Love and Splendor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 5 Read Online Free Page A

flaky croissants, glistening with butter. “I must watch my figure”—she saucily quoted Kitty’s fond saying—“so the men will watch me.”
    Travis raised a teasing eyebrow. “Like young Perrine Ribaudt? I hear roses arrived first thing this morning.”
    Dani made a face. “I’m afraid roses won’t smooth over his accusation that I’m trifling with him merely because I won’t marry him.”
    Gone was the twinkle in his eye, and Travis’s voice took on a serious note as he covered her hand with his. “Kitty told me about your conversation last night, Dani, and I agree with you he had no right to make such an insinuation. Would you like for me to speak with him?”
    She shook her head. “I’m not going to think about it anymore,” she announced. “If he wants to be ridiculous, then, sad though it be, I can live without his friendship.”
    Travis nodded his approval. “Good girl,” he said, then added with fondness, “but I can’t blame him for trying. You are lovely, Dani, just like your mother. You have the same charm and grace, though I suspect sometimes you inherited a bit of vinegar from your ‘Poppa’.” He winked.
    “Well, that’s just fine and dandy if I did,” she said. “I just wish I’d inherited it sooner, like years ago, when Aunt Alaina started her evil…”
    She allowed her voice to trail off, deciding not to bring up such an unpleasant subject. They had already spent long hours talking about it when she had first come to Paris to live. They had decided it best, then, to get it all out in the open, discuss it, then put it away and try to forget. Yet, here she was, allowing the ugliness to surface once more.
    She attempted to change the subject abruptly and asked, “Will you be away long? The ballet opens at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra in just three weeks, and Kitty and I are looking forward to having you escort us and make us the envy of every woman in Paris.”
    Travis apologetically explained that in all likelihood he would be away much longer than three weeks, perhaps a month or more. “I’m leaving by train this afternoon for Cherbourg, and the ship leaves from there. Quite frankly,” he added, pouring himself another cup of tea, “I dread the trip. I wish Kitty were going with me.”
    “Oh, do take her, please,” Dani said quickly, realizing her presence was probably preventing Kitty from going. “I’ll be just fine here alone, really. The two of you could have a nice vacation together.”
    Travis shook his head and assured her she was certainly not the reason Kitty was staying behind. “The climate down there isn’t that appealing, and neither is the political atmosphere at this time. Besides that, she wants to be here for the ballet, as well as to start new classes at the Sorbonne.”
    Dani remembered Kitty having mentioned taking a course there, had even thought about attending with her. She found the history of the college fascinating. Located off the little square called Place de la Sorbonne, the name of the university was taken from Robert de Sorbonne, who founded it in 1253. Near the main entrance the Church of the Sorbonne was situated, and it was there that Cardinal Richelieu was entombed. As a powerful cardinal and head of the Sorbonne, he decreed that the faculty should owe allegiance neither to Paris nor to France, only to the Council of the Sorbonne. This had permitted teachers wide freedom, which accounted for the independent spirit of the university.
    Suddenly Travis flashed her a probing gaze and bluntly asked, “Why don’t you take Kitty’s advice and do some traveling yourself? You’re young. Intelligent. Beautiful. Financially independent. Why are you doing nothing with your life?”
    Dani was at once hurt by his words. “I don’t call learning to know and love my family doing nothing with my life.”
    Travis immediately apologized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so critical.” His eyes searched hers then with affection, and