Chapter One

 

The road from Paris stretched out behind them, swallowed back into a thick layer of trees that then spilled open and found the carriage and its four passengers looking up at a massive gray structure of stone. "Ladies and gentleman, behold, Le Chateau de la Rose Noire," Beau leaned back, affording the others an unobstructed view.

Nora Wilson and Lucy Addams peered out, mouths agape. "Amazing," Nora whispered, clutching her cousin's hand with girlish delight.

"This is really where we're going, Beau?" Lucy asked her husband without taking her eyes off the building.

"Indeed it is," he grinned. He was the only passenger who had ever previously been to the Castle of the Black Rose before. Seated across from him was Thaddeus, Nora's husband, who gave Beau a knowing smile. Neither of the two women had been told exactly what Le Chateau was. They would find out soon enough.

They had only just arrived in France the day before and hadn't a chance to see much of anything. They were expected at the Castle, and it was best to arrive there as promptly as possible and worry about seeing the sights another time. With the exception of Beau, none of the other three had ever been out of the States. But with a War raging between the Union and Confederate troops back home, and the fact that both men weren't on the best of terms with Union forces, it had seemed a wise idea to get out as quickly as possible.

As the carriage climbed the small rise, the features of the Chateau became clearer. It was a box shaped building with high, thick-walled turrets on either side of the entrance. The pink of the setting sun shimmered off the glass of the narrow windows, and green shutters hung open on each. The contrast of the green made the white walls glow all the brighter on this cool September evening. The façade was quite plain and reminded Lucy of the many Greek structures she had seen in her books at home. A black door set back in a thick arch marked the only visible entrance to the Castle and a pair of wide, sweeping stone steps led up to that door. Huge urns stood on either side of the stairs, overflowing with a cascade of flowers and weeping vines that reached to the ground. The gravel driveway expanded into a circular courtyard, and the horses drew their heavily laden coach around and up to the base of the entrance. As soon as the carriage stopped, two men emerged from a side door they had not noticed until now.

"Dr. Addams!" The shorter of the two men stepped forward, shaking Beau's hand with familiar warmth. He was only a few inches taller than Lucy and had a full head of tussled, dark blond hair at his crown. At first, the man's stocky build made him look overweight, but it quickly became clear his bulk was muscle not fat. "We have been expecting you. Mistress Vivianne is pacing a trench in the floor." As they spoke, the other man, taller with light brown hair and the most startling blue eyes Lucy had ever seen, set to work unloading the top of the carriage.

"Laurent, how wonderful to see you again." The doctor released his grip on Laurent's hand and turned as Lucy then Nora stepped from the coach. "Meet my lovely wife, Lucy, her cousin, Nora." Thaddeus unfolded his long legs and emerged from the coach. "And this is Nora's husband, Thaddeus Wilson."

Laurent gripped Thad's hand first, clutching it with just as much friendship as he had Beau's. "My pleasure, Sir." He kissed Nora and Lucy on the cheek. "Ladies, how nice it will be to have you here. Mistress Vivianne has gone on and on about you, Mrs. Addams."

Lucy blushed with genuine humility. "Good things, I hope," she said.

Laurent's chuckle was as warm as his dark blue eyes. "Oh, of course, of course. Let me see you all in. We mustn't keep the Countess or Mistress Vivianne waiting any longer, or they will both have my hide. Harrison will take care of your belongings."

When the double door opened, Lucy and Nora gasped with a single sound. Polished white marble floors sparkled below a high domed ceiling which was dotted with skylights and a glimmering crystal chandelier. More white marble, in the form of Greek style columns, formed a ring around the perimeter of the entire space. They could look up at the second story level where the columns continued and parted at a massive black marble staircase that echoed the stone one outside. The ceilings were painted sky blue and dotted with gold leaf stars.

"Maitre Addams!" Two women, clad exactly the same in white aprons, ruffled lace cuffs at their wrists and little else, came rushing to the door. "Oh, Maitre Addams! It has been so long!" Then, as if their state of dress were not surprise enough, they fell to their knees before him to kiss the toes of his dusty boots.

"Beau?!" Lucy studied his more-than-pleased face as he looked down at the girls with obvious familiarity.

"My dears, si'l vous plait, let me introduce my wife, Lucretia." He took hold of Lucy's hand.

The two women rose, each gave Lucy a deep curtsey and bowed their heads. "Madam, we are pleased to meet you."

"And Monsieur Wilson and his wife, Nora," Beau continued with the introductions in French. The girls gave Nora the same greeting they had bestowed on Lucy and Thaddeus that which they had given to Beau.

"My friends, these are Colette and Madeleine," the doctor said. "Two very sweet young ladies who look just as lovely as when I last saw them." Lucy did not think her husband could not have smiled any wider.

Lucy's fingers laced into Beau's hand and gripped it tight. "Beau?" she whispered, smiling through clenched teeth, as the women backed away together.

"I will explain shortly, my dear," Beau assured her with a grin of his own.

"The Countess and Mistress Vivianne are in the salon, Master Addams." Laurent had stepped aside briefly but now came forward again and led the group across the polished floor, under one of the many arches, and down a short hallway. The next set of double doors let them into a rich, warm salon, and they were not two steps across the threshold before Vivianne was racing towards them.

