Elise kept forcing her smile, drinking her too-hot coffee just to give her mouth a break, even though she was almost certain she’d have blisters as a result. She probably looked as happy as a wet cat sitting across from him, and she needed to get better at her game face. She had a feeling she was going to be needing it a lot over the coming weeks and months, but even seeing her sister behave like a giggling teenager was grating every nerve in her body.

“Will your cousin be joining us?” Wolfgang asked, setting his cup down. “I didn’t catch her name the other night, in all the commotion of worrying about the dog.” His smile settled over her sister and she hated it. She knew exactly why he didn’t know Cate’s name; he’d been too busy fixing his gaze on Adelaide.

Elise bristled as Adelaide smiled sweetly back at him. It was like being part of a terrible game of cat and mouse, knowing she was being baited but unable to do anything about it.

“Cate,” Addy said before she could. “Her name’s Cate.”

“And she’s unfortunately not feeling so well today,” Elise quickly added. “I think she caught a cold after being out in the rain the other night for so long. Silly girl was soaked right through.”

As if on cue, Oscar jumped up then, pawing at Wolfgang, and Elise watched in horror as Addy playfully scolded the dog while Wolfgang leant forward, his hand on her sister’s arm.

“He’s fine, he’s very friendly,” Wolfgang said, and Elise froze until his hand fell away from Adelaide. “I can see why she was out in the cold looking for him.”

Finally he finished his coffee and rose, and Elise wished the dog had more sense and knew to bite him around the ankles. Weren’t animals supposed to sense these things?

“Well, thank you for a lovely hour,” Wolfgang said, taking Addy’s hand and pressing a kiss there. “I think France might be my second favorite country already—the women here seem to be very beautiful.”

Adelaide blushed and thanked him as Elise watched on, dismayed, wishing she could hurl something at him and tell him that she knew exactly what kind of monster he was. And still, she kept her stupid smile plastered on her face.