Page 26 of Enduring Promise

“I haven’t heard anything about that specifically. I’ve been out of this game for a long time. They don’t exactly give me a look behind the curtain anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Russ narrowed his eyes at Madame Fournier as she adjusted her string of pearls with an air of practiced elegance. “How involved were you?” he asked cautiously.

Madame Fournier’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile. “Many years ago,” she began, her tone laced with intrigue, “I was very dear friends with the late Gloria Kinross. A remarkable woman, truly. She had a way of making the impossible seem feasible. Back then, she had a friend—a woman in dire need ofsanctuary. Gloria reached out to me, and I offered Willowbrooke as a place of refuge. It’s remote, discreet, and perfect for someone needing to disappear.”

Russ leaned against the wall, his interest piqued. “Just the one friend?”

“As Gloria’s network of people needing protection grew, so did her need for safe havens. Willowbrooke became part of that network for over two decades,” Madame Fournier explained, her voice steady. “It wasn’t just a place for hiding—it was a lifeline. I kept it going for as long as I could. But after my husband died...” She trailed off, her gaze softening for a moment before she composed herself. “I had to stop taking people in. I couldn’t manage it alone.”

Russ nodded slowly. “But you let Hillary and me come. What changed?”

She gave a dismissive shrug, though her eyes glimmered with something more. “The people running the Kinross organization today found my information buried deep in one of Gloria’s old files. They reached out, desperate. I thought it was too much. More risk than I should take on at my age. The world is more connected now. It’s easier for the bad people to hunt down the good. But I also knew Claire was being hunted herself. When they told me who you two were, I thought I could make this work.”

Russ frowned, his mind jumping to Claire. “You took a gamble on us.”

“Precisely,” Madame Fournier said. “Claire is young and brilliant, but she’s also in over her head. She needed allies. I don’t know exactly what she’s dealing with but I hoped bringing you and Hillary here might create an opportunity to shift the balance in her favor.”

Russ sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’re trying our best. Hillary’s brilliant, and Claire’s holding up better thanI thought she would. But Michael... he’s dangerous. He’s an absolute snake.”

Madame Fournier’s expression darkened, her usual elegance sharpening into something more formidable. “Then I’ll be sure to cut his head off. That’s how you deal with a snake.”

Russ straightened, intrigued by her sudden intensity. “It sounds like maybe you did more with the Kinross organization than opening your home to strangers. Just how involved were you?”

Madame Fournier’s smile returned, but it was colder this time, more calculating. “Let’s just say you’ll get an answer to that question when you see what I do to the doctor.”

Before Russ could respond, Sophie reappeared, her expression calm but her movements brisk. “Dr. Hale’s room is being prepared,” she said. “And I’ve made arrangements to ensure he’s kept separate from Miss Claire. Everything will be handled discreetly.”

Madame Fournier nodded approvingly. “Thank you, Sophie. Make sure the valets know it is on my order that they are to keep him in his wing.”

Sophie dipped her head in acknowledgment before disappearing once more. Russ turned back to Madame Fournier, his admiration for the woman growing by the second. “I look forward to seeing how this all plays out. I’ll let you know when we have what we need.”

“By the time I’m done, Dr. Hale will regret ever stepping foot on my property.”

CHAPTER 26

The night air seemed heavier as they stood near the ruins of the barn. Hillary kept her expression pleasant, her arm still lightly linked with Claire’s as Michael’s gaze flicked between them. The tension in his jaw was evident, his annoyance poorly concealed behind a thin veneer of forced civility.

Michael turned to Claire, his voice measured but laced with irritation. “Why is she still here?” he asked, gesturing toward Hillary. “I thought we were going to have some time alone.”

Hillary tilted her head, letting her lips part in a small, knowing smile. “Oh, come on, Michael,” she said lightly, ignoring the venom in his tone. “You must know what’s really going on here, right?”

Michael’s brows furrowed, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “What are you talking about?”

Hillary gestured vaguely toward the house, her voice low and conspiratorial. “Claire’s grandmother. Madame Fournier. Surely you know they’d never allow Claire to wander off alone with a man at night. It’s... unthinkable.” She added a little laugh for effect, as if the idea were both amusing and obvious.

Michael blinked, clearly caught off guard, before an incredulous smile tugged at his lips. “That’s ridiculous,” he said,his tone dismissive. “Claire is a grown woman. She makes her own decisions. We spend plenty of time alone together—it’s insane to think she needs a chaperone.”

Claire gave a small, apologetic shrug, playing her part perfectly. “They’re old-fashioned,” she said softly. “In their hearts, they know I’m an adult who lives an independent life back home, but here in Willowbrooke...” She gestured vaguely to their surroundings. “They expect me to follow their rules, live up to their expectations.”

Michael’s frustration bubbled over, his smile faltering. “This is absurd. Hillary, you can go back to the house. I’ll deal with the old ladies later. Claire and I haven’t seen each other in some time, and we need privacy.”

Hillary’s smile didn’t waver, though her grip on Claire’s arm tightened slightly. “Oh, I can appreciate the circumstances,” she said smoothly. “But I don’t think it would be prudent to push boundaries when we’re guests here. It’s a matter of respect.”

She began to turn, gently guiding Claire with her, but Michael’s voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the night. “Claire, stop.”

Both women froze, Hillary’s heart pounding as Claire stiffened beside her.

Michael stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Claire, his tone firm and condescending. “Don’t act like a child. Be the grown woman I expect you to be. This is your problem, Claire. This is why I haven’t committed fully to you yet. You’re not mature enough to make your own choices, to stand on your own two feet.”

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