Page 14 of A Noble Affair
I really don’t want to be having this conversation. He knew he had to say something. “You can do whatever you want with your life. Just don’t think I will sit here and wait.” Charles regretted the words the instant they left his mouth. He sounded like a teenager.
“Yes, but you have to believe me. I’d never be unfaithful,” she said, with a rising hysteria that Charles had no patience for. “I’d be crazy to when I have you…I’m not about to start now.”
When he was silent, she added, “I’m supposed to come back in a month for the holiday break. Let’s just not make any decisions before then. Okay?”
Charles didn’t feel like committing, but he found himself agreeing. “Fine,” and added, “I need to go. I have to meet Grégoire.”
“Call me soon, okay?” she pleaded. He had never heard her sound so desperate, but he found he was unmoved by it. After Charles ended the call, he shut the phone off completely. He didn’t want to be disturbed, and since his son was at the racetrack, he decided everyone else could wait.
He couldn’t identify what he was feeling. Manon wasn’t anything more than a passing fling, but he hated looking foolish. He hated being betrayed, something he never had to worry about with Miriam.
Charles picked up his pace again. Although he worked hard to smooth his features, his mouth was set in hard lines.
“Mom, Mom,”Thomas shouted as he chased seagulls on the empty beach. She waved back at him, smiling broadly. Her sober reflections from last night were chased away by the fresh air and the sound of waves. They had already explored the old Normandy hotel,Deauville Barrière, looking at the photos of famous guests who hadstayed there. Thomas was bored.
Now they were on the other side of the busy street, and she was standing on the sidewalk that bordered the beach, watching him as he ran in circles. It was almost time for them to drive home, but she thought they might walk through the town center one more time and find a place that served a hot meal. By the time she had convinced him to go, she was more than ready to get some warm food in her.
They walked down the cobblestone street together that served as a pedestrian walkway, and she was drawn to the cozily-lit restaurants that lined it. They were all too expensive. She had not chosen a cheap place to vacation.
Thomas’s steps started to flag and his mood to sour when she finally gave up on the idea that they would be able to sit somewhere nice. She spotted a sandwich shop that had a seated area indoors. “Do you want to eat a sandwich?”
Her son’s eyes lit up, and he nodded. They walked around the corner to where the entrance was and took their place in line. Fifteen minutes later they left with their sandwiches and a bottle of water. At least they were grilled Panini sandwiches, which would feel warm going down.
“Look Mom,” Thomas said with his mouth full. “There are horses over there.” She focused on where he was indicating. It was on the opposite end of where the car was parked, and she could feel a fatigue set inthrough to her bones.
“I see, honey.” Her son didn’t say anything else, but started to inch in that direction. She figured they could turn down the next street without going too far out of their way, so she followed.
“Mom. It’sVictoire Absolue!” He ran straight down the street without looking behind to see if his mother was following, and she was grateful it was a pedestrian area where she need not worry about cars. Thomas slowed when he reached a fence, behind which a brown horse stood at some small distance, and he slipped easily through the barrier.
Chastity’s heart beat faster at his proximity to such a massive animal, and she tried to speak calmly. “Tommy. Come here for a minute.” He reached up to touch the horse’s side with the hand that wasn’t holding hissandwich.
“It’sVictoire Absolue, Mom,” he said, caressing the horse’s flanks. The horse turned and lowered his head towards Thomas. He blew his breath out in brisk snorts, sniffing at the sandwich.
“It’s all right, miss,” said a gruff voice. “He doesn’t hurt anyone.” An older gentleman in a tailored tweed coat poked his head around from the other side of the horse where he had been hidden from view. “Hello, young man.”
“This horse is enormous.” Chastity said, attempting a smile. “You’re sure my son’s okay?”
“Aw, Mickey’s as gentle as they come.”
“Mickey?” Chastity turned towards Thomas. “Why did you call himVictoire Absolue?”
“The young man is correct. His proper name isVictoire Absolue, but in the stable, we call him Mickey.”
Thomas moved to the other side of the horse, and Chastity asked the gentleman, “Where does this horse come from? Who owns him?”
“This is the champion horse of the Viscount de Brase. He took first place in the race today, even though he was not a favorite.” The gentleman caressed the horse between the ears and continued with gruff pride. “He’s from Maisons-Laffitte, just outside of Paris." The blood drained from Chastity’s face. She stared at her sandwich.
“Ah. There he is. I was expecting him.”
Chastity turned, just as the viscount strode up to the older gentleman. Mr. de Brase barely glanced at her, and his face looked thunderous.
“Grégoire, here are the leg wraps you needed. I have somewhere I need to be.” He handed a soft bundle of fabric to the older gentleman and walked off in the direction of the racetrack.
Chastity’s face grew hot. She was sure he had seen her, and that his snub was on purpose.He probably wanted to humiliate me for daring to mingle with his world. Oh my God. He probably thought I was just hanging around his horse so I could talk to him or something. She glanced at her son and tried to think of something to say.
The older gentleman, Grégoire, seemed nonplussed. “Mr. de Brase usually has a bit more time to spare than that, but that’s him in any case.” Then he addressed Thomas, eyes alight. “So you know Mickey, do you? How so?”
“I go to Fenley Academy, and I see him walking by in the mornings.” Thomas continued to stroke the horse’s side. “He’s so much finer than the other horses.”
