Read Online A Bordeaux Dynasty: A Novel by Françoise Bourdin - Free Book Online

region. Speaking about the Margaux, he became almost lyrical. Pauline knew that the Laverzacs’ pride and joy resided in their grands crus—their best wines—and she remained attentive, surprised that she took so much pleasure listening to her brother-in-law. She wanted to know about the difference between one plot and another, and he told her about the various types of soils, about gravel and sand and so forth. His enthusiasm was infectious, and Pauline caught herself regretting that Louis-Marie wasn’t able to communicate such passion.
    “… perfect drainage,” he continued. “You know, wine is mostly about water.”
    They hopped back in the Jeep and crossed a wooded valley. Jules didn’t stop talking, and Pauline kept on listening to him.
    They reached a plateau, where Jules brought the Jeep to a stop. He was in the middle of describing the various types and sizes of vines, when thunder interrupted him. He raised his head to the sky, worried.
    “This time …” he said.
    A long rumbling enveloped them. Jules tried to start the engine, but it wouldn’t turn. He tried again, twice, a third time, never losing his cool.
    “Damn,” he muttered, still calm.
    He turned toward Pauline and said, “You won’t be able to make it back on foot, and the rain is going to come down in a minute, hard. It’s my fault. I should’ve taken the Jeep in for repairs a long time ago. … As soon as it starts raining, Aurélien is going to start looking for me everywhere. …”
    He looked at his watch.
    Pauline, very determined, jumped out of the Jeep.
    “I can run just as fast as you, Jules!”
    He shrugged.
    “Maybe,” he said, “but for how long? Listen, let’s go take refuge at Lucas’s. It’s not very far from here.”
    He took her by the hand and they started running. Pauline, though petite and light, had a good stride, and she managed to keep up with him. As they finally exited the woods, the storm broke. The torrential downpour drenched them in just a few moments. Pauline tripped on a tree trunk and Jules caught her. A thunderclap stunned them, and Pauline clasped Jules’s hand even harder. They ran some more until Jules pointed at a small house not far from them. The front door was open and Lucas was waving at them. They dove inside the house. Pauline leaned against a wall, trying to catch her breath. They looked like castaways and Jules started to laugh.
    “My God! Look at you two!”
    Fernande was handing towels to them. She’d come from Fonteyne on a moped fifteen minutes earlier. She’d lived in this house for the past thirty years, ever since she married Lucas.
    “Call your father, Mister Jules,” she said. “He’s going to be so anxious about this storm!”
    Lucas was nodding, looking disturbed.
    Calmly, Jules said, “Even though it’s coming down pretty hard, I think the grapes are going to be okay.”
    He picked up the phone on the dresser. Pauline was drying her hair by rubbing it vigorously with the towel. Her wet T-shirt and shorts were clinging to her skin. Fernande watched Pauline, feeling bad for her, not daring to offer her dry clothing. But Pauline was laughing, glancing at Jules. He’d turned to the wall to talk to Aurélien, and everyone in the room could hear his voice booming out of the phone.
    “Yes, at Lucas’s …” Jules said. “The Jeep broke down. … I know, Aurélien. Yes. …”
    Pauline burst into laughter, startling Fernande.
    “Don’t worry about the rain. …” Jules said. “Everything’s okay. … No, I … Whatever you want. … Yes, I’m coming. …”
    He hung up and sighed.
    “Let me guess, he’s angry?” Pauline asked in a mocking tone.
    “Oh yeah. At me, the rain, the Jeep. And even at you.”
    “Of course. …”
    Jules looked outside at the rain steadily coming down, lost in his thoughts.
    “More or less,” he muttered to himself.
    As he was heading for the door, Pauline got up.
    “You’re not going out there, are you?”
    She seemed outraged,