He paused and met my eyes. So much seemed to flash through his—pain, yearning, apologies, and things I couldn’t decipher that looked like someone who’d stared into the abyss of hell and made it out by the grace of God. Then he shook his head and went back to his task.

My breath released with gusty relief.

Stepping back and melting toward the doorway, I left Xavier and his mother tucking Dauphine in.

In the blue and white room that was supposed to be mine, I closed the door and let out a bone weary sigh. In the ensuite bathroom, simply and beautifully appointed in white marble and blue Moroccan tile, I stared at my reflection.

What a day. My hair had almost dried in its bun. My skin looked pale and blotchy despite the tan I knew should be there, and my eyes looked puffy and exhausted from crying. I opened the drawers in the vanity and found a small airline kit in the last one. Inside was a tiny toothbrush and toothpaste. Assuming it had been left here for an unprepared guest, I gratefully brushed my teeth and rinsed my face. I’d have to sleep in the t-shirt I’d thrown on in Corsica earlier today. It felt like a lifetime ago. Looking at my phone, I saw it was around three in the morning.

I wanted to sleep, but I was also wired and wanting to find out what had happened to Dauphine. Inside, I was torn. I knew Madame would probably have Xavier give her as much of a debrief as he could tonight, and I wanted to be there for it. But perhaps I should just leave them to be a family. I couldn’t shake the icy way he’d looked at me earlier today when he thought I was involved and the way he’d instantly assumed my guilt. Growing up, my dad always told me that how people behaved in a crisis was the true test of their character. Today had shown me that Xavier didn’t trust easily. Maybe not at all. It helped me understand why he was friends with the people he worked with. But also that he was a father before anything, and that was admirable. It was heroic, even. If only all the men of the world took their fatherly duties as seriously as Xavier, perhaps the world would feel safer.