*I—^I didn't know,' she murmured huskily. *I thought— he came after me and told me that the drawing was missing
and I thought ' Once more she gestured and Bernard
reached out to press her hands with his own gende ones.
*Do not look so troubled, ma chere, he advised with a faint glimmer of smile in his eyes. *There will be opportunities enough to offer your apologies. You may believe diat, petitCy for I know my son very well!' A hand imder her chin raised her face and he smiled down at her encouragingly. *You are a very pretty girl, Charlotte, there will be opportunities to make him forgive you, believe me.'
Charlotte was far too doubtful at the moment about Raoul's capacity for forgiveness, but she did not have the heart to say so in ±e face of Bernard's confident optimism, so she smiled and nodded her head as if she believed it.
*I hope so,' she said.
CHAPTER SIX
A coup^.E of mornings later when Charlotte came downstairs for the mail as usual, she found Madame Menais already standing beside the small table in the front hall. It was $6 unusual to see her collecting her own mail, which Cdline normally took in to her on her morning coffee tray.
that Charlotte felt something must be amiss this morning.
Something about her suggested that she had things on her mind and, since she seemed to have been waiting for Charlotte to appear, it seemed possible that whatever it was concerned her in some way.
*Good morning, Charlotte!'
The greeting was accompanied by the customary smile and her brisk alermess at diat hour of the day put Charlotte's own rather lethargic mood to shame. 'Good morning, Madame Menais, it*s a lovely morning again!'
'Mais ouU*
She stood watching while Charlotte sorted out Lizette's letters from the waiting pile, and tapped her own considerable share into a neat bundle rather thoughtfully while she waited, then fell into step with her as they crossed the hall to the staircase. By then Charlotte was definitely curious and not a litde uneasy, for it seemed so obvious that the old lady was simply awaiting the right moment to say something of what was on her mind.
*How is Lizette this morning?" The very ordinariness of the question was disconcerting when she was expecting something more profound, and Charlotte's manner must have given her an inkling of it.
'Quite well, madame. I left her getting up while I came down for the post.'
Charlotte glanced at her from the comer of her eye as they began the ascent, side by side on the wide staircase. She refrained from lending a hand as instinct urged her to because usually the old lady preferred to choose her own moment for being helped, she was very independent on the whole.
'Can Lizette spare you for just a few moments, do you suppose?' Madame Menais asked, and Charlotte took a second to answer.
*Why—^yes. I'm sure I can be spared, madame^ if there's
something I can do for you.'
*Just a word or two,' the old lady promised, and placed a hand on her arm, though whether for the assistance it gave her or to establish a sense of confidence Charlotte was uncertain at the moment. *I understand there was some confusion over a drawing that was missing,' Madame Menais said, and Giarlotte sighed inwardly. The old lady's shrewd grey eyes were rather too reminiscent of Raoul's at the moment and she had hoped, vainly she now realised, that ^t incident could have been forgotten. *Raoul was very angry about it, although it was difficult for me to get the whole story from him. It seems he felt himself misjudged.'
Charlotte's feeling had been that she was the one misjudged, but she supposed if what Bernard suggested was true, Raoul saw himself the victim. *It was something of a storm in a teacup,' she suggested, attempting to make light of it. *Over and done with once the drawing was found— not stolen, as had been suggested, but simply rolled out of sight under Monsieur Bernard's desk.'
'But you imagined that Raoul suspected you of taking it? Oh, what a foolish notion to get into your head, child!'
'What else was I to think?' Charlotte asked, prickly defensive. 'He came after me, striding across the parkland
after me as if ' She shrugged uneasily, a slight flush on
her face at the memory of it. 'What else was I to think?'
Madame Menais regarded her for a moment with bright, knowing eyes. 'But of course he came after you, Charlotte! Have you never had a man follow you before? I cannot believe that such a pretty girl has never before had a man come striding after her when he sees her alone in a quiet place!'
