She was jerked back to her sorrow. “From whom?” Sophie demanded. “Who could know that?”

“Everybody, my dear,” said the priest, as though it were a foolish question. “You know St.-Aude.”

Sophie bit her lip. Well, of course everybody knew. Why not? She was starting to understand just how sheltered, how controlled, her life at the château had been under Pierre. It was a big world, and she needed to get up to speed. She was not the obedient little woman—not anymore.

“I think he hates me,” Sophie said. “My—my baby.”

“Of course he does not hate you.”

“I finally found out on Friday. From my secretary,” Sophie said, humiliated. “Celine came to see me and asked if I knew. She was so nervous, telling me. But she didn’t want me to look foolish anymore.” She swallowed. “They’ve been giving parties—Tom and Katherine. And going to dinners, the theatre—always with our friends, people I thought were my friends. It’s been in the papers, even. I just don’t read the gossip columns.”

She fished a handkerchief out of her black quilted Chanel purse and blew her nose loudly.

“Have you spoken to him?”

“I don’t know where he is.” Sophie shook her head.

“And Mme Katherine?”

“She is not at the dower house, not when I call. Her butler will not admit me. She does not take my calls.”

“She deliberately refuses to talk to you?”

“That, and she seems to be mostly in Paris. Thick as thieves with my child.”

“He is also her grandson.”

“She has no right to come between us!” Sophie said, with a fresh burst of tears. “What is she doing? She’s always hated me, always! Tom should be in Oxford, studying for his examinations. He’s thrown everything away!”

“You can’t be sure. Perhaps he has come to some arrangement with them.”

“Not likely.” Sophie thought of the parties, the womanizing, the drunkenness, the tutors’ warnings. “He never bothered with his college.”

“You could call and ask.”

“I won’t ask strangers for news about my own son!” Sophie burst out.

Fr. Sabin took a calm sip of his coffee.

“Excuse me—excuse me,” Sophie said, wretchedly.

He waved it away.

“And did the young woman tell you anything else?”

“Yes.” Sophie put down her mug of tea. “She said they are planning to come to my party. The relaunch of our brand. Both of them, although they weren’t invited.”

“You can hardly shut them out.”

“Exactly. The press will be there, Father. I have no time, you see, to turn the company around before the meeting, but I have to make sure the shareholders believe I can turn it around.”

“So this party is highly important, for your work?”

“It’s everything.” Sophie dabbed at her eyes.

“And you fear your son and Mme Katherine are out to ruin it.”