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

taken aback by Jules’s maturity, calm, and good looks, while thinking how much this little brown-haired child Aurélien adopted had disturbed the Laverzac family back then.
    “You don’t come see us very often. …”
    She told Jules to sit back down and she filled everyone’s glasses. She moved with ease and grace. She almost never left the house so she could keep her mother-in-law company. Old Mrs. Billot was handicapped, stuck in a wheelchair. Marie adored her, having never forgotten the warm welcome she’d received after marrying Antoine, in spite of her very modest origins. They’d consoled each other when the two girls left, and chatted all day long.
    “You’re taking my husband away from me tonight if I understand correctly,” she said. “Go on, Antoine. … Go get ready…”
    Marie had always been in favor of the relationship between Antoine and Aurélien. By marrying Alexandre, Dominique had satisfied her mother’s desire to become part of a family considered inaccessible until then. Although times had changed, Marie remained sensitive to social differences. To think that her grandsons bore the name Laverzac and that they would one day rule over an estate like Fonteyne filled her with happiness.
    She caught Jules staring at Laurène and forced herself not to smile.
    “Just think,” said her daughter, “this is the first time in years that the entire family’s been together. Even Robert came!”
    Jules looked away from Laurène and put down his glass. Laurène’s overly cheerful voice suddenly annoyed him. He wondered if jealousy had anything to do with it, this unjustified irritation he was experiencing. Laurène’s joy made him uneasy.
    “Aurélien doesn’t talk about it much, but you can’t imagine how proud he is of Robert.”
    Laurène was speaking to her mother, and Jules was paying close attention to her intonations. Marie picked up Jules’s change of attitude and interrupted her daughter.
    “It’s already seven,” she said. “You should go. … Antoine will join you there.”
    “You go ahead, Jules,” Laurène said. “I’ll wait for Dad.”
    The young man was already standing. Marie walked him to the Jeep. She fumbled for something to say and took him by the shoulders affectionately.
    “You should come see me more often, Jules,” she finally said. “By yourself or with the girls, just come by. …”
    This feminine warmth, which he wasn’t used to, disoriented Jules even more. He gave Marie a bit of an automatic smile, turned on the engine, and took off.
    Jules took the time to change before walking into the main living room that evening. He told everyone that Antoine and Laurène would soon arrive and then sat over by the fireplace, in his favorite spot.
    “Antoine is going to ruin our dinner,” Aurélien grumbled.
    Even with the windows opened wide, the air was stifling. Pauline chatted with Louis-Marie and Robert, both of them listening to her attentively. She had her own way of telling anecdotes, punctuating her stories with bursts of laughter and winks, easily turning men into admirers. Jules observed her for a few minutes, with curiosity rather than disapproval. Women like Pauline didn’t do anything for him. He thought that both his brothers had the same dumb look of awe, and he had no trouble seeing the disaster looming.
    “Jules!”
    He turned to Aurélien, who’d just jumped to his feet. A flash of lighting illuminated the terrace, just outside the main living room. The heavy rolling sound of thunder could be heard in the distance. Jules followed his father out the door. The first raindrops crashed down onto the terrace’s slabs. The men remained motionless for a moment, listening to the rain.
    “It’s not so bad. …”
    Jules steered his father back under the terrace’s awning.
    “Come on,” he said, “you’re going to get wet.”
    A clap of thunder interrupted him, and all the lights in the house went out. They heard Pauline laugh. Annoyed, Aurélien