk. Liam was interested in what she had to say.
At the bend in the river where the Seine widened, Sophie stopped. She stood gazing out over the rushing water while Rollo frolicked about the base of a nearby chestnut tree. He’d found a stray leaf and was amusing himself by tossing it up into the air with his nose, then snapping at it with his teeth as it fell.
At least someone is having a fun day.
The chill winter wind rippled across the water, and it was her heart which now spoke. Her feelings for Liam were something she could understand. What had started out as a one night stand, a mistake, had turned into a strong connection. One she sensed could grow deeper if given the time and attention that true love demanded.
But Liam didn’t live in France. He was from the United States and his career took him all over the world. He wasn’t like his younger brother. Ryan had been looking for meaning in his life, for a path forward. Camille had been the right person at the right time for him.
Her sister’s romance had been an uncomplicated one. Two people who’d met and immediately felt the hand of fate settle on them. Camille had said that from the first day it had always been yes between her and Ryan.
I don’t know if Liam feels that way. If he wants a future with me. I don’t know anything.
If only she hadn’t had her own heart so badly messed with by Patrice. How many times had he cheated on her, and she’d forgiven him and taken him back.
The crunch of boots on the frosty ground had Sophie whirling round in fright.
The devil himself stood a meter or so away. On his lips sat the bedroom smile he’d always been able to use with such devastating effect on her.
“I thought I might find you out here,” said Patrice.
He took a step forward.
Sophie stood her ground. This was her part of the river. Her private sanctuary. He had no right to have followed her from the estate.
