The Chocolatier's Wife (58 page)

“Ironic.
”

“Well
,
yes
.
Bu
t
no
w
yo
u
canno
t
us
e
magi
c
t
o
forc
e
a
heart
.
Th
e
spell i
s
nearl
y
impossibl
e
t
o
outwit
,
an
d
mos
t
peopl
e
won’
t
tr
y
fo
r
fea
r
o
f
what it will do to their child’s future
.
”

“I
t
wa
s
als
o
use
d
becaus
e
th
e
Bisho
p
o
f
tha
t
tim
e
wishe
d
t
o
stop arrange
d
ma
r
riages
.
H
e
sai
d
i
t
wa
s
becaus
e
h
e
hate
d
t
o
se
e
s
o
many
peopl
e
miserabl
e
fo
r
th
e
wan
t
o
f
mone
y
o
r
consolidate
d
power
,
bu
t
many believ
e
‘ti
s
becaus
e
he wanted more
power for
the Church.”

“Do you always take the romance
out of everything?”

“If at all possible.”

She
glared
at
him,
and
he
gave
her
a
mild
look
back.
“The
reason
why I
brought
up
this
indelicate
subject
is
that
I
wished
to
know
how
much pressure
your
father
is
exerting
on
your
brother
to
have an
heir, and
since you used to be in
your brother’s
place...
”

“Quite
a
lot,
I
suspect.
He
claimed
that
was
one
good
reason for
you being
a
mage.
You
would
surely
be
able
to
make
certain
an
heir
was
born
of the proper gender.”

“But
what
would
happen
if
they
never have
a
child? Or
only
a daughter?”

“Well, I
suppose
if
we
are
blessed,
then
our
son
would
be
groomed
for the
role.
If
a
daughter,
her
intended
mate
might
be
the
next
heir,
though
to keep it in
family name,
if not line,
it is not unheard of to adopt a
child.” He grew thoughtful, but she could not stop from
asking
her next question.

“Why must
it
always
go
to
men? Our
daughter
could
run
the
business just as well.”

“Doubtless,” he said absently. “The woman,
Franny...
”

“The one who stands accused now?”

“Yes.
She
said
her
children
were
promised
a bright
future.
I thought
at first she
meant
education,
but...
”
He
leapt
up,
began
pacing.
“But
I
doubt
Fathe
r
woul
d
adop
t
on
e
o
f
he
r
children
; I
woul
d
thin
k
h
e
woul
d
wai
t
t
o
see wha
t
kin
d
o
f
hei
r
w
e
brin
g
int
o
th
e
world
.
Yo
u
see
,
I
kee
p
thinkin
g
tha
t
things ar
e
no
t
s
o
simpl
e
a
s
I
a
m
tryin
g
t
o
mak
e
them
.
Bu
t
then
,
perhaps..
.
”
He
fell into silence.

“Perhaps you are
overthinking
things?”

“Perhaps
I
don’t
want
to
admit
that
I
am
responsible
for
this
whole mess.”

“Whateve
r
d
o
yo
u
mean
?
Th
e
murder?
”
I
t
di
d
no
t
occu
r
t
o
he
r
tha
t
h
e
wa
s
blamin
g
himsel
f
fo
r
startin
g
th
e
chai
n
o
f
event
s
b
y
quittin
g
th
e
sea
.
“Perhap
s
yo
u
wis
h
t
o
engag
e
i
n
suc
h
nonsense
,
bu
t
I
car
e
no
t
t
o
wast
e
m
y
time
.
I
kne
w
fro
m
th
e
secon
d
I
hear
d
o
f
th
e
murde
r
tha
t
yo
u
ha
d
naugh
t
t
o
d
o
wit
h
the deat
h
o
f
tha
t
man
.
I
stan
d
b
y
i
t
an
d
be
g
yo
u
t
o
hel
p
m
e
b
y
doin
g
th
e
same
.
Perhap
s
ou
r
tim
e
migh
t
b
e
bette
r
spen
t
conte
m
platin
g
wh
y
anyon
e
woul
d
choos
e
you
,
i
n
particular
,
t
o
frame
,
whic
h
i
s
wha
t
w
e
shoul
d
hav
e
bee
n
doin
g
al
l
along
.
Yo
u
an
d
th
e
Bisho
p
mus
t
hav
e
ha
d
a
commo
n
enemy.
”

“Lavoussier.”

“The
man
who
interviewed
you
the
night
of
the
murder?”
she
asked with some distaste.

“The
very
same. He
was
the
Captain
of
the
HMS
Crien
.
Ayers—one
of my
able
se
a
man
when
I
was
at
sea—helped
me
unload
my
cocoa
today.
It
is in
my shop now,
at least the last time I
looked, so at least that bit is sorted, though
I
would
still
like
to
know
who
did
me
the
service
of
sending
me
the note.”

“Congratulations,
dear.
Yes,
that
is
most
curious,
but
though
your
mind might
be
brilliant
enough
to
follow
three
trails
of
thought
at
once,
I
am
a
mere woman,
and
beg you
to
take
one
topic at
a
time.”
She
tugged
his
hand,
and he sat next to her again.