All That Glitters (13 page)

* * *

Cammie opened the door. She was blow-drying her hair. It cascaded over her shoulders—just like her mother’s. She looked so beautiful that Hildy felt a pang of dread, worrying about what might lie ahead for her. She was sure that Cammie couldn’t possibly be happy with a man like Francois. She did her best to shake off her fears.

“Your father and I will wait for you so we can go down together,” she told Cammie.

“I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes,” Cammie agreed. “Thanks for waiting for me. I’m a little shaky about making an entrance alone.” She laughed nervously. “With all the stage experience I’ve had, you’d think I’d be used to it, wouldn’t you?”

Hildy nodded wisely. “This is a little different. It’s not every day that you meet famous dignitaries face to face.” She left and went back to her room where Jay was waiting.

He turned as she entered. “How’s she holding up?” he asked.

“She’s very nervous,” Hildy replied. “I have a strange feeling that a lot of her nervousness comes from not being sure she wants to marry Francois. I only wish—” she faltered.

Jay understood. “So do I,” he agreed. “I was hoping that Jeremy might be able to change her mind. She seems quite attracted to him.”

“You noticed it, too?” Hildy asked. “Why isn’t it obvious to her? I’m afraid she’s just acting out another role. She has quite a sense of the drama. That’s what makes her such a good performer on stage. Unfortunately, it’s also what makes it so difficult for her to sort out her true feelings. I don’t think she’s in love with Francois,” she sighed. “I think she’s just enamored with the idea of becoming a Countess, and all the glamour that goes with it. But when that wears off, what will be left?”

“I know,” Jay agreed. “But she has to live her own life—make her own mistakes. We can’t do it for her.”

Hildy nodded. She knew this was true, but it didn’t erase her concern.

As they headed toward Cammie’s room, she met them in the hall. They both had hard work to fight back the tears of apprehension when they saw her. She looked like an angel. On her head was the tiara that Francois had given her. Her pale burgundy evening skirt hugged her slim figure. The long sleeved jacket was completely covered with multicolored sequins, mostly burgundy, matching her skirt. It hid the bruise on her arm, caused by Francois when he yanked her out of Jeremy’s car.

As she entered the ballroom, she moved with such smoothness and grace, it looked as though she were floating. The three joined Fran and Lilli, already in the reception line, waiting to greet the guests who were just arriving.

Francois entered the room, and went quickly to Cammie’s side. Zack, along with Jenny and Peter, had also been invited by Fran to be a part of the reception line.

Disapproval was written all over the faces of Lilly and Francois as Zack, Jenny and Peter joined them.

It was a gala affair. Many of the dignitaries of Europe were there, including heads of state and royalty. There were so many that Cammie had hard work remembering who they were.

When dinner was over, Fran rose from his chair. “Most distinguished guests,” he announced, “it is my great pleasure to welcome my son’s fiancé, Mademoiselle Cameron Stuart, into our family. You know who she is. I’m sure you have seen her performing in her mother’s wonderful musicals. She is the daughter of the very talented Hilary Stuart, and Jay Stuart, a stage producer from the States. The Stuarts are also known as Lord and Lady Stuart of Courtney Castle in Scotland. Cameron and Francois will be married in a week at Francois’ Chateau in Biarritz, and I’m sure by now you have all received your invitations.” He motioned to Cammie and Francois to stand and acknowledge the introduction. “And now,” Fran continued, “they will begin the first dance, and you’re invited to join them as soon as they begin.” He smiled broadly and gestured toward the ballroom floor. “Have fun, as they say in America!”

The music began, and Cammie and Francois glided gracefully across the floor. The others followed, and soon the ballroom was filled with people dancing to the beautiful melodies from Hildy’s musicals.

It was two o’clock in the morning when the party finally broke up. Francois planned to fly them all to his Chateau in Biarritz in the morning as soon as they finished breakfast.

CHAPTER XVII
 

When Zack woke up the next morning he again heard voices just beneath his window. This time, however, he recognized who the voices belonged to—Lilli and Francois.

