Forever Young The Beginning (23 page)

“
No Madame. They are afraid
that they’ll have to go to another place not as nice as
Angel’s Care
. Mimi was in
another place and said it was very bad. She ran away from it before
you found her and took her to
Angel’s
Care
. Everyone at
Angel’s Care
knows it is a good place
to be.”

“
I’m so glad that you like
it there, Celeste. Would you like to come to the wedding
celebration this evening?”

Again Celeste’s hand flew to her
pretty face and she nodded rapidly saying “Oh my, yes Madame, yes!
Then she leaned over and began to cry for happiness. As Marie took
her in her arms she then wept freely as Marie held her until her
tears had abated some.

“
Forgive me Madame, but I’m
just so happy and it’s been so very long since I’ve had anything to
be happy about. I had to be strong for the others and before that I
lived not knowing from one day to the next what might befall me.
Oh, you have made me so very happy Madame. Thank you!”

They rode along, Marie
holding Celeste close against her breast, her eyes brimming with
tears. She thought
what a lovely child!
Would to God she was ours.
She felt a pang
then that only some childless women can ever truly know.

They stepped aboard
Elsie’s Cloud
within the
hour, and not long afterward, Elsie had been sailed out of the
harbor and was out at sea. Angus had expertly dropped two anchors
so that the entire area containing the front seats was well shaded.
At a signal from the forecastle Armando stood and facing everyone,
began to play a lovely Portuguese melody, a medium to slow tempo
piece.

Celeste appeared and walked slowly
ahead of Cosette and Henri, scattering rose petals. Cosette and
Henri followed, with Louis and Mustafa bringing up the rear,
holding the train of her gown. She was radiant and the gown was
breathtaking.

Cosette approached Ian who was without
his hat now. She was smiling radiantly, her gaze fixed on him only.
Turning, she smiled and nodded graciously at Marie and the ship’s
officers as she passed by. The carpenters had done a really good
job of covering the steep stair-ladder that normally allowed access
to the aft deck and substituted a more easily navigated staircase,
even with a hand rail. She turned to face Henri and hugged and
kissed him. Henri embraced her and kissed her cheek before he
turned and went to his seat next to Marie.

She never touched the handrail, but
fluidly came up the steps to Ian. Mesmerized from the moment she
had appeared, he thought his heart might melt at the sight of her.
At last she was there at his side. The music stopped and Angus
proceeded with the simple but moving ceremony.

Ian kissed the bride then, bending her
back rather far in a long lasting kiss, as the entire crew went
“Ooooooo!” Then Ian and Cosette turned and faced everyone and
waved. The entire crew, Marie, Henri, and everyone else stood and
applauded long and loud.

Angus then shouted “Let us go now and
celebrate, lads. Unfurl all sails and set course back to the
harbor!”

***

Philippe’ and Alandra headed up a
small group of people on horseback. Celita and Alandra’s mother
rode behind the pair as chaperones.

Alandra’s and Philippe’s fathers were
out touring the vineyards in another part of the sprawling estate.
The four rode for some two hours, stopping now and then to dismount
and see some places of interest. Philippe’ was animated and happy.
His good natured charm lifted Alandra’s spirits somewhat, making
the day at least pleasant. There was to be a dance at the villa
that evening. The musicians were even now arriving. The kitchen was
bustling with activity as the staff prepared a sumptuous seven
course meal. It was to be a gala occasion.

Alandra appeared for supper with
Celita, and both were beautifully dressed. The dinner went well
with the parents getting along very well. They genuinely liked each
other and were not just being polite to pass the time. Each was
impressed with the offspring of the other couple and made no secret
of it. Alandra’s younger brother was having a great time and she
found herself being somewhat drawn into the spirit of the evening
as it progressed.

The dancing was very formal,
traditional dances. The music was superbly done. Alandra exhibited
impeccable behavior, but lacked any spontaneity. She did smile from
time to time as the evening progressed. Her mind drifted back again
to steering
Tico
with Ian standing close behind her as she thought
what has become of you, Ian my love?

***

The musicians had arrived
and were playing when the guests arrived. Angus had spoken to all
of his men aboard Elsie before the wedding. He had made it very
clear that each one of them was an ambassador from Scotland this
day and that he expected them to behave properly at the Lafayette’s
home. “Remember now lads, ye can go back to Marseille for anything
else you may have in mind. There is no curfew this night and ye are
not expected aboard
Elsie
before suppertime tomorrow. Now let us go in and
be the proper Scottish gentlemen we all can be when we want
to.”

The place had a staff on duty that
numbered above thirty from what Ian could see. Marie had instructed
the staff to ready the grand dining hall which accommodated the
forty two diners. All took their place behind their chairs as Henri
standing at the head of the table formally welcomed each one. Angus
was asked to give thanks. He did so simply and elegantly, also
giving thanks for Ian’s recovery and for the gracious treatment he
had received at the hands of the Lafayettes.

Dinner was served then and it was a
sumptuous five-course meal. Most remarked that never had they eaten
better. Ian and Cosette danced the first dance as all stood
watching, then midway through; they stopped and bid the guests to
join them.

Celeste was wide eyed and positively
glowing with excitement. She stayed with Louis and Mustafa, but did
dance three times with Ian, receiving some basic instruction by him
before they took to the floor. She was smiling radiantly the whole
time, her eyes wide, taking in everything.

