At the Chateau for Christmas

by Rebecca Winters

  Nic stood to his full height. “It must have torn Irene apart to be separated from you.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “YOU’RE RIGHT, MON FILS.”

  They looked around. Maurice had come into the room.

  “She never got over it.” His mournful voice pained Laura.

  She ran across the expanse to hug him. “Merry Christmas, Maurice. I’ve never known such a Christmas in my whole life. Thank you with all my heart.” She kissed him on both cheeks. “Do you mind if I call you Gran’père, too?”

  He made a strange sound in his throat and started to weep.

  “Come and sit down by the fireplace,” she urged him. “Your grandson brought food we can enjoy.”

  Nic walked over to help. “You’ll enjoy the Riesling she bought me. We drank part of it last night, but there’s still plenty.” He took out the bottle and poured wine into goblets before passing them out. “To you, Gran’père.”

  “Joyeux Noël.” Laura followed, but she knew Maurice was overcome with emotion. He took a few sips, but he looked older than his eighty-one years right now. Nervous, she asked, “Would you like to lie down for a while?”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Nic said. He must have noticed how drained Maurice was, too. “Come on. Let’s set you up on the couch and prop your head.”

  He didn’t fight them as they walked him over so he could stretch his legs. “I’m all right,” he said with a sigh. “I guess I’m missing Irene too much.”

  “Of course you are.” Laura kissed him again.

  “Your parents are hoping to see you before the day is out, mon fils.”

  Nic nodded. “I’ll run over to Marie’s a little later.”

  “Dorine’s parents have also arrived there. They know you have a guest, but they’d like to see you at some point.”

  “I’ll do it soon.”

  Feeling excruciating guilt because she was here and had taken up all Nic’s time, Laura looked at him. “Why don’t you take care of everything you have to do while Maurice and I enjoy this time together? We have all we need right here.”

  She could sense his reluctance to leave. He was worried about Maurice. Though she never wanted to be apart from Nic, she had to face reality. “I’m going to stay right here with our gran’père. Enjoy the rest of the day with your family, Nic. I’m sure they all miss you terribly. I can only imagine how much Dorine’s family is grieving, especially today. You go and don’t worry about us.”

  His dark gray eyes thanked her. “I’ll hurry.”

  After he left, she and Maurice talked for a little while until he fell asleep. The dear thing had done too much, and had worn himself out. She took the time to clean up the mess. Then she read another couple of letters that caught at her heart while she ate the delicious food Arlette had prepared.

  “Laura?”

  He’d awakened. She walked over with a chair and sat by him. “Feeling better after a catnap?”

  “Much, but I was afraid you’d gone.”

  She smiled. “You can’t get rid of me. I’m glad we’re alone, because I want to read one of Irene’s letters to you. I showed it to Nic earlier. She wrote it from Venice on your tenth wedding anniversary.”

  A shadow crossed over Maurice’s face before he nodded in remembrance.

  “Maybe you can answer a question for me.” Laura pulled it from her pocket and started in. When she’d finished, she stared at him. “Something terrible happened at the time of your marriage, Maurice. It tore both families apart. I know in my heart you have the answer. Whatever it is, I can take hearing about it.”

  He blinked. “If I told you, it would do damage that couldn’t be repaired. That’s why I couldn’t tell Irene. It would have destroyed her.”

  “I knew it was something like that,” she whispered. “But you don’t have much faith in the Holden women. The truth is, my mother’s attitude about you and my grandmother destroyed my happiness years ago. Irene knew you held a secret. If you could tell me what it is, it would help me to put this behind me. And I believe it would help you, too. You’ve carried the burden far too long. We haven’t known each other very long, but I already love you to pieces.”

  Maurice grasped her hands. “I love you, too. Are you absolutely sure you want to hear this? I’ve never told this to a living soul. If it had been anyone, I would have told Nic. But when he heard it, he would have done something I couldn’t allow to happen.”

  She knew what Maurice meant. Nic had been so fierce when she’d told him the story that had circulated in her family, it didn’t bear thinking about. “You’ve got me to confide in. Don’t forget I’m your granddaughter now and I’m begging you.”

  He sat up a little. His color had improved since his nap, which was a relief. “All right. It started when Fleurette and I visited your grandfather while he was sick. That’s when we met your mother and your aunt.”

  * * *

  When Nic pulled up to the summerhouse four hours later, he noticed Maurice’s Renault still there. The sun had already set. His in-laws were coping all right and doing as well as could be expected. But there was a grim atmosphere they’d never be able to shake off until there was news of Dorine, whatever it was.

  When Dorine’s mother got Nic alone, she’d wanted to hear about Irene’s granddaughter and had thought it was wonderful that Laura had come to try to make things right now that Irene had passed away. Nic could tell Dorine’s disappearance had changed her mother, who was normally more rigid in her thinking. She’d applauded Laura’s desire to mend wounds and said she was proud of Nic for aiding in the process.

  “You have to hold close the ones you love while you have the chance. We know all about that, don’t we, Nicholas?”

