Wronged (The Cuvier Widows Book 1) (18 page)

“Give it time. It will get better,” Marian
reassured the boy.

She tossed the ball, the pitch going high and
wide. Yet the boy swung, missing the ball by several inches.

Philip picked up the baseball and glanced at
it as if it were defective. He then tossed the ball back to his
mother who caught it. After the child repositioned himself, Marian
threw the ball again, but this time Philip stepped too close and
the ball connected with his forehead, knocking the child back.

Marian ran toward the boy, who dropped to the
grass holding his head. “Oh my God, are you all right, Philip?”

“Ouch! You hit me,” Philip said,
embarrassment and hurt pride filling his voice.

Louis pulled the gate open and walked toward
the trio, wanting to make sure that Philip wasn’t hurt

“Let me see your forehead. I didn’t throw it
that hard, so you couldn’t have been hurt very bad,” Marian said,
her hand brushing back the hair from his face.

The boy scrunched up his face trying hard not
to cry. “I want to quit. You can’t throw. I can’t hit. I knew it
was a mistake to ask you to help me.”

Louis tried not to laugh as Marian bent over
a distraught Philip. The boy was not happy that his mother had hit
him with the baseball.

“Momma,” Renee said tugging on Marian’s skirt
as she noticed him coming toward them.

“Just a minute, Renee,” Marian replied, her
hand stroking her son’s forehead. “There’s not even a bump.”

“It’s that man,” the little girl said.

As if she suddenly realized what Renee had
said, Marian turned and glanced at Louis.

Their gaze met and he stared into her gray
eyes watching as her pupils widened slightly. She looked beautiful,
mussed from playing with her children. He swallowed. Whenever she
looked at him with that warm, lazy gleam, he felt the world
disappearing, receding, and he wanted to block out everything but
the two of them.

“You’re fine, Philip,” she said, distracted,
her eyes never wavering from Louis’s face.

“Sorry to interrupt. You didn’t come to the
office today and I was worried. I thought I would bring you the
latest financial numbers along with some beignets I picked up in
the marketplace.”

She rose slowly and for a moment he wasn’t
sure how she would react to his unannounced presence. He should
have come through the front door, he should never have walked
around to the back garden unannounced. But the sound of laughter
had drawn him, lured him here, and when he’d seen her, he couldn’t
turn away.

She swiped a loose strand of silken hair away
from her face. “Thank you. I’m trying to help Philip with his
batting practice.”

“She pitches like a girl,” Philip said
standing and dusting off his pants, while keeping a close watch on
Louis and his mother.

Renee moved in closer to her mother, gazing
at him in curiosity.

“You want to play?” the little girl asked. “I
think brother needs someone beside Momma to throw the ball. He’s
not getting any better.”

Louis laughed at the child’s honesty.

Marian reached down and stroked her
daughter’s hair. “Renee, Mr. Fournet has other obligations. He just
dropped by to give me some papers.”

Louis winked at Renee and then returned his
gaze to Marian. He’d thought of going to a club later tonight to
sit and drink, listen to the music, and maybe argue politics, but
he liked the idea of playing baseball. And he wasn’t ready to
leave, not before he’d proven to her he was sharing information
about the finances of Cuvier Shipping. Not before he had a private
moment with Marian.

“I’m not busy,” he replied, with a slight
shrug. “I can’t remember the last time I played baseball, but I bet
I could remember how to pitch. I’d like to play, Renee,” Louis said
gazing at the child. He glanced at Marian. “If it’s all right with
you.”

“But—but don’t you have someplace you need to
be?” she stuttered, her eyes wide and questioning.

The bright afternoon sun shone on her rosy
cheeks and Louis didn’t know if her blush was from the heat or the
fact that he intended to stay.

He picked up the bat and handed it to Philip,
then glanced at Marian, his gaze serious. “There’s no place I’d
rather spend the afternoon.”

She closed her mouth, seeming confused.

“Good,” Philip said. “Maybe now I’ll get some
pitches I can hit.”

Louis laid the beignets and the papers down
on a bench and began to remove his coat and loosen his cravat,
pulling the tie from around his neck and tossing the clothing onto
the bench. He removed his cuff links and rolled up the sleeves of
his shirt, past his elbows.

