She Lost Her Name, She Took Back Her Place novel · Chapter 16 of 24
Chapter 16: The Deadline
"Called in," Henri said. His voice was flat. "In full. By the night of the anniversary ball."
The old banker did not rise from my father's chair.
He turned his cane slowly under his palms and looked at me, then at Adrien's hands, which had not left my arms.
"Eleven weeks ago, your father asked me for time," he said.
"I gave him a great deal of it.
"I am an old man, and I have found that I run out."
"Monsieur," said Adrien. "The Visconti house will stand surety for the full sum."
Henri's head came up.
"No," he said.
"Henri..."
"No, Adrien." My father's jaw worked. "The Rocheforts have owed what they owe for twenty years. I will not pay it with my future son-in-law's money in front of a man who counts coins for pleasure."
The old banker smiled.
"Your father is proud," he said to me. "I admire it. Pride is expensive."
"Then let us pay it in time," I said, and heard my own voice come out smooth and soft. "Papa. Let me help you find the money."
"You are a child, Élise."
"I'm your daughter."
"Yes," said Henri. He looked at me, and then at Bianca, standing so lovely and so sad at the old man's shoulder. "And I have two."
No one in the room breathed.
"The Rochefort ball is in five weeks," my father said. "Every house in Paris will be there. I will stand up before them, and I will name who sits in my chair after me."
Margaux had come to the doorway behind us without any of us hearing.
She stood with one hand at her throat.
"Henri," she said. "That was to be decided in private."
"It was. It no longer can be." He turned to the banker. "Whichever of my daughters can set this debt right by that night, I will name. You have my word, monsieur, and you may put it in your pocket with the rest."
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