Chapter 52
“What happened to Aunt Colette?â€Â? Ten-year old Nicole Paulette asked her mother.
“We never heard from her,� Danielle answered. She stroked her daughter’s auburn hair. “Or saw her ever again for that matter. When they walked outside after her, she had disappeared. She had been too quick for them. They did notice that the door to the stables was left open. Suddenly, they heard noises and shouts coming from inside. Your Uncle Jean insists that he saw her galloping out on one of Grandpapa’s prize stallions and rode off into the night. She never returned.�
“Was anything else missing?� Henri Francois, also ten, asked.
“Did Uncle Antoine meet Aunt Viviane right after that? Nicole asked.
Danielle laughed. “One question at a time, children,� she answered. She looked at her daughter. “Your uncle had not met your aunt yet. It would be five years later before they met and married six months later.� She looked at Henry. He smiled and took his wife’s hand.
“No, son, believe it or not everything was still there, including that wonderful portrait of your grandmother.� He pointed to the far wall of the manor study.� He looked at Danielle who smiled back at him.
“She looks like Mama,� Nicole said, pointing.
Danielle laughed. “I look like Grandmama, you mean.�
“Did you really find that journal, Papa?� Henri asked.
Henry nodded. “I was a little older than you when your mother and I did. It was buried in the mud with that painting and a small silver chest. They will go to you and your sister.�
“Will we have to share it with the new baby?� Louis Auguste piped up from the back of the room. The seven year old had just come in from outside. He ran straight to his father who picked him up.
“Eventually,� Henry said, smiling. He turned to Danielle who was laughing. He put his arm around her and turned back to his children. “Right now you are very young yet. We will discuss that later….“
“When you are older.� The three children finished the sentence. They all giggled and shook their heads. Henry and Danielle looked at each other and laughed.
Danielle turned to her father who had been watching him. “Did you see your uncle?�
Louis nodded his head. “I want to be a Guardsmen someday, Mama, and a Captain, just like Uncle Jean.�
“Well, he’s not a Captain yet,� Auguste said, taking his grandson from Henry. “But he doesn’t have too much longer. Captain Laurent is having children of his own and he wants to stay home to watch them grow.�
Henry nodded. “He married Jacqueline de Ghent, didn’t he?�
“Yes, Henry, he did. This gives Jean-Claude a chance to take over.�
“Did you ever have another sword fight with him, Mama?� Henri asked.
Danielle smiled. “I did indeed, my son. Sometime later when I was fourteen and he was eighteen. He was a Guardsmen by then and fully trained.�
“Did you beat him?� the three of them asked.
“She sure did,� Auguste answered. “She was wonderful.�
“She still is,� Henry whispered in her ear and kissed it to boot.
“Where is Monique?� Danielle asked, turning away from Henry to look in back of her. “She is supposed to be minding the children.�
“We are right here,� Monique said, coming in with her husband, Henry’s cousin, Marquis Francois du Bois. They had two children of their own, Antoine Rene and Jean-Claude, one six and one eight. Monique had just discovered that she was expecting another.
She kissed Danielle on the cheek and Francois took little Louis from his grandfather.
“We’ll watch them Henry,� Francois said, putting Louis down. He ran straight over to the two boys and sat down next to them. Henri and Nicole ran over as well. “We know you have an important meeting. But it must be brief for the evening meal awaits us all.�
“Yes,� Auguste said, “do not worry, it will be and we will be able to enjoy our repast and on time as well.�
[ Edited by susan on 2002/7/7 23:20:31 ]