As he strained to listen, he thought he heard Andre’s name mentioned again. It must be the same Andre! he thought. That would explain his obvious fear when I mentioned Francois. But what could he possibly have to do with him and Lilli? Why is he so deathly afraid of them?

Wait a minute! Did he hear Lilli talking to Francois about Jeremy? She sounded extremely upset. What in the world is going on? She just met him yesterday! Or did she? The voices moved away from his window before he heard anything of significance.

Breakfast was to be served again on the patio at eight-thirty, and he hurriedly showered and dressed. The others were already there when he arrived. The meal was served buffet style, and he walked over to the serving table.

Jay joined him and spoke under his breath. “Did you find out anything more yesterday?”

“Something quite interesting,” Zack replied in a low voice, “but
it will have to wait until later. There are still
too many unanswered questions. It’s a real puzzle. I’ve never
worked on such a difficult case. Don’t worry,” he assured
him. “I’m sure I’ll find something in Biarritz. I’m not
giving up.”

He walked away from Jay with his tray of food and sat down at the table with Fran. “Good morning, Fran!” he greeted him.

Fran smiled. “A beautiful one, isn’t it?”

Zack looked at him searchingly, hoping perhaps he could get some answers from him. “You and Lilli seem very close,” he said. “It’s nice to see couples so attentive to each other.”

Fran perked up at Zack’s remark. “I have been very fortunate,” he replied. “I was heartbroken when my first wife died.” He stared off in the distance, and his voice broke as he spoke of her.

Zack listened with sympathy. “It must have been a terrible blow. But you have a happy marriage now, don’t you?” he asked, trying not to sound as if he were prying.

“Oh, yes.” Fran smiled. “Lilli has been a fine companion. It’s not the same as it was with Vivienne, my first wife, but I don’t know what I would have done without her to lean on these past twenty-one years. She has been a great comfort to me.”

Zack did his best to mask his feelings. He didn’t trust Lilli any more than he trusted Francois, which made him wonder just how fortunate Fran really was to have her as a companion. Each day the feeling grew stronger that Lilli and her son were using Cammie to accomplish some purpose, and that it had something to do with Hildy. Why these feelings kept coming to him he didn’t know, but his intuition had never let him down before, and after all these years he wasn’t about to distrust it now. He had complete confidence in its reliability.

As they talked, Francois approached their table. He looked tense and nervous.

He doesn’t want me to talk to Fran! Zack figured. This convinced him more than ever that Francois was up to something devious. What is he trying to hide? What is he afraid I’ll uncover?

“What are you two talking about?” Francois asked.

Zack turned to him, ignoring his question. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, we should leave right now!” Francois insisted.

Zack rose from his chair and held out his hand to the silver-haired gentleman that he had come to admire. “Thank you, Sir, for your most gracious hospitality,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure and a privilege meeting you.”

Fran rose and returned the handshake. “You are most welcome,” he replied. “We will see you at the wedding in Biarritz.”

Impulsively Cammie rushed over to Fran and threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re going to be my father-in-law!” she exclaimed.

A look of—was it disdain or triumph that appeared on Lilli’s face? Zack couldn’t tell. He shuddered, knowing he had only one other place left to look for something that might put a stop to this wedding. Time was running out. After the goodbyes they seated themselves in the limousine and drove off to the airport, where Francois’ plane was waiting to fly them to Biarritz. The sky was clear when they took off, but as they approached the air strip beside the Chateau two hours later it was raining hard, and the wind was blowing with hurricane force.

* * *

Hildy glanced at Cammie. She’s so excited, she thought. But Hildy felt anything but lighthearted.

Just before landing, Francois flew directly over
the Chateau so they could see it from the air.
In spite of the rain, the scene was breathtaking. The
Chateau hovered over the Atlantic Ocean with an aura of
great majesty.

The first glimpse of it gave Hildy the eerie feeling that it held ominous secrets. A picture flashed across her mind of a dungeon of torture hidden somewhere behind the walls. What an imagination! she chided herself. You’d better save it for one of your musicals! She did her best to shake herself free from these hideous thoughts.

