Wronged (The Cuvier Widows Book 1) by Sylvia McDaniel

Author:Sylvia McDaniel [McDaniel, Sylvia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Murder, cheating, shipping, sex, new orleans, Historical, jennifer blake, bigamy, louisiana, children, shirlee busbee
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Marian sat at her desk trying to focus on the customer files she had pulled, unable to think of anything but the man across the hall.

The last two nights she’d spent tossing and turning in bed, restlessly, her dreams filled with his image. She’d gone over every detail of the afternoon they’d spent together. Her imagination must be playing tricks on her to think he gazed with more than just friendship in his eyes. Yet something in his looks left her hot and restless.

Sighing, Marian glanced blindly at the scattered papers before her. With little experience with men and unable to perpetuate Jean’s interest in their marriage, she doubted her ability to discriminate between a flirtatious glance and a friendly hello. Her observations of the other sex could not be trusted. What made her think any man would be sending her flirtatious looks? After all, sitting behind this desk, few men would think of her as a woman, let alone an attractive one.

Creole women had run businesses in New Orleans for hundreds of years, but the Americans frowned on their women doing anything other than taking care of the family. Yet in a way she was taking care of her family by preserving the business for her son and supporting them.

And though Louis’s family was Creole, he made it clear that he had adopted the American way of thinking that a woman’s place was in the home. Perhaps he viewed her behavior as too masculine to find her attractive?

Footsteps alerted her that someone approached. Henry came into view, but turned toward Louis’s office.

“Excuse me, Mr. Fournet, you have a visitor up front”

Marian stared across the hall at the man her thoughts centered on. Another visitor? Another woman?

Louis glanced up from the papers on his desk. “Who is it?”

“A Mrs. Evette Simone.”

Marian gritted her teeth hearing the name of the well-known widow, renowned for her flirtations. Rumors said she often took a lover, though Marian didn’t know if this were fact or just gossip. Still she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the woman’s daring courage to live the way she wanted, without the restrictions of propriety.

Louis laughed and shook his head. “Bring her back to my office, Henry.”

“Yes, Mr. Fournet,” he said, and trotted off to do his boss’s bidding.

Louis looked up and caught Marian staring at him. He smiled and nodded in her direction. She tilted her head in acquiescence and then quickly returned to her papers.

Another woman. She wasn’t jealous. She wasn’t—just irritated.

“Louis!” the widow called when she saw him.

He came out of his office to greet her in the hallway, their bodies turned toward each other, giving Marian a clear view.

Mrs. Simone’s voice seemed cheerful, her pouty lips turned up in a come-hither smile.

Marian couldn’t resist watching as the widow greeted him taking both of his hands in her own. She pulled him close as she pressed her lips to his cheeks. She leaned back, not releasing his hands and gazed at him.

“Mon cher, I’ve missed you.

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