Louis turned his attention to Philip. “I
watched you from the fence and noticed you were holding the bat too
high. Here, let me show you.”

Placing Philip’s hands in the correct
position on the bat, he then arranged the child’s body in an
accurate stance. “Now cock your bat back a little more like this.”
Louis stepped back and examined the boy’s posture. “It’s probably
not perfect, but it’s closer. It feels awkward but you’ll soon get
used to it.”

Marian still stood at the center of the yard
watching him warily. He walked toward her and took the ball from
her.

“I’ll pitch. You and Renee can be
outfielders,” he said with a laugh.

“I’ve never been one to play games. I think I
should sit and watch,” Marian said shaking her head.

“Oh no. A woman like you could use a few
games in her life,” he said, his voice husky and low. “Philip,
don’t you think your mother and Renee should play with us?”

“Nah, they’re girls. Baseball is for
men.”

“Spoken by a child who has yet to discover
women,” he said low enough for her ears only. “No,” Louis said. “Me
and Renee against you and your mother, Philip.”

“Oh, all right, but Renee can’t hit the ball
and mother can’t run,” Philip said.

“Well then we’re even,” Philip acknowledged.
Marian stood there staring at him in shock. Finally she spoke, a
slight smile on her lips. “You know, you just walked in here and
suddenly you’re staying and we’re playing ball. Do you always take
control?”

“Every chance I get. Besides, you have to
admit that you needed some help. Philip could have been seriously
hurt by one of your throws. I really am doing you a favor.”

She laughed. “You’re very sure of
yourself.”

“That’s because I’m good at what I do.”

“Humph,” she said placing both of her hands
on her hips. “I’m not going to challenge you on that one, because
frankly I don’t want to know what you’re good at”

He winked. “You’d be surprised.”

A blush stained her cheeks as they stood
staring at one another. The thought of showing her just how good he
could be slammed into his gut and he had to take a relaxing
breath.

“Come on, guys, let’s play ball!” Philip
yelled getting impatient with the adults.

Renee had already taken her place in the
outfield and chased a butterfly while waiting for the action to
commence.

“Do you know how to use a bat?” Louis asked
Marian.

“Only as a weapon.”

“Hmm. That’s something to remember.”

She laughed. “Do.”

The afternoon felt natural, as if they did
this every day. After the atmosphere of Saturday night, it felt
good to once again be verbally engaged with one another. He’d
missed their skirmishes today at the office.

“Your son’s getting impatient. I’ll throw to
him first and then we’ll show you how to bat.”

“I can hardly wait.”

“Me, too,” he said wondering if he could get
away with wrapping his arms around her while he showed her the
proper techniques of holding the bat.

Baseball had a way of growing on a man,
especially when he was going to put his arms around a tempting
woman like Marian, who challenged him mentally and physically. And
for this moment he refused to consider the consequences of the
growing attraction he felt for her.

***

Marian looked around the dinner table and
watched her children chatting with Louis about their recent
baseball game. For the first time in years, a man presided at the
dinner table and a strange feeling had taken up residence in the
pit of her stomach.

She gazed at the dark-haired man, her eyes
lingering on his mouth as she reflected on the brief kiss he’d
given her. That kiss had left her sleepless for several nights as
she remembered the feeling of his lips covering hers. His drugging,
demanding kiss had left her knees trembling, her stomach
fluttering, and her mind rioting with questions.

“Momma, can we stay up until Mr. Fournet
leaves?” Renee asked, bringing Marian back from the memory of
Louis’s kiss.

Marian glanced at Louis, wanting him all to
herself.

“We need to discuss some business after
dinner, Renee, so I think you had better go up after dinner.”

“But I’m not sleepy,” the child said.

“Tonight is bath night, you will certainly be
sleepy after that,” Marian said, knowing the child would be in bed
asleep within minutes of getting out of the tub.

“We’ll play ball again another day, Renee,”
Louis said, soothing her daughter.

“Do you play dolls?” she asked.

Louis smiled. “I’ve never played dolls.
You’ll have to show me.”