Francois banked and soared, and finally set the plane down on the landing pad beside the ocean. Gabe, Francois’ trusty servant, was waiting, ready to greet the guests with umbrellas to shield them from the driving rain.

Suddenly the wind shifted. An unexpected gust at the speed of about sixty miles an hour literally blew Hildy off her feet as she struggled up the paved ramp toward the Chateau. Jay caught her just in time to prevent her from hitting the pavement full force. Hildy shuddered as she envisioned the ill wind that might blow away all of Cammie’s youthful hopes and dreams.

As they entered the Chateau, Hildy and the others, in spite of their efforts not to be impressed, were overwhelmed by the splendor of the interior. It had been completely modernized, while still maintaining its traditional ambience.

The foyer with its high ceilings and sparkling chandeliers was something one might find in an interior decorator’s own home. Francois had been meticulous in his choice of design, and they were quite taken with his impeccable taste.

Each spacious bedroom had its own wet bar, television set, intercom, telephone, and private bath. There were even elevators for their convenience.

The decor of the whole structure was magnificent. The Louis the Fourteenth decor fairly shrieked culture and elegance. The sound of the waves slapping against the rocks, and the sea gulls soaring and singing, was almost like being on a luxurious ocean liner. This was a home that would satisfy anyone’s wildest dreams, and Hildy felt foolish for the pictures that had flashed across her mind at her first sight of this Chateau.

* * *

Cammie was elated! She could see the expressions on her parents’ faces, and felt that they were beginning to believe she had made a wise choice to marry Francois. She was completely taken in by all this splendor, and was playing her brand new role to the hilt as Countess-to-be of this domain.

The following week was spent in preparation for the wedding. It would be a lavish affair—the most lavish in all of Europe. The ceremony was to take place in the chapel at the Chateau.

What a nice man I’m marrying, Cammie mused as she viewed her surroundings. The excitement and glamour of the upcoming festivities had eclipsed her thought to the point where it almost enabled her to push Jeremy out of her mind, as she told herself that her decision to marry Francois had been made, and that was that. This is no time to indulge in teenage dreams of another man. It’s just a foolish fantasy, she decided, and she abruptly dismissed it. Still, she couldn’t help wondering if Jeremy had been able to find out anything more about his mysterious past.

CHAPTER XVIII
 

Jeremy arrived in the town of Chaumont, and was staying at an inn close to the Chateau de Boulanger. He had been touring the immediate countryside, but had held off visiting the Chateau de Boulanger for fear he might meet with a dead end. He couldn’t bear the thought that he might find nothing and have no other place to turn. Maybe if I explore the surrounding town, he figured, it might jog my memory. If it doesn’t, then I’ll still have the Chateau to fall back on.

Finally, after spending a week of looking around with no results, he decided it was time to gather up his courage and do what he came here for—visit the Chateau. You can’t be any worse off than you’ve been, he mused, and you might find exactly what you’re looking for.

On the same day that Cammie’s wedding was scheduled to take place in Biarritz, Jeremy went to the Chateau de Boulanger. The sky was cloudless as he drove along by the River Loire. To his right he spotted the Chateau looming up against a background of trees and blue sky, with the river stretching out before it.

Now that he was here, he couldn’t wait to explore the grounds. Soon he reached the bridge that spanned the river. He crossed over and turned to the right in the direction of the Chateau.

His heart pounded with excitement as he realized that it all looked so familiar. Why can’t I remember who I am? Maybe once I see it, the whole thing will come back to me.

He reached the long, hilly, quarter-mile driveway leading up to the Chateau. A sign read, “No Cars Allowed.” He parked below and made the climb on foot.

It was steep, and
he became a little breathless halfway up—partly from the climb,
and partly from excitement and anticipation. But he continued, more
determined by the minute. He had the strongest feeling he
was about to find the key that would unlock the
hidden door to his forgotten past.

He had a deep desire to share it all with Cammie, but he quickly dismissed the thought. She’s marrying Francois, so forget it.