Meals in France can last for hours. And when guests are invited, they usually do. Luckily, since tonight was a school night, we only spent a half hour over each course. I didn’t want my grandparents to have enough time to get too far past the polite conversation stage into the personal information stage with my mysterious guest.
“So, Vincent, I would guess you’re a student?” Papy asked about halfway through the hors d’oeuvres. Vincent answered that he was studying law. “At such a young age? Not wanting to pry, but how old . . .” My grandfather let his sentence fade out so he wouldn’t have to ask a direct question.
“I’m nineteen. But my uncle had me tutored privately, so I’m a couple of years ahead.”
“Lucky boy!” Papy nodded approvingly.
After that, Vincent deflected more personal questions by asking his own. Papy was delighted to tell him in detail about his business and the travels he had made to pick up the special objects he dealt in, which had taken him all over the Middle East and North Africa.
Vincent mentioned his interest in antique and ancient weaponry, and that conversation alone got us through the main dish, a tender-as-butter side of beef. Mamie asked him about his uncle’s painting collection and seemed impressed by his broad knowledge of the artists and stylistic periods.
By the time we had gotten to dessert, Vincent and my family were talking and laughing together as if they had known one another for years. He and Georgia teased each other and teased me, and I could see Mamie glancing between Vincent and myself and looking pleased with what she saw.
Finally, after settling into the comfortable sitting room chairs with decaf espressos and a plate of chocolate truffles, Mamie asked Vincent if he would like to join us for dinner in two weeks. “It’s Kate’s seventeenth birthday on December ninth, and since she refused to let us give her a party, we thought we’d have an informal dinner here at home.”
“Now that is very interesting information,” Vincent said, smiling broadly at me.
I put my head in my hands and shook my head. “I don’t like to make a big deal about birthdays,” I moaned.
Vincent gestured to the others and said, “Well, too bad that the rest of us do!”
“It’s settled, then?” asked Mamie, looking at me for approval.
I grimaced but nodded my head.
“Now that we’re handing invitations out left and right, how about coming out with me and Kate on Friday night, Vincent?” asked Georgia.
“I would love to, but I already have plans that night.” He winked at me.
“Not with Kate, you don’t!” said Georgia defensively. “She’s promised my friend Lucien to come to a party at his club. And from what I’ve heard, you might want to accompany her, since he’s promised to supply a crop of handsome friends for all the single ladies showing—” Georgia stopped midsentence, seeing the dark look spreading across Vincent’s face.
“Are you talking about Lucien Poitevin?” he asked.
Georgia nodded. “Do you know him?”
Vincent’s face turned flame red in seconds flat. He looked like a pressure cooker about to explode. “I know of him. And quite honestly, even if I didn’t already have plans, I would have to refuse.” I could tell he was using great restraint to sound calm.
“Vincent!” I whispered. “What—” He cut me off by taking my hand and unintentionally (I hoped) squeezing it so hard it hurt. This is officially very bad, I thought.
“Who is this Lucien Poitevin?” asked Papy sternly, frowning at Georgia.
“He’s a very good friend!” she retorted, glaring at Vincent.
The room was quiet. Vincent finally leaned toward her and said in his most diplomatic voice, “I wouldn’t say this if I wasn’t a hundred percent sure of myself, but Lucien Poitevin doesn’t deserve to stand in the same room as you, Georgia, much less be counted among your friends.”
There was a collective dropping of jaws. Georgia, for once, seemed lost for words. She looked like she had been slapped. And then had a bucket of ice poured down her back.
Mamie and Papy gave each other a look that made it clear they had been worrying about Georgia’s nocturnal activities.
Georgia gave both me and Vincent an evil glare and then stood abruptly and stormed out of the room.
Mamie broke the silence. “Vincent, could you clarify why you think Georgia shouldn’t be associating with this man?”
Vincent was staring at the coffee table. “Excuse me for causing this lovely dinner to end on a bad note. It’s just that I know of this person, and wouldn’t want anyone I cared about to have anything to do with him. But I’ve said enough. Again, my apologies for upsetting your granddaughter in your own home.”
Papy shook his head and held a hand up, as if it was no trouble, and Mamie stood to collect the cups. As I got up to help her, she said, “Now don’t worry yourself, Vincent. We try to keep a certain measure of openness and honesty in this household, so your comments are not unwelcome. I’m sure Georgia will apologize for her temper next time she sees you.”
“Don’t bet on it,” I said under my breath.