“It’s not hard,” Renee informed him. “Even
boys can do it.”

“It’s a girl’s game and men don’t play with
dolls,” Philip said, exasperated, clearly embarrassed by his
sister.

“You don’t know that!” Renee said, her voice
filled with irritation.

“Don’t forget your manners,” Marian said
quietly. “You are at the dinner table.”

Both children hushed, but when Renee thought
Marian wasn’t looking, she stuck out her tongue at her brother.

“Renee, one more and you’ll leave the table,”
Marian warned.

“Yes, ma’am.”

When they finished eating, Marian sent the
children upstairs to the maids to help them with their baths, while
she and Louis retired to the sitting room.

“Would you like a brandy?” she asked
Louis.

“Thank you, yes,” he replied taking a seat on
one of the small settees in the room.

Marian poured him a brandy and herself a
sherry and handed him his glass.

She sat in a chair across from him, quietly
studying him, knowing she needed to apologize for her outburst the
other day, but not wanting to spoil the cozy atmosphere. She
twisted the glass in her hand, suddenly feeling quite nervous. For
the first time that day they were alone and she knew she could no
longer postpone the apology.

“Louis, before we start going over the
figures, I need to apologize for my behavior the other night. I’m
sorry for my outburst. I was wrong to accuse you of—of not telling
me...”

She ran out of words and sat back against her
chair watching the way his eyes seemed to warm as she’d spoken.

Louis’s mouth pulled taut and he shook his
head. “No, Marian. I should have told you everything regarding the
business. That’s why I brought over the newest figures tonight for
you. I wanted you to see I’m honoring my promise to you.”

She nodded and couldn’t help but smile. “You
said you would do better, so I promise that I too will work harder
to make our partnership succeed.”

Louis leaned toward her, his hand reaching
out and grasping hers. Just as he started to say something, Renee
knocked on the door and called. “Momma, I’m all ready for bed.”

Marian jumped up, startled by her daughter’s
voice. There was no doubt that Renee had just taken the quickest
bath ever for a small child. Marian took a deep breath, gazing at
Louis, and then slowly rose. “I’ll return in just a few
moments.”

As she went out the door she took Renee by
the hand, leading the child up the stairs, wishing somehow that her
daughter hadn’t chosen that moment to come into the room. Wishing
that Louis had finished his sentence. They walked into the child’s
bedroom and Renee crawled into her bed. Marian leaned over and
tucked her in.

“Goodnight, Renee,” she said, kissing the
child’s cheek.

“Do you like Mr. Fournet?” Renee asked,
hugging her mother close.

“He’s my business partner, honey.”

“Oh. Could he be our new Daddy if we asked
him to?” she asked.

“No, dear,” Marian replied, not wanting to go
into any other details.

“Why not? Doesn’t he like children?”

Marian tried not to feel frustrated by her
daughter’s questions. “Mr. Fournet likes children. But usually when
people marry they're in love.”

“Don’t you love him? Aunt Claire said we're
supposed to love everyone.”

“There are different kinds of love. Marriage
requires a special kind of love. Now it’s time for you to go to
sleep.”

“Oh, all right. Night, Momma.” The little
girl turned over and snuggled deeper into the covers.

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

Next, Marian went to her son’s room and
knocked on the door before she opened it. “I came to say
goodnight,” she said, as she glanced at her boy.

“Goodnight Momma,” he said, lying in bed,
reading. “Go to sleep soon,” she reminded him.

He nodded. “That was fun today with Mr.
Fournet. Ask him to come back soon.”

“I’ll ask him. Now get some sleep.”

“Okay, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

She closed his door. Her children liked Louis
and that gave her a warm feeling, but not warm enough to marry him,
she thought with a smile. She hurried back down the stairs to her
waiting guest.

“Sorry; they’re in bed now. We shouldn’t be
interrupted again.”

“I’ll just go over these figures and then
I’ll be on my way,” Louis said.

“Would you like some more brandy?” she
asked.

“No, thank you.”

She wanted to resume the atmosphere they had
before she left the room. Somehow she wanted to hear what he had
been about to say. She sat down in the chair, wishing she had the
nerve to sit beside him on the settee.