Page 7 of The Way We Were

They paused while the waiter set down a bowl of sliced strawberries, plates of fried eggs and toast, and cups of chocolate.

“We seem to have the same sweet tooth,” Miss Fournier said, lifting her cup as if in a salute.

Lucy found herself almost liking the woman, and that wasn’t the point of this breakfast. After she’d had several bites of her toast dipped in egg, she set down her fork and met Miss Fournier’s gaze. “It seems my forthrightness must continue, because my husband tells me he accompanied you to England for a marriage your father arranged. That seems rather unusual these days.”

“Not to the Indians,” Miss Fournier said dryly. “I often wondered if that was how my father came up with the idea.” Then she sighed. “I believe he was trying to see me settled back in England rather than live out my life in India. He knew I missed my homeland, silly as that sounds for someone who doesn’t remember living here. And the only person he would entrust with my care was Captain Lawton. The captain believes my betrothed should only be the one man my father picked out to take care of me, as if I cannot make decisions on my own. I happen to believe that honoring the spirit of my father’s wishes, that I be settled with a good man, is more important than who that man is. After all, Sir Gideon Tupper isn’t just an old friend, he’s an old friend, more my father’s age than mine. What would I even have in common with him?” She sighed. “Do forgive me, Mrs. Lawton. My troubles are my own.”

Maybe it was too soon to believe that Miss Fournier did not wish for a relationship with Reggie, but Lucy found it far too easy to accept her story. Was that a mistake? Was she being too gullible?

And if this was all true, there was Reggie’s part in the woman’s drama, his siding with her father instead of her.

As if Miss Fournier was reading Lucy’s mind, she said, “Please forgive me if I sound ungrateful for all that your husband has done for me.”

Lucy tried not to wince at how Miss Fournier’s words could be taken.

“Captain Lawton thinks I need to meet the man before I make a decision, but I’ve exchanged enough letters to know I do not wish to marry him.”

Lucy couldn’t help thinking that if Reggie had been courting her with the kind of letters he’d sent from India, she wouldn’t want to marry him either.

Miss Fournier looked around and lowered her voice. “I have been corresponding with another young officer I knew in India, who has since left the military and become a vicar in his small village. I know he is not as well settled as Sir Gideon, but he has a comfortable living. And to become a member of a small community seems…heavenly.”

“Has he asked you to marry him?”

“Not in so many words. He would never presume, not with my current situation. But if he knew I was free…” Miss Fournier heaved a sigh and closed her eyes.

Lucy didn’t know what to think, if all of this was fiction to hide her relationship with Reggie, or if Miss Fournier was honestly confiding in her, a stranger, because she was desperate.

It seemed silly to think Reggie would allow Lucy to consort with his mistress—or was it the perfect cover? Had he changed so much in a year? She certainly did not feel like the same person. Grief and loneliness had changed her. Maybe it had changed him for the worse. Maybe he hadn’t been able to bear the loneliness.

For now, Lucy had to pretend that she believed Miss Fournier’s explanation. “My husband has always been a loyal man,” she said, wondering bitterly if that was still true. “And he held your father in great esteem. Of course he would want to do what he promised the man.”

Miss Fournier’s shoulders seemed to slump a bit, and she used a fork to pick at the egg left on her plate.

“Does he know about your vicar?”

Miss Fournier’s gaze lifted back to hers. “He does, but he keeps trying to convince me that my father knew me well, knew what would best suit me.” She hesitated, and her gaze became imploring. “Would you consider helping me, Mrs. Lawton?”

Lucy stiffened.

Miss Fourier raised both hands. “Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t ask you to go against your husband. I just would like your help convincing him to consider my own plan, meeting both men before making a decision.”

Part of Lucy did not want to become involved. Reggie had brought this woman into her life, sowing chaos after she’d just found her equilibrium. If Lucy did nothing, Miss Fournier would meet her fiancé and anything that happened would be her own problem. Maybe Miss Fournier didn’t want to marry this elderly man because she wanted Reggie.

It was hard to believe that this friendly, sympathetic woman could so totally fool Lucy. And that Reggie would be a willing party to keeping his mistress and his wife together like this. Much as she wanted a distance between them now, she could not imagine that he had become a totally different man.

Taking a deep breath, she had to admit to herself that she believed both Reggie and Miss Fournier.

And inside, she felt a little lighter, the feelings of betrayal dissipating as if they’d never existed. She still didn’t want to return to the volatility and passion of their earlier marriage, but she always wanted to be able to respect the man she was married to.

And now that those doubts were behind her, she had to face the fact that Miss Fournier needed help, and since Lucy spent much of her life helping others, she could not stop now.

Miss Fournier had finished her eggs and was touching a napkin to her mouth, eyes downcast. Lucy realized she had been considering her decision for a long time.

“Very well, Miss Fournier, I will discuss your situation with my husband.”

The woman gave a start when she’d begun to speak, and then a smile of relieved happiness spread across her face. “Oh, Mrs. Lawton⁠—”

It was Lucy’s turn to raise a hand, interrupting her. “I can promise nothing. As I said, my husband is a man who would remain loyal to the promises made to his commander. But allowing you to meet both men seems harmless enough. I will discuss it with him.”

Miss Fournier sat back in her chair, briefly closing her eyes, pressing her trembling lips together. Lucy felt embarrassed at such a display of restrained emotions, and she imagined how the last months had been, sailing toward a marriage the woman didn’t want.

Once, Lucy had also felt such emotions, had felt her life couldn’t be complete if she continued to allow the pursuit of one man while desperately wanting another. When she and Reggie had been free to be together, it was as if the world of wonderful possibilities had opened up before her.

But simply being with the man one wanted didn’t mean one could avoid life’s challenges. Perhaps Miss Fournier had these harsh lessons to learn, but it was not up to Lucy to explain that.

Not that Miss Fournier would listen. Once, Lucy wouldn’t have listened either.