'Not Raoul,' Charlotte insisted, keeping her eyes downcast because she was finding this word or two with Madame Menais too discomfiting, and she had to ccmvince herself that Raoul had had an ulterior motive. 'He thought I'd taken
tbat drawing, madame, Fm sure of it, no matter what he claims to the contrary. Had it been anyone else who came
—^in the same circumstances and ' She stumbled over
her words, trying to judge RaouPs action frcmi a purely practical point of view. 'Anyone else I might have believed —^what you suggested, madamey but not Raoul!*
*You know my grandson so well?' Madame Menais asked, but was shaking her head ieven before she finished speaking. 'Raoul did not for a moment believe that you took that drawing, Charlotte, believe me.' Charlotte looked down at the empty hall and said nothing and the old lady went on. *That is not all that troubles him, however,* she said. *He suspects your motive in applying for the post as Lizette's companion, and I cannot for a moment see his reason for doing so. I have, however, said that I will have a word or two with you and endeavour to put his mind at rest.*
Charlotte kept her eyes on the crystal chandelier hanging immediately below her, and tried to tell herself diat she had no reason to feel guilty. This discomfiting interview with Madame Menais was RaouPs doing, and she was angry with him as well as with her own inability to come up with an answer.
*I have told him,* the old lady went on without waiting for a reply, *that I think it most unlikely you are here to find an unfaithful lover. In my opinion you are too young and too pretty to need to chase an absconding lover across Europe, and I have told him so. But this family is not without its skeletons—is that what you say, heinl —and I have done as I promised and spoken to you.'
Endless possibilities ran through Charlotte*s head, not least the possibility of her own story being among the skeletons mentioned, and she considered the relief of bringing her quest into the open at long last to the sympathetic ear of Madame Menais. She might have found the necessary nerve too, but apparendy the old lady was bent
on monopolising the conversation and she gave her no time to say anything. Instead she spoke again, quickly and rather jerkily, as if she disliked what she said, but felt she must say it.
^Charlotte, it is surely not possible that you are here to seek recompense from Michel, is it?'
'Michel?' She stared in genuine bewilderment, but Madame Menais was frowning.
*Oh, his— passe-temps is well known,' she said shordy and with obvious distaste, 'and he has spent a good deal of time in England, even ' ^
*Oh, no, madame, there's nothing like that at all.'
'Michel is an attractive man, we know, and unfortunately
he is also very susceptible. If Raoul is correct and ' She
broke off and once more looked at Charlotte with those disturbingly shrewd eyes. 'If such a situation exists; one of your family perhaps who is older and you are seeking revenge, then I must tell you that in no circumstances must the name of Menais be discredited. It has never been our way to allow private indiscretions to become public knowledge, no matter what means are employed to ensure it. There must be no scandal attached to the name of Menais.'
^Madamey please!'
A hand pressed lighdy on to her arm, but somewhere behind the determination in the old lady's eyes lurked the more familiar gendeness. 'If you, or anyone in your family, has been wronged by one of us, child, then you will be compensated, generously compensated. All that we ask is that we are not involved in
a public scandal. Is that so unreasonable?'
'No, madame.^ Charlotte was too stunned for the moment to say more. Raoul had seemingly been very convincing with his story of a cheating lover and, because he fitted the bill so well and was also in that photograph she had taken an interest m, Michel had been identified as the most likely
candidate. 'There's nothing like that at all!' She cleared her throat nervously when she recalled how close she had come to telling the true story to Madame Menais. 1 didn't know anyone in your family vmtil I came to work here, no one at all, and I've certainly never had an—^an affair with Monsieur Michel or anyone else I'
It was the truth as far as it went, and clearly Madame Menais was more than willing to be convinced, for she reached out to take her hand, pressing her thin fingers into hers reassuringly. ^Oh, my dear child, he is so very wrong about you, is he not? I knew he must be wrong, but he
seemed ' She spread her hands expressively in appeal.
