and rescued her and Roger Fielding, when they were kidnapped by Gregory Wilcox and lost in the freezing, snowy French Alps. She shuddered at the remembrance, and all her doubts about Francois came back full force.
A limousine was waiting to whisk them away to the Chateau in Amboise the moment they deplaned. The ride to the Chateau took them through typical French countryside. The colorful foliage was nothing less than spectacular with its brilliant oranges, magentas, yellows, and rusts. Just like home, Hildy thought. Only it’s not. At home I felt safe.
Soon they turned into a long, winding road that led up to the Chateau, home of Francois’ parents. Stately trees shaded the path as they drove across the moat and under a covered, stone archway into a patio bright with sunlight. A beautiful fountain sat majestically in the center. Its cascading waterfall sparkled with a prism of colors in the bright sunlight.
As they drove in, the front, wooden door suddenly opened, and a very distinguished, silver haired gentleman, obviously the Count, walked out to greet them. Following him was a woman who looked every inch a Countess. She welcomed Francois as any mother would who hadn’t seen her son in some time.
“Francois!” she exclaimed as she threw her arms around him, “how good to see you!” She turned to Cammie and gave her a big smile. “This must be your beloved Cammie! He talks of nothing else,” she told her.
Hildy and Jay stood there taking it all in, not knowing if this was sincere or a big act. Hildy had the distinct impression that the Countess was a bona fide snob. Why do I feel this way? she wondered. You’re not giving her a chance!
Then she spied the guarded expression on Zack’s face, and she knew that he shared her opinion. Not only did she feel she couldn’t trust the Countess, but she sensed a certain bitterness about her that she couldn’t identify.
“You must be the famous Hildy Stuart,” she heard the Countess say as she shook her hand.
Hildy quickly recovered and smiled. “I’m glad to meet you,” she responded. “This is my husband, Jay Stuart. And our friends Jenny and Peter Graff, also a producer, and Zack Davis, a friend of the family.”
The Count, who had been standing by, stepped forward and introduced himself. “I am Count Francois I. I’m delighted to meet all of you. Please come in. Your rooms are all ready. Lunch will be served in the main dining room in one hour.”
Hildy liked him immediately. She felt a sincerity coming from him that she felt was completely lacking in the Countess. She stole a look at Zack, who responded warmly to the Count, and she knew that he also felt the Count could be trusted. Why did she feel that Francois and his mother couldn’t?
The Chateau had been recently renovated, and exuded a charm that many Chateaus they had seen didn’t have. It included all the comforts anyone could possibly imagine. The main door entered into a gracious, marbled foyer, and a staircase completely carpeted in blue led to the upstairs rooms.
To the left as they entered, a homey, yet ornate decor of sparkling crystal chandeliers and stained glass windows added to the charm. A huge fireplace at the end of the main dining room had a crackling fire that took away the chill of the Chateau, and seemed to beckon them to enter and enjoy its cozy warmth.
The butler took their luggage upstairs to their rooms, and the elder Count turned back to the guests. “Please feel right at home,” he said in a most gracious manner.
“Yes,” the Countess parroted his words, “please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make you more comfortable. Lunch will be ready shortly. Why don’t you join us here for some sherry beforehand? We’ll get better acquainted.”
“Thank you,” Hildy said, as she and Jay ascended the stairs to their room.
It was unseasonably warm for this time of the year, and when they reappeared it had been decided that lunch would be served
A limousine was waiting to whisk them away to the Chateau in Amboise the moment they deplaned. The ride to the Chateau took them through typical French countryside. The colorful foliage was nothing less than spectacular with its brilliant oranges, magentas, yellows, and rusts. Just like home, Hildy thought. Only it’s not. At home I felt safe.
Soon they turned into a long, winding road that led up to the Chateau, home of Francois’ parents. Stately trees shaded the path as they drove across the moat and under a covered, stone archway into a patio bright with sunlight. A beautiful fountain sat majestically in the center. Its cascading waterfall sparkled with a prism of colors in the bright sunlight.
As they drove in, the front, wooden door suddenly opened, and a very distinguished, silver haired gentleman, obviously the Count, walked out to greet them. Following him was a woman who looked every inch a Countess. She welcomed Francois as any mother would who hadn’t seen her son in some time.
“Francois!” she exclaimed as she threw her arms around him, “how good to see you!” She turned to Cammie and gave her a big smile. “This must be your beloved Cammie! He talks of nothing else,” she told her.
Hildy and Jay stood there taking it all in, not knowing if this was sincere or a big act. Hildy had the distinct impression that the Countess was a bona fide snob. Why do I feel this way? she wondered. You’re not giving her a chance!
Then she spied the guarded expression on Zack’s face, and she knew that he shared her opinion. Not only did she feel she couldn’t trust the Countess, but she sensed a certain bitterness about her that she couldn’t identify.
“You must be the famous Hildy Stuart,” she heard the Countess say as she shook her hand.
Hildy quickly recovered and smiled. “I’m glad to meet you,” she responded. “This is my husband, Jay Stuart. And our friends Jenny and Peter Graff, also a producer, and Zack Davis, a friend of the family.”
The Count, who had been standing by, stepped forward and introduced himself. “I am Count Francois I. I’m delighted to meet all of you. Please come in. Your rooms are all ready. Lunch will be served in the main dining room in one hour.”
Hildy liked him immediately. She felt a sincerity coming from him that she felt was completely lacking in the Countess. She stole a look at Zack, who responded warmly to the Count, and she knew that he also felt the Count could be trusted. Why did she feel that Francois and his mother couldn’t?
The Chateau had been recently renovated, and exuded a charm that many Chateaus they had seen didn’t have. It included all the comforts anyone could possibly imagine. The main door entered into a gracious, marbled foyer, and a staircase completely carpeted in blue led to the upstairs rooms.
To the left as they entered, a homey, yet ornate decor of sparkling crystal chandeliers and stained glass windows added to the charm. A huge fireplace at the end of the main dining room had a crackling fire that took away the chill of the Chateau, and seemed to beckon them to enter and enjoy its cozy warmth.
The butler took their luggage upstairs to their rooms, and the elder Count turned back to the guests. “Please feel right at home,” he said in a most gracious manner.
“Yes,” the Countess parroted his words, “please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make you more comfortable. Lunch will be ready shortly. Why don’t you join us here for some sherry beforehand? We’ll get better acquainted.”
“Thank you,” Hildy said, as she and Jay ascended the stairs to their room.
It was unseasonably warm for this time of the year, and when they reappeared it had been decided that lunch would be served
Similar Books
