Chateau of Secrets: A Novel

PRAISE OF

Château of Secrets

“Intriguing and suspenseful, rich in secrets, hidden tunnels, and heroic deeds—Melanie Dobson’s
Château of Secrets
weaves a compelling tale of a family’s sacrifice for those in need, and their determination to resist Nazi domination in the France they remember and love. A compelling and beautiful story not to be missed.”

—Cathy Gohlke, Christy Award–winning author of
Saving Amelie
and
Band of Sisters

“Seldom do I read an entire book in one day, but I did with
Château of Secrets
. I was entranced by the beautifully researched setting and the complex web of characters. Melanie Dobson has written a masterful novel!”

—Sarah Sundin, award-winning author of
On Distant Shores

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

—ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1181–1226)

Chapter 1

June 1940

Agneaux, France

C
andlelight flickered on the medieval walls as Gisèle Duchant stepped into the warmth of the nave. The shadows in the sacristy were the only witnesses to her secret—no one but she and Michel knew the same small room that stored the vestments and supplies for their family’s
chapelle
was also a hiding place.

She slid the iron gate across the entry into the sacristy, and after locking it, she set down her picnic hamper—emptied of its Camembert cheese and Calvados—and turned toward the pews.

Five women from Agneaux, the tiny commune at the top of the lane, knelt before the altar, the sweet fragrance of incense blending with the smell of cigarette smoke on their clothing. For centuries, women had visited this
chapelle
to plead with the Almighty to protect their husbands, sons, and brothers as they fought for France. Now they battled in prayer even as the men they loved defended their country against Hitler and his ploy to assimilate the French people into his Third Reich.

Gisèle slid her fingers over the amber rosary beads around her neck, gently fingering the ornamented handle of the brass crucifix in the center. A cross that was also a key.

“Secrets can destroy.”

The words of her university professor echoed in her mind. If a secret was powerful enough, her philosophy professor had declared from his lectern, it could demolish an entire army. Or shatter the heart of a family.

The narrow pew creaked as she knelt beside it. Looking up at the crucifix that hung above the altar, she crossed herself and then whispered, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.”

Her mind wandered as the familiar prayer tumbled from her lips.

The healing powers of a secret intrigued her, the layers that sheltered families and nations alike. A secret could destroy, like her professor said, but it could also shield a family. Like the tangled hedgerows of brushwood and bramble that fortified the nearby city of Saint-Lô, a secret could keep those you love from destruction.