Chapter 51
“When I proposed to Nicole, I never thought she would accept. I don’t know what made me think that way, perhaps it was because I felt nothing could ever tie her down, but she said yes. I had never felt so happy. I had to marry her right then and there.”
“We lived in the small manor house for that is what Nicole wanted. She loved this house, Danielle, and she refused to move from it. This was her home and she stayed here until the time came for her to move on.â€Â? Auguste couldn’t keep his voice steady. After all this time, he thought, and brushed a tear from his eye.
“What about me?� Colette piped up from the back of the room. She was angry now. “This was mine,� she cried, as she stepped up to face him, “including you, Auguste. I loved you. I was so looking forward to our life together, to raising our children and growing old. I thought that you were looking forward to it as well. I was wrong, Auguste. I was wrong about a lot of things.�
Tears started down her cheeks. At first she brushed them away, but then there were too many of them.
“You asked how much I owe? I don’t know how much, Auguste. What I do know is that I needed those coins that I put in the portrait.�
She turned to Antoine. “I am sorry I led you on. I needed the money to pay my debtors off and then out of the France entirely. I have to start a new life somewhere, Antoine, I cannot stay here, living with you under false pretenses.�
Antoine looked at her. “How did it start, Colette? Was this something that happened before we were married? Tell me Colette.�
Colette looked back to Auguste. “He knows, Antoine, your brother knows. It’s all in that journal Nicole kept. Everything about me.� She shook her head, the tears coming down faster now.
“It started out small, just a little bet on a tennis game and I couldn’t stop. Now it’s out of control. “
She sniffed and held her head up, but the tears just kept flowing. “At first, I thought that’s why you didn’t want me, but now I think I understand. I haven’t made a wager in a long time, but I still owe plenty.�
“I used up everything I had. I took money from my aunt and uncle and I took money from Nicole. I even took from you, Auguste, but you knew that. Nicole explained that to you. It’s written in the book, I know that.�
“Colette, listen,� Auguste said, walking toward her. “We can talk about this later.�
“Is that what you really wanted to do or did you just want to embarrass me in front of everyone?� Colette cried out as she ran from the room.