  Shattered by more guilt after their conversation, he left for the summerhouse.

  He found grandfather and granddaughter watching another DVD. He heard chuckling from both of them. Maurice was sitting in a chair and waved to him. As far as he could tell, the older man felt physically better. Nic was relieved to find him recovered. That was Laura’s doing. Despite the storms, she spread sunshine like the six-year-old child Irene had described.

  “Come on in, mon fils. You’ve missed all the fun.”

  “Surely it’s not over,” Nic teased, his gaze flicking to Laura. She hadn’t looked at him yet. That told him something of significance had gone on in his absence.

  “I’m afraid it is for me,” Maurice stated. “Some of our friends will be coming to the château for the souper. I promised to be there.” He got up from the chair and kissed Laura before heading for the entrance. “We’ll see each other tomorrow.”

  Nic walked him out to his car. “Why don’t I drive you?”

  “I’m not too far gone to drive back to the château on my own.” Nic frowned. “You two go on enjoying yourselves.”

  Something had changed. He’d felt it when he’d first laid eyes on Laura. Now Maurice seemed anxious to leave.

  Once back inside the house, he walked over to Laura, who was still sitting in the chair. “What happened here?” The distress on her face was evident. “Did you tell him you were willing the summerhouse back to him?”

  She looked up at him. “No. I read him the letter sent from Venice. The moment seemed right. I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you.”

  Nic found a chair. “Did he take it hard?”

  “No. I think he was relieved to be able to talk about it. Nic—he’s broken the long silence. I now have the missing piece.”

  He leaned forward, his eyes imploring her. “What did he tell you?”

  She moistened her lips nervously. “That my aunt Susan made a play for him when he went to see Irene after they both were free.”

  “A play, as in—”

  “Yes,” she answered, reading his mind. �
��It was something so shocking, I can understand why Maurice never spoke of it.”

  “What exactly did she do?”

  “Let me give you the background first. Susan is eight years older than Mother and was an only child for a long time. I guess when Mother came along, she grew very jealous of her, especially when she married my father. Growing up I saw that jealousy in a lot of ways. Maybe that’s why I never drew her in my pictures.”

  “Jealousy between siblings happens in a lot of families,” Nic murmured.

  “I know. It’s sad that Susan never married, because she’s attractive in her own way. But the tragedy here is that after Maurice saw Irene in New York and flew to California to be with her, Susan thought he’d come to see her.”

  “What?” Nic jumped to his feet. “Where on earth would she get an idea like that?”

  Laura lowered her head. “Susan had met him those few times when he and your grandmother Fleurette went to visit Richard during his illness. I guess when he came to California again a few years later, Susan was under the impression he’d come to seek her out.”

  His gray eyes glittered. “She was delusional.”

  “I agree. But even being older, you know how charming your grandfather is. In his effort to win my mom and aunt around to the idea of him marrying their mother, he swept Susan off her feet without realizing it. Maurice had no idea and was clueless about her feelings until he returned to the hotel one night and found her waiting for him.”

  “Laura...”

  Unable to sit still, she got to her feet. “By then Susan was thirty-nine and desperate to be married, especially to a handsome, wealthy widower like Maurice Valfort. Possibly she wanted to believe the myth that every Frenchman had a mistress. It’s evident the twenty-year age difference didn’t matter to her. He’s very attractive and looks younger than he is—probably the way you’ll look when you get older.”

  Despite the compliment, Nic shook his head.

  “Needless to say, he told her he loved Irene. Susan swung at him in a jealous rage and scratched the side of his jaw. I saw the scar earlier while he was resting.”

  “That was how he got it?”

  “Horrible, isn’t it. Susan ran to my mom with lies that Maurice had not only tried to seduce her, but that he’d seduced their mother while their father was dying.”

  “Impossible. Fleurette was with him.”

  “Apparently there was one afternoon when Fleurette didn’t go with Maurice because her arthritis had acted up. Susan painted him and Irene as evil people. Because Mother was the younger sister and intimidated by Susan, Mom believed her. Together they told my grandmother that they hated her and Maurice. They said they never wanted to see either of them again in this life. It was exactly as you told me.”

  “Maurice’s only sin was in not telling Irene immediately,” Nic broke in. “But he knew how much she adored her daughters and was afraid it would damage Irene forever.”

  Laura nodded. “You want to know something? I’m glad Irene never knew the truth. It was too ugly.”

  “Agreed,” he emoted.

  “To her they were her darling daughters, whatever their faults. Think what your grandfather has been living with all these years...but there’s more, Nic.”

  “What do you mean, more? How could there be?” His eyes were haunted.

  “When the two of them married, Susan sent a letter to your great-uncle Auguste, telling him about Maurice’s affair with Irene while he and Fleurette went to visit Richard during his illness. Her poison did its damage. That’s why your family never accepted Irene. In Auguste’s words, Maurice had defiled the memory of Fleurette and they didn’t consider Irene a God-fearing woman.”

  Sickness filled Nic’s gut.

  “Maurice demanded to see the letter. He still has it in his possession.”

