Antoine made himself a third scotch and soda. He sat in his favorite chair with his feet up on the ottoman and let the music toil at soothing him. He was still upset; completely confused about Galaxy Mining and Uncle Gaston, and a bundle of ragged, mixed emotions concerning Ginny Novak. He could hardly think of anything but the vivid memory of her soft, vibrant body pressing hotly against him in the playroom… her kisses and exuberant passion… her admittance that she had wanted him physically for so long, just as he had ardently yearned for her… insisting that they had to make love… even to suggesting their trysting place. God, it was wrong… wrong! And he knew it… such adulterous deceit behind his beloved Madeleine's back… and to commit against this man who had befriended and raised him… Christ, how low could a person sink? Well, he knew he was going to find out; he couldn't help himself. He would go to the summer house at Ste. Agathe des Monts tomorrow.

He didn't know but what Madeleine suspected something. She had hardly spoken to him after leaving the party at Uncle Gaston's, nor he to her, and the little conversation they had exchanged seemed desultory and strained. He wondered if she had seen him going off with Ginny; he doubted it, but then, of course, he wasn't certain. He couldn't face her anymore this night… not with knowing what he intended to do tomorrow, so he'd suggested the nightcap, certain she would refuse, and now he wanted to be sure she was sleeping when he joined her in bed.

Truly, he felt like a cad, but damnit, he doubted that he could endure a session of her amateur sexual calisthenics tonight, which was no reflection at all of his feeling for her; he loved her; there wasn't the slightest doubt in his mind about that… but he needed a woman, a warm-blooded, capable woman who knew how to satisfy a man… and there was damn little question but what Ginny Novak could and would accomplish the task. God, just the idea caused a stirring in his loins.