talking. What are they plotting? Zack wondered. And what is it that they must prove?
“What are you two talking about?” Zack heard the Count ask them.
“Oh—” The Countess laughed. “Nothing that would interest you. Francois and I were just having a mother-son chat. By the way,” she asked her husband, “how do you like Cammie?”
“She’s beautiful,” he replied with enthusiasm. “I think she’ll be a great asset to the family. And I like her mother and father and their friends. They’re nice people.”
Francois looked smug. “I’m glad you approve, Father.”
Zack turned away from the window. No sense listening any further, he decided. They obviously aren’t going to say anything more in front of the Count. He still hadn’t figured out how to get a look at any records they might have, but after hearing their conversation, he was sure that there was an ulterior motive hidden behind Francois’ desire to marry Cammie.
There was no more sleep for him this morning, so he took his shower and dressed, deciding to take a walk under the shaded trees. After walking about a mile away from the Chateau, he sat on one of the benches to think. Communing with nature always helped to put him in tune with his intuition, and he hoped to come up with some answers soon.
For almost an hour he sat there, deep in thought. Yesterday when they first arrived he noticed a large book on a marble pedestal in the middle of the foyer. I’ll bet it’s a Bible, and it must have names and dates of births, marriages, and deaths listed in it. How can I get a look at it?
He made his way back to the Chateau just as they were sitting down to breakfast. It was a bit cooler this morning, so breakfast was served in the dining room in front of the fireplace.
“Where have you been?” Jay asked Zack as he joined them.
“I woke up early and thought I’d take a walk,” Zack said as he stretched his arms. “I must have fallen asleep while I was sitting on one of the benches.”
Breakfast was a feast fit for a King, not just a Count and his guests. What a repast! There were pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs, potatoes, and steak for anyone who wanted it. And, of course, the usual croissants, and French bread with an assortment of jams and jellies. The cozy, soothing aroma of coffee filled the Chateau. And for anyone who preferred tea, that was available, too.
As soon as they finished eating, Count Francois I stood up. “I’ve invited some guests over tonight to meet Francois’ fiancé,” he announced, smiling at Cammie. “I hope you don’t mind. I think you’ll like them. It will be a dinner-dance. We’ll be dining in the ballroom.”
“That’s extremely thoughtful of you, Count Dubonnet,” Hildy said. “But don’t go to any trouble on our account.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” he assured her. “I love doing it. And please,” he smiled, “call me Fran. That’s what all my friends call me. We are, after all, going to be a family.”
“How nice!” Hildy exclaimed. “My friends all call me Hildy. And you know my husband is Jay, and our friends here are Zack, Jenny, and Peter. And, of course,” she laughed, “our daughter, Cammie! I think first names are a lot more friendly, don’t you?”
A glimpse of disapproval showed on Lilli’s face, which she quickly replaced with a smile. “Oh, yes,” she agreed. “Please call me—uh—Lilli. That makes us all one happy family, doesn’t it?” She turned to her husband and changed the subject. “What have you planned for today, Cherie? Anything interesting?”
“I’ve arranged for a nice ride through the countryside,” he replied. “I thought we might go to Mont Richard. I heard that a director from the States is filming a movie there. It should be fun to watch.”
Lilli grimaced. “Don’t you think that’s a bit middle class, Cherie?” There was an awkward silence. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry!” she apologized. “How clumsy of me. I meant nothing
“What are you two talking about?” Zack heard the Count ask them.
“Oh—” The Countess laughed. “Nothing that would interest you. Francois and I were just having a mother-son chat. By the way,” she asked her husband, “how do you like Cammie?”
“She’s beautiful,” he replied with enthusiasm. “I think she’ll be a great asset to the family. And I like her mother and father and their friends. They’re nice people.”
Francois looked smug. “I’m glad you approve, Father.”
Zack turned away from the window. No sense listening any further, he decided. They obviously aren’t going to say anything more in front of the Count. He still hadn’t figured out how to get a look at any records they might have, but after hearing their conversation, he was sure that there was an ulterior motive hidden behind Francois’ desire to marry Cammie.
There was no more sleep for him this morning, so he took his shower and dressed, deciding to take a walk under the shaded trees. After walking about a mile away from the Chateau, he sat on one of the benches to think. Communing with nature always helped to put him in tune with his intuition, and he hoped to come up with some answers soon.
For almost an hour he sat there, deep in thought. Yesterday when they first arrived he noticed a large book on a marble pedestal in the middle of the foyer. I’ll bet it’s a Bible, and it must have names and dates of births, marriages, and deaths listed in it. How can I get a look at it?
He made his way back to the Chateau just as they were sitting down to breakfast. It was a bit cooler this morning, so breakfast was served in the dining room in front of the fireplace.
“Where have you been?” Jay asked Zack as he joined them.
“I woke up early and thought I’d take a walk,” Zack said as he stretched his arms. “I must have fallen asleep while I was sitting on one of the benches.”
Breakfast was a feast fit for a King, not just a Count and his guests. What a repast! There were pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs, potatoes, and steak for anyone who wanted it. And, of course, the usual croissants, and French bread with an assortment of jams and jellies. The cozy, soothing aroma of coffee filled the Chateau. And for anyone who preferred tea, that was available, too.
As soon as they finished eating, Count Francois I stood up. “I’ve invited some guests over tonight to meet Francois’ fiancé,” he announced, smiling at Cammie. “I hope you don’t mind. I think you’ll like them. It will be a dinner-dance. We’ll be dining in the ballroom.”
“That’s extremely thoughtful of you, Count Dubonnet,” Hildy said. “But don’t go to any trouble on our account.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” he assured her. “I love doing it. And please,” he smiled, “call me Fran. That’s what all my friends call me. We are, after all, going to be a family.”
“How nice!” Hildy exclaimed. “My friends all call me Hildy. And you know my husband is Jay, and our friends here are Zack, Jenny, and Peter. And, of course,” she laughed, “our daughter, Cammie! I think first names are a lot more friendly, don’t you?”
A glimpse of disapproval showed on Lilli’s face, which she quickly replaced with a smile. “Oh, yes,” she agreed. “Please call me—uh—Lilli. That makes us all one happy family, doesn’t it?” She turned to her husband and changed the subject. “What have you planned for today, Cherie? Anything interesting?”
“I’ve arranged for a nice ride through the countryside,” he replied. “I thought we might go to Mont Richard. I heard that a director from the States is filming a movie there. It should be fun to watch.”
Lilli grimaced. “Don’t you think that’s a bit middle class, Cherie?” There was an awkward silence. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry!” she apologized. “How clumsy of me. I meant nothing
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