***
Jean had been dead for almost two weeks and the newspapers had yet to forget about the three women. After the incident with the newspapermen, Marian had kept her children home from school. The thought of her babies surrounded by a crowd of men shouting questions left her shivering with fright. Soon there would be some new scandal to report and hopefully the newspapers would forget about Jean Cuvier’s wives and her children could return to school. But until she thought they were safe they would stay home.
Marian looked up from her correspondence to see a servant in the doorway.
“Mrs. Cuvier, a Louis Fournet is here to see you,” the maid announced.
“Thank you, show him into the study. I’ll be right there,” she said. The servant nodded her head and backed out of the doorway.
Marian stood and brushed a piece of lint from her black skirt. She wore the color of mourning in deference to her children’s feelings, not because she was honoring Jean’s memory. Philip and Renee would know the truth regarding their father soon enough, but for the time being she would protect them and their memory of Jean.
Pulling her hem aside, she made her way down the hall to the study.
As she entered the room, Louis Fournet stood, his back to her, gazing out upon Josephine Street.
“Good morning, Mr. Fournet,” she said, standing behind him. He turned and glanced at her, his dark blue eyes assessing her with a look that reminded her of warm, lazy, summer days. The compassion of that look seemed to linger, spreading through her.
“Mrs. Cuvier, I hope you are well and have recovered from our carriage ride the other day?”
“Of course, though I still worry about newspapermen. I do hope this dreadful business dies away soon.” Oh God, how could she have used the word “dies” in the same sentence as Jean’s scandal? Inside, Mr. Fournet, must be laughing at her.
He smiled showing even white teeth, the cleft in his chin prominent. “There will be some other event to take their attention away soon enough. But today I came to show you I’m more knowledgeable in regard to business than I am to children.”
“Oh yes, now I remember. We were talking about children that day and you made a suggestion that I found rather lacking in merit.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a widower, not a father. You seem very close to your children.”
“Yes, I am. Please take a seat and tell me about my husband’s business. I want to know everything.” Marian sat across from her new partner. A man she had yet to decide she could trust.
For the next thirty minutes, Marian listened as Mr. Fournet described how the scandal that had jolted her life was also wreaking havoc on the shipping business that might save her from having to remarry. The business that was going to support them in future years and keep her son’s inheritance alive had seen a reduction in customers since Jean’s death.
After Mr. Fournet finished speaking she sat gazing at the polished and distinguished looking, dark-haired man. Was his character as good as his appearance?
“So what are your suggestions, Mr. Fournet? You’ve told me the negatives, now what do you consider the solutions?” she asked, watching his expression closely.
He stood and walked across the room to the bookcase and then turned to face her, leaning against Jean’s liquor cabinet. “Considering the fact that Mr. Cuvier’s extra households have put such a drain on your family’s resources, I would suggest that we sell the business and end our partnership. This way you would have a healthy bank balance once again and I would be free to consider other business pursuits.”
Marian sat back for a moment, stunned by his suggestion. When she spoke she tried to make light of the situation, yet couldn’t be more serious. “I knew you wouldn’t like having a woman partner, but I certainly hadn’t expected you to try to get rid of me so quickly. Shame on you, Mr. Fournet.”
He chuckled. “Mrs. Cuvier, I feel honored to have the responsibility of having you as my partner. This decision has nothing to do with working with you, but rather what’s best for you and your family. And considering that you need the money, I think it’s the only solution.”
Would it be better to sell the business, she wondered?
Marian gave him her best “be-at-ease” smile while she contemplated his response. Somehow it felt wrong. It was as if he was telling her what he thought she desired to hear, when actually his solution was just the opposite of what she really wanted.
“In the will, my husband asked you to continue the business for his son. Why will you not do as he asked?”
“Under different circumstances, I would do what Jean requested. But Mrs. Cuvier, selling the business would ease your financial burden. You wouldn’t have to worry anymore,” he answered her.
“Worry is a part of life. And though it would ease my financial situation temporarily, I would have no way of producing an income,” she reflected. “What happens when that money runs out?” she asked, listening to her instincts telling her that somehow his advice was all wrong.
“The money you could make from the sale of the business should last you for many years. If you invest it, your family would never have to worry about money again,” he said, walking across the room toward her.
“But you told me today that the scandal has tainted just about everything and that business was slow. How do you know that we can sell the business and get its full value right now? I would think that now would be a terrible time to sell.”
“A new buyer could change the name and then they wouldn’t be attached to the scandal,” he countered.
“This company has been Cuvier Shipping for many years, it’s not going to lose its reputation overnight.” She watched his face and saw something that looked like surprise reflected in his eyes. He stepped back and took a seat in a chair. He leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees as he observed her for a few moments, making her feel uncomfortable.
