The Chase: A Novel Read Free Page B

hard. So we are offering you the house in East Hampton for a month over the summer, Claire.”
    It was a magnificent, fully staffed home on Georgica Pond with a swimming pool and tennis court. Claire grasped Elizabeth’s hands, about to thank her. But she never got the two simple words out. Somehow, she knew that she and David were not going to spend a month together in the Dukes’ Hampton home. Neither one of them would want to. It would be a month of bickering and arguments.
    Their marriage was over. It was suddenly clear to her that neither one of them had any interest in salvaging it. It had been over for years.
    Oh, God
was her next single thought. She smiled at Elizabeth but did not even see her.
    “Claire? I know you and David are struggling right now,” Elizabeth said kindly. “This might be good for you both.”
    Claire was an expert at reining in her emotions. She worked hard to keep a sunny facade in place. Perhaps she had learned to do so when her mother had died so suddenly, leaving her, for all intents and purposes, alone. She had certainly felt alone when Cynthia passed away, because her father seemed like such a stranger. But maybe her father had taught her by example how to remain calm and composed no matter what; how to shove any feelings of a personal or emotional nature far, far away. Now Claire felt a sudden lump of grief rising up, hard and fast, impossibly potent. It was accompanied by a real and terrible fear.
    “I’m sure it will,” Claire said automatically, not even aware what she was saying.
    “Everything will work out,” Elizabeth said softly. “I am sure of it.”
    Claire knew she was wrong. “Yes, it will.” She had to hold it together, to keep it all in.
Divorce.
The word loomed now in her mind. It was engraved there.
    Elizabeth squeezed her hand. Claire watched her rejoin William, then found herself facing her father. She felt uncomfortable and hoped he hadn’t overheard them. He said, “I understand you are short a few VIPs for Summer Rescue Kids.”
    This was a welcome subject. “I am.”
    “I think I can help. I have a client who’s new in town. I’ll feel him out for you.”
    “Thank you, Dad,” Claire said far too fervently.
    He seemed to be looking right through her. No, he was looking past her. “And here’s your errant husband,” Jean-Léon added softly.
    Claire’s gaze whipped to David, who was approaching, and then back to her father. What did that comment mean? But Jean-Léon only smiled at her, and Claire turned her attention back to David.
    He was more than handsome and self-assured in his dark gray suit, and the pale blue shirt and yellow tie did amazing things for his leading-man good looks. More than a few women were craning their necks to see him more fully. As David paused to shake hands and accept congratulations, Claire stared. He was beaming as he accepted hearty backslaps from his male friends and soft kisses from their wives and girlfriends. Finally, he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself.
    David reached her father. His smile never faltered, but Claire knew it was a pretense. She watched them shake hands. “Happy birthday, David,” Jean-Léon said smoothly.
    “Thank you.”
    “Have you been enjoying my Courbet?”
    David extracted his hand. “What can I say? That was so generous of you to give it to Claire.”
    “She deserves it. So you do like it?” Jean-Léon’s tone never changed, but he seemed to be pressing, and Claire tensed.
    “It’s a masterpiece. Who wouldn’t like it?” David returned, his smile frozen.
    Claire stepped to his side, glancing anxiously from one to the other. Did they have to be hostile to one another now?
    “Then I am very pleased. Where did you hang it?”
    “In the bedroom,” David said.
    “Hmm” was Jean-Léon’s response. “A shame. A painting like that should be on public display.” He turned his gaze on Claire. “You should hang it in the living room, Claire.”
    She had the feeling that if