Roberta harrumphed. “It’s passable, and the Guidry girl seems to have located her brain. She’s already got a roast in the oven, and she’s promised I can have dinner by myself since I have to suffer through tomorrow. You should allow her to cater in the board meeting. She’s an excellent cook.”

It was good to know at least that part was going well. He wasn’t sure he liked being told she considered the meticulously planned party something she had to suffer through, but he wasn’t going to argue. Especially since he would likely be the one suffering. “I’m glad that’s to your liking. I hope you enjoy the party. I know Sera and Sylvie have been working hard to make it special.”

“Yes. I heard your wife has taken an interest in the party. Is her mother coming?” The question had an air of expectation.

“As a matter of fact, my mother-in-law has expressed an interest in coming by to offer you her congratulations.” Marcelle was more than willing to play her part. “You know she spends a lot of her time with Delphine these days. They were wondering if you would like a reading.”

“Marcelle Martine is the only good thing about this town,” Roberta said under her breath. “Yes, that would be wonderful. I swear the psychics in Houston are all con artists. Not a single one with a bit of sight, I tell you. And since we’ve got such a big vote coming up, I would like some guidance, if you know what I mean. I’ve heard some rather upsetting rumors about what’s going on at the company. You seem to be losing clients.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” He wasn’t about to tell his aunt that he suspected one of his cousins of corporate spying. He certainly wasn’t going to mention that Louis was a suspect. He’d heard on more than one occasion Roberta talking about how Louis had ridden coattails all his life.

“You’ve lost two clients, and there’s rumors you could lose a third.”

That got his instincts tingling. “Who told you that?”

They were supposed to hear from Lowestone later today. If there was a rumor that they’d lost that, he would like to know who was talking.

“I have my sources, Rene. Don’t think because I’m old I don’t keep an eye on things. I have a responsibility to my family to ensure that you don’t screw things up. Your father was a good head of this family, but I can’t say the same thing of you yet. You have to prove it to me.”