“Do you think we should wait?” he asked.
“You yourself said that in time there would be another scandal to draw the public’s attention away from the Cuvier's.” She took a deep breath. “Mr. Fournet, the shipping business is my primary source of income. You heard the lawyer say that I must watch my finances closely. If I sell this business, I lose my source of income, my son’s inheritance, and I would probably be forced to remarry someday.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I’m willing to take a chance that Cuvier Shipping will rebound. Of course you mentioned other business pursuits. Perhaps you are wanting out of Cuvier Shipping, Mr. Fournet?”
“No.” He looked across the room at a portrait of Jean on the wall, not quite meeting her gaze. “If you are willing to stay and fight this battle, risking your family’s prosperity, then I could never leave until I knew you were secure.”
Marian suddenly had the uncanny sense that Mr. Fournet was not being totally honest with her and she wondered what about. “Mr. Fournet, in the last few weeks my life has changed more than all the years I’ve been an adult. I’ve found out my husband was a liar, a bigamist and he kept me in the dark regarding our financial situation.” She took a deep breath. “Therefore, I think it would be wise of me to get to know the shipping business before I make any decisions. I intended to wait several weeks before I approached you, but I think now is the time to let you know of my plans.” She smiled at him and leaned forward just enough to get his attention. “I plan on becoming very involved with Cuvier Shipping. How else can I know how to help my son, if I don’t know the business?”
She watched his eyes widen, and then she pressed on. “Though I know it’s highly improper for a lady, I intend to take Jean’s place.”
Marian wanted to laugh at the stunned expression on his face. “Mr. Fournet?”
He blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. “You have caught me totally unprepared.”
“It seems the logical step if I am going to make sound business decisions.”
“Really, Mrs. Cuvier, I think you’re overreac
ting. I can bring daily reports to you if you’d like, but the shipping business is no place for a lady. Need I remind you that you are in mourning? It’s improper for you to leave the house, let alone go to work each day.”
‘‘Thank you for your kind consideration, Mr. Fournet I’m sure some people will be appalled at my complete lack of propriety, but I am wearing black out of deference to my children. I owe Jean nothing.” She smiled, watching his stunned expression. “Regardless, starting Monday morning, I have every intention of taking Jean’s place.”
“Mrs. Cuvier, this is unheard of! A woman in your position with children should be at home. If you want to help the business, I suggest you stay at home and not bring any additional scandal on Cuvier Shipping.”
She raised her brows at him. “What are you afraid of, Mr. Fournet?” She paused. “I sense you want to sell the business—I want to keep it intact. You’ve mentioned other business pursuits, which make me leery of your reasons for recommending that I sell. I’ve already been deceived at the hands of one man. What makes you think that I’m going to trust you and your judgment?”
He stared at her for a moment, clearly offended.
“You have just questioned my integrity, Mrs. Cuvier. I understand your not wanting to trust me, but there is more to running a business than just showing up. A woman has no place in a shipping office.”
“I will be there on Monday, Mr. Fournet,” she said straightening her back, the smile on her face frozen into place. The tall grandfather clock ticked in the silence, the steady rhythm the only sound in the study.
Louis Fournet stood. “I would ask that you reconsider, but I think you’ve made up your mind.”
“Yes, I have,” she said sharply.
“Then I shall expect to see you on Monday. But I warn you, you will not find the place one where a lady feels comfortable. But it is your choice, not mine. And if Cuvier Shipping goes under, please understand, madam, that you will be blamed. Not by me, but by the sailors along the river.”
“Cuvier Shipping will not go under, Mr. Fournet. My share will not be sold. What you choose to do with your part is up to you. But I will be showing up for work on Monday to look after my son’s inheritance and to protect our way of life.”
“Monday, then,” he said with a polite coldness that Marian found oddly amusing.
He stood and walked from the study. Marian followed him to the front door. Opening the wooden door she glanced at him. “True to your word, Mr. Fournet, you are well versed in shipping.”
“And you, madam, should stay home with your children where you belong,” he informed her sternly.
She nodded her head, noticing his rigid posture, his flashing blue eyes. She’d certainly put a bug under his collar.
“True, but circumstances prevent me, so I shall take matters into my own hands.”
“If by chance you change your mind, I will be greatly relieved. And we can act as if this discussion never took place.”
Marian nodded and smiled. “We may pretend this discussion never took place, but I will be at the office Monday morning,” Marian said with certainty.
She shut the door, leaned against the wooden portal and sighed. What in the world had she just done? Yes, she was doing what was necessary to protect her children, but she did hate stepping into a man’s world.