Chateau of Echoes

have done without the stiletto heels on the boots, but aside from those, I felt like at least $200,000.

When I placed my hand on the doorknob, I suddenly felt shy.

There was a soft knock on the door. “Freddie?”

Putting a hand up, I stroked the door above my head, knowing exactly, from experience, where his face would be. I caught myself smiling. I opened the door.

“Cranwell-” Whatever it was that I was going to say died on my lips. The way he was looking at me sent a tingle down my spine.

“Wow.” He bent at the waist, made some silly gesture as if he were doffing his hat, and then offered me his arm.

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Just give me your hand and tell me again that you didn’t freeze to death last night.”

He let me slip a fur-covered arm under his. “But-”

Cranwell covered my hand with his. “It was nothing. I’ve never known a woman to want to wear the same thing two days in a row. My car and my own stupidity put your life in danger. It’s the least I could do.”

He stopped on our way out the door to grab a piece of designer luggage. “I’ll carry this out for you.”

“It’s not mine.”

“It’s got your things in it, so I guess it is now.”

This I’ve learned in life: If you don’t believe in Santa Claus, he can’t bring you any presents.

I believe.

Cranwell’s car was waiting for us in front of the hotel. It didn’t look anything like the arctic coffin it had seemed the previous night.

A valet opened the door for me. Cranwell helped me in. It made me feel just like a model.

As we dashed through town, I noticed the clock on the Tour de l’Horloge. It looked as if it were already afternoon.

Cranwell must have read confusion on my face. “It’s about two o’clock. After what we went through last night, we needed the sleep.”

Involuntarily, I shivered. I never wanted to be that cold again.

We reached home about an hour later. Cranwell parked in front of the steps and then came around to help me out.

Not being used to the stilettos, I teetered on the first stair. Cranwell reached an arm around my waist to steady me and then decided the better of it and lifted me easily into his arms. He marched up the steps and set me carefully on my feet in the entrance hall.

“Sorry about those heels, but that’s all the designer carried this season.” He flashed me a grin and then jogged back down the stairs to park the car.

“Frederique? Robert?” Severine’s call advertised her advance up the stairs from the kitchen. She burst into sight, followed, from a distance, by Lucy. “I was so scary.” She put a hand on my arm “You are well?”

“I’m fine. Didn’t Cranwell call you?”

“Oui. Robert called last night from the hotel. But he told me near to nothing. He was very occupied.”

“Preoccupied.” I could imagine.

For several minutes, I petted Lucy and listened to Severine chatter. I heard Cranwell crunch through the gravel across the drive and shuffle up the steps. The great oak door opened behind me.

Giving Lucy a final pat, I started toward the stairs. I thought I’d give the lovers a chance to be alone.

“Robert!” I heard Severine kiss Cranwell’s cheeks and begin to accost him with questions.

I picked my way up the first spiral of the staircase.

“Freddie?” His voice broke free from the conversation. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

After walking up another turn of the staircase, I sat down on a step in my fur coat to take off the boots. I just wasn’t a stiletto type of girl.

“I’ll bring up your bag when I come.”

“Thanks.” I was beginning to feel tired again, though I’d only been awake four hours. I trudged up the stairs to my room and hung my coat in the armoire before I collapsed on the bed. I was overcome by gratitude: I was alive. Every day I would live after that was a gift. I curled up on top of my duvet and marveled at this miracle. I allowed myself to drift off to sleep.

When I woke, the sun had set. I was surprised I hadn’t become cold, and then I realized I was snuggled underneath my duvet. I thought for a moment that I had done this in my sleep, but when I got up to walk to the bathroom, I saw my new suitcase on the floor beside the armoire.

Cranwell.

Again.

28

my sixteenth year

the first year of Louis XI, King of France

day of Saint Michel

My lord was angry this night.

We were having a fete special for Saint Michel. I was wearing an houppelande of velvet the color of the summer sky with sleeves very close and the lining beneath and below of the furs of squirrel. I wore also a chemise of silk the color of straw, the neck being straight and low and the chemise showing itself beneath the houppelande. My ceinture was of gold and fixed to itself with a jeweled clasp. My headdress, shaped as a butterfly, was more comfortable than my henin and less tall. It is of gold and studded with pearls and beryls the color of water.

This feast day, the comte de Dol had honored us with his presence. The comte is very old. He has at least fifty years and only half of his teeth, and difficulties with hearing.

The comte bowed low to me and made homage.

I replied to him, My lord, and he raised himself And he looked at me and I did not like it.

The comte demanded of me how many years I had and I told him. Sixteen.

And he demanded of me from where I came. And I told him. The country of Touraine.

Anne and my lord came and joined us. And the comte bowed low and made homage, but I made note that he did not look at her, but kept his eyes on me.

I placed myself near to my lord, and put my hand on his arm and he covered it with his own.

The comte told Anne that her cousin is very beautiful and certain he is that she searches a husband. He told her also that she should have no problems with such a body for bearing children and so fair a face.

And I had the realization that the comte believed that I was the cousin and Anne was the wife of my lord.

And my lord apologized for the comte mistaking himself, and he made an introduction of myself his lady, and Anne, his cousin. This he had need to repeat three times before the comte was able to hear it.

And the comte turned to Anne and looked at her and then made a bow and excused himself.

She must not have pleased him, though I know not why.

I think of this and realize that this is the first time I am glad of being wed to my lord and not still a girl. I must write my father and thank him strongly for making this match. I have been saved from many worse things.

But I do not think it is that which made angry my lord.

He watched me all the long of the night.

I am ignorant of why.

Everyone else made much over Anne. She was clothed in crimson velvet and glowed like an ember. Around her neck were the pearls she had received from my lord. She was talking and laughing much with many of the men.

And then the dance.

My lord and I led the danse basse large as we must. But we have danced it as never before.