*But of course there is no mysterious lover for whom you search! You are here simply to care for Lizette and to answer her letters, that is all, I am convinced of it! I apologise, Charlotte, both for myself and for my grandson, and I hope you will forgive us. I should not have spoken!'
It was hard to face such trust when it was based on yet another misconception, but there seemed litde Charlotte could say at the moment. Definitely she could not be as honest now as she had intended, for if, as the old lady had made clear, the Menais were ready to go to great lengths to prevent a scandal, she could hardly raise a matter that could well prove more shattering to their public image dian any of Michel's indiscretions.
Tlease don't apologise, madame^ she pleaded huskily. •You have no cause to.'
*But Raoul ' The old lady eyed her for a moment,
then shook her head. 'He should be told how wrong he is.*
Charlotte kept her eyes downcast. 'I'd rather the matter was let drop, Madame Menais,' she said, and smiled a litde ruefully as she recognised the truth. 1 doubt if anything will convince Raoul that he's wrong!'
'Tiens!' Madame Menais declared without hesitation. 'He was always a hothead, just like my son Raoul! But how
can I blame them when they inherit the trait from me, eh, child? All I ask is that you do not leave us in anger, for Lizette would miss you so much, as we all would—even my hotheaded grandson!'
Charlotte kept her opinion of Raoul's reacticm to herself, but she smiled as she gave her assurances to the old lady. 1 won't leave Madame Lizette,' she promised, but wondered how she was ever going to trace her own beginnings when she now had to move even more cautiously than before.
Charlotte felt vaguely restless. Her life ran smoothly enough for the most part and Lizette, despite initial doubts about her moodiness, was not a hard employer. She was given plenty of free time and Lizette never once refused to let her go a litde early if there was somewhere special she wanted to go.
Dinner with Jean Cordet was quite a regular event, but she also went occasionally with another yoimg man in the same department as Jean; one whom he had reluctantly introduced to her during a party. Her only regret was the lack of opportunities she had for making progress on the matter closest to her heart.
She was sometimes tempted to involve Jean, but the possibility of the damage a careless word could do to the family she almost considered her own weighed against any information he might have been able to glean was not, she had decided, worth the risk.
Lizette had been considered too, as a possible source of information, but she was still far too highly strung, although she cried far less often, Charlotte believed. She was not a woman that one could hold a serious c(Hiversation with for very long, and she had such a poor memory it was doubtful if she would be of much use anyway.
If ever she felt like taking a stroll before breakfast, Charlotte did not bother to look in on Lizette first, for she was
mostly quite late waking. It was so quiet and peaceful in the huge grounds around the chliteau and on early summer mornings there was no better way to begin the day than walking oa cool turf beneath the chesmut trees.
It had been quite by accident that she learned of Raoul's daily ride, when she spotted him one morning some distance away and mounted on a tall rangy stallion who looked just difficult enough to handle to appeal to Raoul. Long-legged and wilful, the creature had tossed its head impatiently when Raoul reined in for just a second to acknowledge her greeting, and Charlotte had thought then how well diey went together.
She saw him now, coming her way and letting the animal have his head as he raced across the turf, Raoul ducking his head to miss the lower branches of die trees, anticipating each move to perfection and keeping control without making it obvious. Something he was radier good at, she mused as she watched him.
Since Madame Menais had spoken to her about her suspicions concerning herself and Michel, she had not seen him alone to speak to, and she half-h(^)ed, as he came swifdy towards her on the flying stallion, that he would simply ride on past. Instead he came straight for her and reined in the animal as soon as he was within speaking distance, his eyes half concealed by the thickness of his lashes as he looked down at her.
*Good morning, Charlotte.'
The greeting was neither warm nor distant, merely polite, and she did her best to respond in the same way. *Good morning, Monsieur Raoul.*
A flicker of impatience drew at his black brows for a second and his mouth twitched briefly at one comer. *Are
you in a transitional stage between formality and familiarity?' he asked, and Charlotte frowned up at him curiously.
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117
Tm sorry?'
