soon. This big old house won’t be the same without the two of you in it.” He extended a hand to Jacquie’s mother and she took it, her cheeks flushed. Then he turned his attention to Iris, who stood near the door. “You will be missed as well, Iris. I hope you have a wonderful time. Jacquie tells me you are interested in fashion, so you should find Paris fascinating.”
“Yes, sir. And, thank you.” Her lashes grew damp and she swiped them away with the back of her hand.
“No need to get emotional, ladies.” Father chuckled. “It’s just a matter of days until we are together again.”
“True.” Mother looked his way and smiled. “I’ve no doubt you have plenty to keep you busy while we are away.”
“Yes, and Roland will be here often as we discuss the merger.” Father ran his fingers over his graying mustache and then smiled. “I’ve found him to be such an agreeable man. This new merger will serve us all well, I believe.”
Jacquie’s heart sailed to her throat as she thought about Roland. Over the past few weeks she had given plenty of thought to Mother’s reaction. And Father’s, of course. But she’d scarcely pondered Roland’s loss at all. Hopefully the man wouldn’t be too devastated.
They made their way outside and the chauffeur loaded Jacquie’s trunk, the one filled with her fine, new things. He also loaded Mother’s smaller bag, which she would carry on to Paris after leaving Southampton tomorrow morning.
Father shook his head as he offered the chauffer a hand. “It never ceases to amaze me how much luggage a woman carries with her. You would think you three ladies were going to be in Paris for months, not a few measly days.” His chuckle shared his thoughts on the matter.
“Oh, Father.” Jacquie tried to dismiss his concerns with a wave of a hand, but the trembling nearly gave away her nerves. “You know how we are.”
“Indeed I do.” He offered her a fatherly wink.
The chauffer opened the back door of the car, and Iris climbed inside as Mother clucked her tongue.
“Henry, shame on you. A lady has to look her best, especially in Paris. You know that. You wouldn’t want us to turn up looking like social outcasts. Of course not. We will not bring shame to the Abingdon name.”
“As if either of you could possibly bring shame to my name.” He pulled Jacquie into his arms and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. “I will miss you while you’re gone. Bring me one of those silly little Eiffel tower statuettes, will you?”
Jacquie forced a laugh, but the sting of tears nearly stopped her. “I—I will.” Not that she was going anywhere near Paris, but perhaps Mother would buy one for him. Hopefully.
Surely one day Father would forgive her for all this. Mother would too. And Grandmother. She hoped. In the meantime, forging ahead was the only answer. Jacquie’s gaze darted to the gardens and beyond. She wondered what was happening in the cottage. Were Tessa and Peter already on their way to the dock as planned? Had the driver kept his word to remain silent? Would Tessa meet her at the gate at precisely 11:45 to trade places?”
With so many things rolling through her brain, she almost didn’t notice the familiar Rolls-Royce until it came to a stop behind them.
Roland emerged from the vehicle dressed in a dark gray business suit and looking quite dapper. He took several quick steps her way, and her heart fluttered into her throat.
“Roland? What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, my dear.” He grinned as he reached for her hand, which he gripped with fervor. “I know you’re only going to be gone a few days, but I had to stop by to say good-bye. I’m going to miss you.” He pressed a tiny kiss onto her cheek.
“Oh?” Heat rushed over her face. “I—I will miss you too.”
“Well, here’s a little something to remember me by.” He reached into his pocket and came out with a tiny box, which he opened.
“Oh, Roland!” The brilliant opal ring
“Yes, sir. And, thank you.” Her lashes grew damp and she swiped them away with the back of her hand.
“No need to get emotional, ladies.” Father chuckled. “It’s just a matter of days until we are together again.”
“True.” Mother looked his way and smiled. “I’ve no doubt you have plenty to keep you busy while we are away.”
“Yes, and Roland will be here often as we discuss the merger.” Father ran his fingers over his graying mustache and then smiled. “I’ve found him to be such an agreeable man. This new merger will serve us all well, I believe.”
Jacquie’s heart sailed to her throat as she thought about Roland. Over the past few weeks she had given plenty of thought to Mother’s reaction. And Father’s, of course. But she’d scarcely pondered Roland’s loss at all. Hopefully the man wouldn’t be too devastated.
They made their way outside and the chauffeur loaded Jacquie’s trunk, the one filled with her fine, new things. He also loaded Mother’s smaller bag, which she would carry on to Paris after leaving Southampton tomorrow morning.
Father shook his head as he offered the chauffer a hand. “It never ceases to amaze me how much luggage a woman carries with her. You would think you three ladies were going to be in Paris for months, not a few measly days.” His chuckle shared his thoughts on the matter.
“Oh, Father.” Jacquie tried to dismiss his concerns with a wave of a hand, but the trembling nearly gave away her nerves. “You know how we are.”
“Indeed I do.” He offered her a fatherly wink.
The chauffer opened the back door of the car, and Iris climbed inside as Mother clucked her tongue.
“Henry, shame on you. A lady has to look her best, especially in Paris. You know that. You wouldn’t want us to turn up looking like social outcasts. Of course not. We will not bring shame to the Abingdon name.”
“As if either of you could possibly bring shame to my name.” He pulled Jacquie into his arms and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. “I will miss you while you’re gone. Bring me one of those silly little Eiffel tower statuettes, will you?”
Jacquie forced a laugh, but the sting of tears nearly stopped her. “I—I will.” Not that she was going anywhere near Paris, but perhaps Mother would buy one for him. Hopefully.
Surely one day Father would forgive her for all this. Mother would too. And Grandmother. She hoped. In the meantime, forging ahead was the only answer. Jacquie’s gaze darted to the gardens and beyond. She wondered what was happening in the cottage. Were Tessa and Peter already on their way to the dock as planned? Had the driver kept his word to remain silent? Would Tessa meet her at the gate at precisely 11:45 to trade places?”
With so many things rolling through her brain, she almost didn’t notice the familiar Rolls-Royce until it came to a stop behind them.
Roland emerged from the vehicle dressed in a dark gray business suit and looking quite dapper. He took several quick steps her way, and her heart fluttered into her throat.
“Roland? What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, my dear.” He grinned as he reached for her hand, which he gripped with fervor. “I know you’re only going to be gone a few days, but I had to stop by to say good-bye. I’m going to miss you.” He pressed a tiny kiss onto her cheek.
“Oh?” Heat rushed over her face. “I—I will miss you too.”
“Well, here’s a little something to remember me by.” He reached into his pocket and came out with a tiny box, which he opened.
“Oh, Roland!” The brilliant opal ring
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