"Oh, darlings! Beauregard!" Red hair flying, Vivianne seized Beau in a tight embrace, kissing his cheeks repeatedly. "Lucy!" she squealed. "You were such a naughty, naughty girl and have managed to scare us all to death!" Her reprimand was stern but not without a smile of pure happiness. "But, you are safe. You all are safe and here, and now we can finally begin to enjoy ourselves!" The two years they had been apart had done nothing but make Vivianne more beautiful. Her bright red hair seemed richer and fuller and hung about her petite, child-like features in long, wispy ringlets. "Did you meet him?"

"Meet who?" Beau asked.

"My new slave, Harrison. He was supposed to meet you out front with Laurent."

Beau nodded. "Ah, we saw him but were not introduced."

"Dr. Addams," from behind Vivianne's back came the voice of another woman who had not risen from her chair. "Get yourself over here at once, young man, and greet me properly."

Beaming, Beau crossed the room in a flash and went down on one knee to kiss the offered hand of the older woman. She was a stout woman with her dark, auburn hair piled high on her head. Tiny jewels could be seen sparkling in the mass of curls. Her gown was deep blue trimmed with white, and on her lap sat a little dog, the likes of which Lucy had never seen before. Another sat obediently at her feet. The Countess' face was lightly powdered with a touch of blush added to her cheeks, and her eyes were gray. "Countess, it has been too long, and you are looking as lovely as ever." Beau rose up and kissed her on both cheeks as was more customary.

She waved her hand, brushing him aside. "Damn you and your Southern charm. Where is that wife of yours? Bring her over to me, mon cher. You know I can't see so well anymore. I still can't believe you, of all people, have gotten yourself married. And your friends, introduce us."

Lucy stepped forward as Beau reached back and took her hand, pulling her over to the Countess who sat on a long, deep bench heaped with pillows. "Countess, this is Lucy. Lucy, this is the Countess."

Not sure what to do, Lucy lowered herself into a deep curtsey. She could feel her cheeks flaming. "I am very pleased to meet you, Ma'am." Who was this woman that made even Beauregard Addams go down on one knee without effort?

"Lovely, just lovely," the Countess said, extending her hand, which Lucy dutifully took and kissed as she had just seen her husband do. Beau introduce Thaddeus and Nora who all followed suit, greeting as they would royalty. "Have you eaten?" she chirped once all the introductions were made.

"Yes, Ma'am, we ate just before we left Paris."

She scoffed, sliding her hand automatically into the crook of Beau's elbow and hauled herself to her feet. "That was hours ago, we must feed you properly. Laurent, see that the dining room is ready for our guests."

"Yes, Countess."

"Don't go to any fuss, Countess," Beau said.

"For you, good doctor, we cannot fuss enough. Vivianne has been driving us all mad with her worrying and then about had me ripping my hair out as soon as we got word you were expected today. If she were not who she is, I would have had her over my knee to silence her," she laughed. "Come along, babies." This invitation was addressed to two strange little dogs that immediately followed after their mistress. The rest of the entourage did the same, following the Countess down the hallway and into the dining room.

Hundreds of candles lit the nearby room where a table was dressed in white linen, silver cutlery, china plates, and crystal stemware. White stucco walls made the room even brighter with one wall yielding to an entire bank of double-hung French doors. Beyond the doors was a balcony, just as big as the room itself and, beyond that, an uninterrupted view of the countryside. "This is incredible," Lucy whispered.

"Isn't it?" The Countess turned with a smile. "It's over three-hundred years old, you know? Please, sit, sit. Wherever you like. Lucy, next to me and doctor on the other side. Yes, that's right. Over by me, dear. Any woman who can win the heart of Dr. Addams deserves to sit next to me, cherie." They shuffled into their places. The Countess' softly aged hand immediately covered Lucy's while the other situated one of the little dogs on her lap again. "My dear girl, do you know what you have done? The impossible. Getting the doctor to marry you. I am impressed. He was a confirmed bachelor last I saw him, and now, look, a married man."

Not knowing what else to say, Lucy said, "Merci."

"Laurent, wine. Where is the wine?" The Countess turned her head this way and that just in time to see the beckoned man re-enter the room with two bottles of newly opened red wine. "Vivianne, be a dear, won't you, and tell them all they've missed. I am parched and must have some wine before I can continue."

So, this was what it looked like to see Vivianne being told what to do, Lucy held her smile in check.

"What is there to tell, Countess?" Vivianne asked.

"You know, the whole business with Driss," the Countess said as she sipped her wine.

"Driss? Is he still around?" Beau asked.

"Not anymore," the Countess began. "But you tell them, Vivianne."

"You missed quite the upheaval two years ago. Driss challenged the Countess' right to run the Chateau because she was, how did he put it?" Her green eyes turned to the Countess, but she was only waved on to continue, "An over-bearing, pompous French woman with too much rogue and too few brains for business."

"I kicked him out after that," the Countess said. "You remember how he was, don't you, Doctor? How he refused to obey our rules here and just go about in his own way with no regard to the safety of our girls and boys. I tell you, he nearly killed poor Maddy."

"Where is he now?"

The Countess shrugged, "Back in Algeria, I hope. Let his people keep him. The further away from France the better, as far as I'm concerned." She patted Lucy's hand. "Don't worry, dear, he shan't set a foot in this place again or on the grounds. I've given orders that he may be shot on sight if he even steps one foot on the lawn."

"I wasn't worried, Countess," Lucy smiled. "I have Beau to protect me."

"She's a delight, Doctor, a delight. You're safe and sound here, even without your husband, rest assured." The Countess turned her attention back to the gentlemen on her right, Beau and Thad. "Enough of this talk. Tell me what you had in mind for your ladies then?" she asked.