Chapter 35
“It hasn’t been that for years, it’s de Barbarac now.” Colette squinted against the sunlight in her eyes. She looked up and smiled.
“Edmond?” she asked, “Edmond du Lac?”
Edmond bowed. “At your service, milady.” He straightened out and laughed. “Yes, Colette, don’t seem so surprised. You know that my brother and I grew up in this province. He jumped down from the horse and reached out a hand to help her up.
“And I would think that you’d know that I have already married again, Edmond. “ She took his outstretched hand and got to her feet, reluctantly. “Thank you,” she said. It took a while for her to regain her balance. What was wrong with her? She thought. Had she fallen asleep or was she just tired from being up all night.
“It is true, I had forgotten,” Edmond laughed, then grew serious. He looked at the front of her gown. “Madam, it appears that your gown is soiled. It seems that there is mud all over it. Are you all right? How did it happen?”
It took a minute for Colette to focus on him, now that she was standing. Look what he’s wearing, Colette thought, looking at him up and down. He looked like some soldier.
“Oh that little thing? Of course you realize that I have fallen in the mud.”
“Have you?” Edmond asked. “You were right, I should have known. Anyway, you look lost. May I help you on your way?”
Colette smiled. She pointed toward the manor. “I only live right there,” she said.
“Well then,” Edmond said, smiling. He took her hand. “We should get going.”
They began to walk.
“I thought that Emil left the chateau to you. I thought that where you would be. Not here.”
Edmond smiled. “Well, how can I be in two places at once. I must stay here and perform my duties.”
“Duties? Why Edmond whatever are you talking about?”
Edmond didn’t answer her just yet. He turned to look at her face, then turned his gaze forward. There in the distance, he could see three people waiting for him. He smiled and kept right on moving.