Read Online Macaron Murder (with Recipes) (A Patisserie Mystery) by Harper Lin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Harper Lin
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Miffy?”
“It’s a bit far from the house, don’t you think? Your father used to walk around the block.”
“Well, I prefer parks,” Clémence said defensively. “And this is where Miffy would meet other dogs, and I want her to be social.”
Arthur didn’t say much more. He began walking when the dogs did, who were happily strolling side by side. Clémence followed. If Arthur wasn’t a suspect, she would’ve turned the other way. Something about him repelled her. It was the same way Cyril repelled her—the arrogance, the entitlement, the haughty attitude.
“A shame about the murder, isn’t it?” Clémence offered.
“The murder? Oh, la gardienne. Yeah. Weird stuff.”
His face was inscrutable.
“Did you know her well at all?” she pressed.
“Not really. I don’t think many people did.”
“Well, what about Lara?”
“Our cleaner? Yes, I have seen them talking. I think they’re friends.”
Clémence wasn’t getting much out of him and she had to up her game.
“Lara’s quite pretty, isn’t she?”
“I suppose.” His jaw seemed to clench. “What about it?”
“Oh, nothing. I think she mentioned once that she found you to be handsome.”
Arthur gave a snort. “You think I would go out with her? She’s our cleaner.”
He sounded too offended—or defensive?—and Clémence suspected that she had hit a nerve.
“What about it? She’s still beautiful.”
“Her French grammar is awful,” he said. “Not to mention that she can’t hold a conversation whatsoever.”
That’s funny , Clémence thought. Talking to you is like pulling teeth .
Clémence have had enough with his arrogance. She cut to the chase. “So you’re not dating?”
Arthur gave her a funny look. “Are you kidding me? Why would you think that we’re dating?”
Clémence averted her eyes from his burning stare.
“I thought I heard a rumor.” She shrugged.
“From who?”
“Just someone in the building.”
“There’s not even an ounce of truth to that,” Arthur said. His face was beet red. “I can’t believe that you’d think that.”
“Well, I don’t know you that well,” Clémence said.
“I’m not involved with Lara.” Arthur rubbed his face in agitation. His pale skin became red and irritated. “My father is.”
“Excuse me?”
“My father. He’s having an affair with Lara. I didn’t think anybody else knew, but everybody seems to know everybody else’s business in this building.”
Clémence wanted to smack herself. “Is your father’s name Arthur as well?”
“Yes. I wish I wasn’t named after the bastard. He cheats on my mother right under our noses and thinks we’re too dumb to notice.”
Of course. It was Arthur Dubois senior. How could she have been so clueless?
“How many of your siblings know about the affair?”
“Not the younger ones, but Theo does, and so does Matilde.”
“What about your mother?”
Arthur laughed bitterly. “She probably doesn’t. She’s too busy shopping and lunching to notice.”
“And if she does find out?”
“I don’t know. The girl will be cast out of course, but I reckon my mother will still stay with my father.”
“But why?”
“Why?” He shook his head. “My mother has stayed with him for various reasons other than for the pleasure of his company.”
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry—”
“That’s okay,” he cut in abruptly. “My family is messed up, all right? I can’t wait to move out.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“My siblings. And I need to finish my PhD.”
“I didn’t know you were doing a PhD.”
“You don’t want to know about it,” Arthur said. “It’s too boring. I don’t even want to talk about it.”
They walked around the park in silence. The silence made Clémence uncomfortable. She wanted to leave Arthur alone
“It’s a bit far from the house, don’t you think? Your father used to walk around the block.”
“Well, I prefer parks,” Clémence said defensively. “And this is where Miffy would meet other dogs, and I want her to be social.”
Arthur didn’t say much more. He began walking when the dogs did, who were happily strolling side by side. Clémence followed. If Arthur wasn’t a suspect, she would’ve turned the other way. Something about him repelled her. It was the same way Cyril repelled her—the arrogance, the entitlement, the haughty attitude.
“A shame about the murder, isn’t it?” Clémence offered.
“The murder? Oh, la gardienne. Yeah. Weird stuff.”
His face was inscrutable.
“Did you know her well at all?” she pressed.
“Not really. I don’t think many people did.”
“Well, what about Lara?”
“Our cleaner? Yes, I have seen them talking. I think they’re friends.”
Clémence wasn’t getting much out of him and she had to up her game.
“Lara’s quite pretty, isn’t she?”
“I suppose.” His jaw seemed to clench. “What about it?”
“Oh, nothing. I think she mentioned once that she found you to be handsome.”
Arthur gave a snort. “You think I would go out with her? She’s our cleaner.”
He sounded too offended—or defensive?—and Clémence suspected that she had hit a nerve.
“What about it? She’s still beautiful.”
“Her French grammar is awful,” he said. “Not to mention that she can’t hold a conversation whatsoever.”
That’s funny , Clémence thought. Talking to you is like pulling teeth .
Clémence have had enough with his arrogance. She cut to the chase. “So you’re not dating?”
Arthur gave her a funny look. “Are you kidding me? Why would you think that we’re dating?”
Clémence averted her eyes from his burning stare.
“I thought I heard a rumor.” She shrugged.
“From who?”
“Just someone in the building.”
“There’s not even an ounce of truth to that,” Arthur said. His face was beet red. “I can’t believe that you’d think that.”
“Well, I don’t know you that well,” Clémence said.
“I’m not involved with Lara.” Arthur rubbed his face in agitation. His pale skin became red and irritated. “My father is.”
“Excuse me?”
“My father. He’s having an affair with Lara. I didn’t think anybody else knew, but everybody seems to know everybody else’s business in this building.”
Clémence wanted to smack herself. “Is your father’s name Arthur as well?”
“Yes. I wish I wasn’t named after the bastard. He cheats on my mother right under our noses and thinks we’re too dumb to notice.”
Of course. It was Arthur Dubois senior. How could she have been so clueless?
“How many of your siblings know about the affair?”
“Not the younger ones, but Theo does, and so does Matilde.”
“What about your mother?”
Arthur laughed bitterly. “She probably doesn’t. She’s too busy shopping and lunching to notice.”
“And if she does find out?”
“I don’t know. The girl will be cast out of course, but I reckon my mother will still stay with my father.”
“But why?”
“Why?” He shook his head. “My mother has stayed with him for various reasons other than for the pleasure of his company.”
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry—”
“That’s okay,” he cut in abruptly. “My family is messed up, all right? I can’t wait to move out.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“My siblings. And I need to finish my PhD.”
“I didn’t know you were doing a PhD.”
“You don’t want to know about it,” Arthur said. “It’s too boring. I don’t even want to talk about it.”
They walked around the park in silence. The silence made Clémence uncomfortable. She wanted to leave Arthur alone
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