A Bordeaux Dynasty: A Novel by Françoise Bourdin Read Free Book Online

absorbed by Fonteyne. His only extravagance had been to buy a horse and fix up the stable, two winters earlier. He’d also convinced Aurélien to acquire a pony for his grandchildren, and every Wednesday he gave Alex’s sons riding lessons. Once in a while, he went hunting in the woods with his dog, carrying Aurélien’s old 20-gauge shotgun. His visits to Bordeaux and Margaux were always motivated by business and he never took a vacation. He liked his existence and didn’t long for any other. At the age of twenty, back when he was completing the studies imposed by his father, he’d gone out with girls just like his brothers had in their day. He’d had a few affairs that ended quickly and never caused him any pain since he stuck to picking up women in nightclubs and limited himself to carnal pleasures. Without giving the matter too much thought, he understood that acting this way protected his freedom, the total independence he needed in order to devote himself to Fonteyne. And so he’d managed never to think about his future in terms of starting a family. And Laurène would have disturbed his serenity. Paradoxically, his father’s overly protective attitude toward the young woman suited him, as he didn’t have to ask himself too many questions, and he could retreat behind this settled and quiet conclusion.
    Hysterical barking snapped him out of his reverie. Cutting through the lawn, his pointer, overjoyed, was running like crazy toward him. The dog jumped in the back of the Jeep and curled up there. As Jules turned around to pet him, he saw Laurène standing nearby.
    “You seem very deep in your thoughts. …” she said with a smile that troubled Jules.
    He motioned for her to get on board and put the Jeep in gear. They drove toward the ferry. The air was heavy and the sky was turning black. They arrived just in time and didn’t have to wait to get on the boat. They remained side by side, enjoying the relatively cool air the crossing of the estuary provided.
    Laurène waited until they were on the road to Mazion to ask, “Do you think that Alex is going to do okay in Bordeaux?”
    Jules made an evasive gesture that meant he didn’t feel like talking about it.
    When they arrived, Antoine Billot was standing in front of his house, chatting with his cellar master. He was Aurélien’s age, but looked older.
    “You hooligan!” he shouted to Jules, as the braking Jeep sent billows of dust into the air. “What are you two doing here at this hour anyway? Aurélien kick you out of the house? What did you do to get in trouble?”
    Antoine laughed, holding Laurène tight against him. He was surprised to see Jules lose his composure and look away.
    Hmm , he thought, usually she’s the one blushing about these sorts of things. …
    “Come on in, kids,” he said. “It’s happy hour!”
    “Yes,” Laurène said, “but we have to hurry. We came to invite you to dinner.”
    “At six in the evening?” Antoine said. “Aurélien’s got some nerve! Well, if I go, it’s only to be with my daughters!”
    They walked inside the house and Antoine, jovial, pushed Jules. He then went over to the cupboard to get some glasses.
    “It doesn’t matter which ones, Antoine. …” Jules said.
    “White wine has no form and doesn’t require the same regard as red,” he and Laurène said together.
    “Does he still say that?” Antoine asked.
    “Every time he drinks your wine,” Jules said.
    Antoine and Marie Ballot’s house was small and modern, but Jules felt comfortable there.
    “Marie!” Antoine called out.
    As soon as she walked into the room, Jules got up to kiss her. He felt a deep affection for Mrs. Billot, as she was exactly what he imagined a mother to be. He had too few memories of Lucie, and Fernande hadn’t been able to fill all of the needs for affection in his childhood.
    “And to think I knew you when you were this tall.”
    She said that to Jules every time she saw him, had for many years. She was always