'Sometimes I am given a title to my name and sometimes not; he pointed out. *I assume that it depends upon your mood of the moment!*
*Oh, I see.' Trying to guess which he preferred, she glancwi at his face once more, but caught a hint of mockery in the grey eyes that determined her response inmiediately. •I'm sorry if you find my familiarity offensive. Monsieur Raoul,' she told him with mock humility. 'I sometimes forget; I hope you'll forgive me.'
He swore sofdy in French, and for a moment Charlotte expected he would put his heels to his mount and ride off. Instead he swung one leg over die animal's back and slid smoodiiy to the ground, his booted feet thudding on to the turf beside her.
*Grand'm6re has spoken to you,' he said, as if that explained her attitude. *She told me diat she meant to-4iave
a word with you.'
'Because you told her you suspected me of—oh, heaven knows what I' Charlotte said, her face flushed warmly. Tou even put die idea into her head diat I might have had an affair with Michel!'
*Most certainly I did not I ' Raoul's eyes narrowed in die way she was all too familiar with now and he regarded her steadily for a moment, one hand holding the rein and the odier a riding crop which he tapped against one leg to signify his impatience. *I informed her diat you are here to find a man from your past,' he insisted, widi such confidence diat she knew she had been right to guess he would not be convinced.
- *You stiU harbour diat ridiculous idea that I'm looking for some secret lover?' she asked impatiendy.
*I still believe you have some ulterior motive for being here,' he insisted firmly. 'Because you told me so yourself, and I mean to find out what it is, Charlotte, believe me I*
*If you think you can bully me into-
*I said nothing about bullying you,' he interrupted sofdy, and she hastily lowered her gaze when she saw the way he locked at her mouth. *There are other means, ma belief*
*You won't give up, will you?*
She looked up at him in despair. If anyone could ruin her chances of finding out about her parentage it was Raoul, and she wished she could have had him on her side, that she could have confided in him as her heart urged her to. It was strange how close she sometimes felt she came to him, when all he did was to suspect her, even accuse her.
Tapping the crop absendy against his leg, he eyed
her for a second from the dark shadow of his lashes. 'I do not intend to give up,' he assured her. 'Although Grand'm^re seems very sure that you are as innocent as you appear! That you have nothing in mind that can hurt us.*
It was too difficult to go on looking at him when she thought just how shattering her discoveries could prove to him and his family, but when she lowered her eyes he im--mediately put a hand beneath her chin and raised her face again. It was the hand that held the crop and at the touch of the handle on her skin she flinched, though not from him as it might have seemed.
'Look at me!* he commanded quiedy, and Charlotte raised her eyes obediendy, but only for a second, then she lowered her thick tawny lashes once more. 'I do not trust you one centimetre,* he said in a voice that slid like warm silk along her spine, 'but if I ever do discover that some man has deceived you, I promise that I will make him very sorry for what he did. Do you believe me?*
Qiarlotte's heart thudded wildly and she automadcally put up a hand to move the one that still held her chin. *I— you don't have to punish anyone,' she whispered, finding her voice almost non-existent, and Raoul's wide expressive mouth smiled with a hint of cruelty, strong white teeth
gleaming against tanned skin for a moment.
If I find that you are after all playing some devious game of your own,' he said still in that shiver-inducing voice,'it will be you who is punished, ma belle; believe that also!'
*Raoul '
She looked up, unsure for a moment just what she meant to say, but he was much too close and the lean virile strength of him teased her senses and made her curiously breathless. She spread her hands in the familiar gesture of appealing helplessness and wished there was something close enough to cling to, for her legs felt as if they were no longer capable of supporting her.
To reach out was instinctive and he was already holding out his arms to take her, pulling her close to the vibrant strength of him, pressing her closer until she could feel every muscle in the taut body moulding her close, making her part of him. The stallion snickered in surprise at finding, himself free of restraint and tossed his head, but Raoul seemed unaware that the rein had been tugged from his hand as he bent his head to seek Charlotte's upturned
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