  Nic raked his hands through his hair. “That tale is so horrendous, you couldn’t make it up.”

  “It explains everything. I assured Maurice he’d done the right thing to keep quiet. He broke down and we both cried for a long time. It was cathartic.”

  “I can imagine.” Nic drew closer and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’ve removed a huge weight from him, but now you’re the one I’m worried about.”

  She managed to put space between them, denying him that moment of closeness. “You don’t need to be. I’m so thankful to know the truth. I’m now free to act. Maurice’s hands were tied, but mine aren’t! I have a phone call to make and I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night in San Francisco.”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  Her jaw hardened the way it had when he’d first met her at Holden headquarters. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” Laura looked for her purse and pulled out her cell phone.

  “Do you want me to leave?”

  “No.” Her blue eyes beseeched him. “I’m putting this on speakerphone and want you to stay right here. I—I need your support.” Her voice faltered. “No more secrets. No more lies.”

  He agreed. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Thank you.” She pressed the digits and soon she heard her mother’s voice.

  “Laura?” Her mother sounded alarmed. “What’s wrong, darling?”

  “I’m all right, Mom. I know it’s not the best time to be calling, but this couldn’t wait.”

  “Are you still angry with me? Is that what this is about?”

  She gripped the phone tighter. “No.”

  “I’m sorry we quarreled.”

  “So am I. Please listen to me. I’m calling because you need to come to Nice on the company jet as soon as you can get here. Throw a few things in a suitcase. Your passport is still good.”

  “Surely you don’t mean it.”

  “But I do, Mom. It’s desperately important. I’ll tell you everything when you get here. You have to come alone. No Aunt Susan. Do you understand? I need my mother and no one else! Are you at her house?”

  “No. I came home earlier this evening. Laura—”

  “That’s good,” she cut her off. “On the way to the airport you can text her that you had to go out of town unexpectedly. No plans you have could be as important as this. I’m begging you to come, Mom. When I meet the plane, I’ll answer all your questions.”

  Laura clicked off so her mother wouldn’t keep talking, then she raised her eyes to Nic. “I’m going to force her to face Maurice so she hears the whole truth from him. We’ll do it here. He has the letter Susan wrote Auguste and can show it to her. When she knows everything, you are going to call the entire Valfort family together and we’ll all meet here. Maurice and Irene have been vilified long enough. It’s time everyone knew the truth.”

  “What about your aunt Susan?”

  “I’ll worry about her later.” She smoothed the hair off her forehead. “Do you mind if we go home now and take the box of letters with us? I plan to read all of the ones Irene wrote to Mom and Susan before Mother arrives. I want everything out in the open.”

  “We’ll read them together even if it takes us all night.”

  Laura lifted moist eyes to him. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Nic had been thinking the same thing about her as they loaded up his car and drove back to the villa. Arlette served them a meal in his den while they got comfortable on the couch and started in.

  But at two in the morning, he could see and hear her fatigue. “Laura, you need to go to bed. We’ll finish these tomorrow after breakfast.”

  She flashed him a tired smile. “So far there’s nothing in these letters but Irene’s love. My grandmother truly had no idea about Susan. If she were still alive and could be told the truth, she would probably remember troubling things about her firstborn daughter. But it’s clear Irene wasn’t a suspicious person.”


  He got up from the couch. “She was wholesome and wonderful. That’s why your grandfather and Maurice couldn’t help but be in love with her. You’ve heard of people everyone loves. Irene was one of them. You may not have been allowed to enjoy her all these years, but I daresay you know her better through these letters and videos than you might have otherwise.”

  She wiped her eyes. “I think you’re right. I just wish I’d seen her at the end and had been able to wrap my arms around her.”

  Nic’s heart ached for her, but he didn’t dare comfort her the way he wanted to. He’d come close to kissing the daylights out of her at the summerhouse. That couldn’t happen again. Instead he extended his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. It’s time for sleep.”

  Her eyes had gone a smoky blue. “You’re one of the wonderful ones, too. I’m convinced Maurice couldn’t have made it all these years without you. You’ve been his rock even though your world has been torn apart. I admire you immensely, Nic. Thank you for being here for me.” She kissed his cheek before leaving the den ahead of him.

  When they reached the living room, she turned to him. “Your wife couldn’t possibly have gone off with another man, not when she had you for her husband. No matter the truth about her disappearance, be comforted by that thought at least.”

  Those words gave Nic comfort, but the touch of her lips sent a tremor through him that kept him awake for most of the night. He eventually did sleep, haunted by dreams of her. Dorine wasn’t in them. This woman had come out of nowhere to change his world. It would never be the same again.

  * * *

  Nic rose early the next day despite his lack of sleep. Grabbing a cup of coffee from the kitchen, he learned from Arlette that Laura was already up. He walked through the house and discovered she’d gone outside to the garden. This morning she’d dressed in a dusky-blue top and beige pants. He called to her from the terrace. When she turned around, her long blond hair swung onto one shoulder. “Hi!”

  He smiled. “How long have you been out here?”

  “Just a few minutes.”