The Rocheforts by Christian Laborie

Author:Christian Laborie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publishers Square
Published: 2014-11-25T16:51:10+00:00

23

Confrontation

Donatien was not a man who easily lost his temper. When Constance told him what had happened to Julie, his first thought was to go see Anselme Rochefort and find a fair solution to the sticky problem his son had created by abusing of his daughter’s naïveté. Distraught, Julie had no intentions of going with him. She was too afraid of Anselme, having seen him reprimand both Sebastien and Faustine. Constance thought they should wait for Rochefort’s next visit to the Clos du Tournel.

“Julie has already shilly-shallied too long,” Donatien said. “If they don’t come soon, it will be too late to hide her state. We should tell them quickly, so they can inform Sebastien, and we can arrange the marriage right away. I don’t want my daughter to be married with a big belly. What will people say? We’ll be ridiculed.”

“Then this needs to be taken care of in the coming month. After that, it will be too late. She’ll show,” Constance said.

Julie didn’t say a thing. She was too ashamed to say what she knew in her heart and her head. She had changed since confessing her sin. She wasn’t relieved, but she was wiser. She knew that her feelings for the father of her child had been built on sand. I got carried away, she thought. Her interlude with Sebastien was no more than a passing fancy, a stray moment, a flash that blinded her. She had deluded herself.

“Sebastien will never agree to marry me,” she mumbled, interrupting her parents’ conversation.

“I would like to see that,” Donatien said. “When you make a mistake, it’s your duty to make amends. Besides, he’s not the one who decides. He’s still a minor. His father and I will decide. If need be, I’ll go to Nîmes.”

Donatien was sure of himself. After all, he thought, our two families are already united. I’m sure Rochefort will be reasonable.

Rather than call Anselme on the phone, Donatien decided to take the train to Nîmes to see him in person. Constance went along. Julie remained at La Fenouillère.

The Rouvières arrived at Louise’s house after letting her know they were coming. They hadn’t told her why. Louise was surprised, because her parents had never before visited her in Nîmes. When the taxi dropped them off in front of the house, Louise ran out to meet them.

“I hope nothing’s wrong,” she said, rushing into her mother’s arms.

“No, don’t worry, my dear.”

“It’s nothing serious, but it’s something that needs attention,” Donatien said.

“Well, come in. We can talk inside.”

Tended by their nurse, Louise’s children were upstairs. Jean-Christophe was at work. Vincent was at school. The servants were busy with their tasks, and the house was calm.

“So what brings you?” Louise asked.

Donatien asked Constance to talk first. She got right to the point.

Louise was stunned. “I never thought that would happen to Julie. And five months went by without anybody noticing? I can’t believe it. I’ll have to keep a sharper eye.”

“What do you mean, Louise?” Constance asked.

“Oh, nothing. I was thinking about Vincent and Faustine.

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