Obsession at the Opera (Bleu Blanc Rogue Book 2) by Delphine Roy

Author:Delphine Roy [Roy, Delphine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

A fracas of hammers and saws resonated in the summer air, pounding in time with the painful pulse in Jerome’s forehead. He lifted the brim of his hat and swiped his handkerchief across his sweaty brow. By God, this heat was unbearable. If not for that and his blasted headache, he would have gladly joined in the work. He had before, on several occasions, and it never failed to clear his mind.

Marbois watched a group of masons tie a rope around a thick beam before lifting it up with the help of a pulley. “I’d say it’s going rather well, wouldn’t you?”

Jerome nodded. “We spoke with the head mason. They’re making timely progress on the main frame. It won’t be long until the brickwork can begin.”

Marbois sighed in satisfaction and gazed at the grounds that were little more than a grassy stretch of land. They had arranged to spend the day in Belleville, inspecting the land, overseeing the masons’ work and discussing the next steps of Marbois’s colossal project.

“To think,” he said, “this will soon be a domain that will make the Chateau de Malmaison pale in comparison.”

Jerome laughed dryly. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. But yes, I’m confident you will be most pleased with the result. After lunch, we can go over the latest plans.”

Marbois slapped his shoulder as they started down the path towards the village. “Lunch, yes. I’m famished and parched. And no talk of work while we eat. You can tell me if married life has been treating you well. How is your lovely little opera singer?”

Annoyance flared within him at Marbois’s choice of words, but to his credit, he had treated Jerome’s situation with Stella, the baby and their precipitous marriage as nothing more than an amusing story, such as one might tell to entertain guests at dinner. Though Jerome hadn’t disclosed the more alarming details to him, Marbois’s open mind was all the more welcome that he had been very generous in his advance.

A few years ago, Jerome could only dream of such a sum. Now all he wanted to do was provide a comfortable life for Stella. One where she wouldn’t have to toil daily like his sisters had during their exile, where she didn’t depend on the whims of whoever employed her to survive. But evidently, he and his wife didn’t see things eye to eye.

“Madame Saint Yves is well,” Jerome replied shortly.

Marbois raised an eyebrow. “Come now, surely you must still be enjoying that newly wedded bliss.”

“How would you know? You’ve never been married.”

“I suspect it’s quite like when one starts up with a new mistress and can hardly stay out of bed in her presence.”

In this case, Marbois could not have been more wrong. For his bed had remained despairingly empty and cold since they had married three weeks past.

The ache in his forehead increased. The problem wasn’t trying to figure out how to resume their intimate relationship in a delicate manner. No, the problem was getting his wife to speak to him.

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