Free Bride of Desire by Sara Craven Page B

wooden table at her elbow.
     
      She looked up, smiling. ‘Did you rest well, chérie?’
     
      ‘It was good not to be moving,’ Allie evaded. She put Tom down on the blanket that had already been spread on the grass in anticipation, rolling his coloured ball across the grass for him to chase before sitting down and accepting the glass of lemonade that Tante poured for her.
     
      And now it was high time to face a few issues. And with honesty, this time around, if that was possible.
     
      ‘I came across a little drama in Ignac today,’ she remarked, trying to sound casual. ‘A fierce old lady having some family battle in the middle of the road, and refusing to give way.’
     
      Tante chose another length of silk from the box beside her. ‘That would be Madame Teglas,’ she said composedly. ‘Pauvre femme, she hates her unfortunate daughter-in-law, and is convinced that her son wishes to put her in a home. Therefore she makes these scenes in public.’ She shook her head. ‘One day, she will be run over.’
     
      ‘She nearly was—by me.’ Allie was proud of the faint amusement in her voice. ‘Luckily, Remy de Brizat came along and calmed her down.’
     
      She waited tensely for Tante’s response, but the older woman merely nodded, unfazed. ‘He is her doctor, and one of the few people who can deal with her tantrums.’
     
      ‘I see.’ Allie hesitated. ‘That—sounds as if he’s back for good?’ she ventured.
     
      Madelon Colville threaded her needle with care. ‘His father hopes so, certainly. The other partner at the medical centre was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a year ago, and wished to retire, so Remy returned to take his place.’ She looked at Allie over the top of her glasses. ‘You were surprised to see him, peut-être?’
     
      ‘A little, maybe.’ Allie hand-picked her words. ‘I guess I—assumed he would still be inBrazil , or wherever the charity had sent him next.’
     
      Tante nodded. ‘And you feel, I think, that I should have told you he had come back?’
     
      ‘No,’ Allie said, then, ‘Well, maybe. I—I don’t know…’ She paused. ‘Does he know that—I’ve come back, too?’
     
      ‘I saw no reason to tell him.’ Tante shrugged, her face and voice calm. ‘Two years have passed since you parted, ma chère, and the world has moved on—as Remy himself has done. He has dismissed the past and come back to resume his life here, just as he should.
     
      ‘And you also made a decision—to lead your own life inEngland , with this beautiful child.’ Her eyes dwelled thoughtfully on Tom. ‘He is the important one now, and that other time, here with Remy, is over and gone, and should be forgotten.’
     
      She paused. ‘Besides, he may even be married himself when the summer ends.’ She added expressionlessly, ‘No doubt you will remember Solange Geran?’
     
      No doubt…
     
      The pain was suddenly back, slashing savagely at her, forcing Allie to stifle her involuntary gasp.
     
      ‘Yes,’ she returned steadily. ‘Yes, of course I do.’
     
      How could I possibly forget her—the girl who finally brought my make-believe world crashing in ruins around me?
     
      And now—dear God—Remy has come back—to her. I did not bargain for this…
     
      And how can I bear it?
     
      She drank some lemonade, letting the cold tartness trickle over the burning sandpaper that had once been her throat. She made herself sound politely interested. ‘Her gîte business—is it doing well?’
     
      ‘It seems that it is. She has converted another barn, and no longer has time to deliver eggs.’ Tante set a stitch with minute accuracy. ‘Although I had already ceased to buy from her,’ she added almost inconsequentially.
     
      Tom was fast approaching again, clutching his ball to his chest. Allie persuaded him to relinquish it, and rolled it again for him to pursue.
     
      She said quietly, ‘And now she’s going