The evening was two-thirds gone when
Henri stood and rang a summoning bell until all stopped and looked
to him. He gestured to all to make a bit of room in the center of
the ballroom and then signaled the orchestra to take a
pause.

“
This is a dance I learned
from a Cossack. Any man who wants to may try it. It is called
‘Hopak’ and it originated in Ukraine. Here is how it goes.” Then
Armando came forward and began to play his violin. It was a lively
number. Henri crossed both arms and squatting suddenly began to
throw out one leg at a time while balancing on the other. He kept
perfect time to Armando’s music. The entire assembly began to clap
in time with the music. Ian walked into the middle of the floor
near him and started to join in. He nearly did a back somersault on
his first attempt, sprawling on the floor accompanied by raucous
laughter from all. Undeterred he tried again and after a couple of
side-staggers, he settled into the rhythm of the dance. Eventually
he moved towards Henri as he got more competent. Soon the pair was
circling each other, Ian following Henri’s lead. Eventually Ian
edged over to Henri and put one hand on his shoulder. Henri did the
same and they danced side-by side, then broke apart and circled
each other several times, their arms crossed on their chest. The
crowd stamped their feet and clapped to keep time with the lively
music. Finally Armando ended the song with a flourish. He knew only
too well that the pair could dance until sunrise like that, but had
to make the whole thing appear natural. For their part, Ian and
Henri faked being out of breath. Henri told Ian in a low voice “I
hope that no one noticed that we are not sweating even a little
bit.”

Armando began another lively tune of
the same tempo and the crewmen began to do the Hopak dance. Some
fell and some did well. The crowd again got involved. At this time
Ian tugged Cosette and the two started to work their way towards
the servants’ door to the ball room. When they were off in another
part of the house, he made as if to take Cosette to the kitchen
door, supposing they would spend the night in the caretaker’s
house. Cosette smiled sweetly and said “Not tonight cheri. Come
this way.” She led him to the grand foyer and out onto the veranda
where he saw a carriage standing ready with a driver waiting.
Cosette led him to it and after they started down the driveway, she
turned to him and said “I have a surprise.”

“
What is it?”

“
You’ll see shortly. Just
sit back for a bit.”

They turned east and went a mile and
then turned back to the north. As they progressed, Ian felt the
carriage going up a slight incline. They stopped at a stone house
with a steep slate roof. There were lamps lit inside in every room
and lamps on the covered front porch lit as well. They waited until
the coachman got down and opened the door and gave Cosette his arm
to step down. Following her, Ian looked around, puzzled.

“
Welcome to our new home,
cheri.”

“
What?”

“
Henri and Marie bought the
old Tremblay place and have given it to us as a wedding
gift.”

Ian was speechless. He walked up the
steps, looking around at everything. Cosette dismissed the coachman
who drove off down the driveway.

“
Cosette, I don’t know what
to think.”

“
Then don’t think tonight.
Take me into our home, husband.”

Ian scooped her up, carried her into
the house and closed the door.

***

“
What?” roared Marcel
Francoise. “Those girls haven’t arrived? Did you not tell me that
delivery was assured and would be on time?”

“
Yes, my lord.”

“
Well?”

“
LeBlanc says they didn’t
arrive last night. A rider from Marseille said that they were never
delivered by LeBlanc’s brother in Marseille. He left with the bad
news as soon as he learned that they wouldn’t be delivered that
night. Something has gone wrong.”

“
Gone wrong? Gone Wrong?
I’ll have both of the LeBlanc’s heads on a pike if they’ve caused
this.”

“
What shall we do, my
lord?”

Francoise paced restlessly, then sat
down behind an oversized marble topped desk and grabbed a quill and
ink. He folded the note then sealed it with wax using his own
ring.

“
Give this to LeBlanc. It is
to be delivered to that address. LeBlanc is to question his useless
brother. This other man will investigate beginning with the King’s
Gendarmes to see if there is any record of anything that could
relate to this. He’ll use any means to get an answer for me. I will
have answers for this!”

Ian and Cosette were lying in bed the
following morning talking. Cosette said “Did you notice how happy
Celeste was last night?”

“
Yes. How do you think she
knows what she knows?”

“
I have heard of people like
that, but never have met one. It is a rare gift.”

“
We should spend the day at
the chateau. Celeste might be returning to Angel’s Care today or
this evening. Let’s go over there now. I would like to look this
place over really good, but with Celeste leaving soon that can
wait.” They made and straightened their bed together at vampire
speed and did the kitchen in a blur of motion.

When they arrived at the chateau the
kitchen was bustling with activity as there were around twenty
guests still there. The staff was carrying food to the main dining
hall in relays. Ian and Cosette walked into the dining hall and
greeted everyone. Celeste got up and ran to Ian to hug him. He
picked her up in a hug and swung her in a rapid circle three times
as she shrieked with delight.

After thanking Henri and Marie for
their new house, all agreed that they would like a tour so within
the hour, all of them set out to see it. Celeste was thrilled to
ride behind Ian as some of the group took to horseback and some
were taken there by carriages and even a large hay
wagon.

It was spacious with a goodly foyer,
large parlor, a large dining room, a large kitchen, and a drawing
room, all on the first floor. There were five bedrooms on the
second floor. It was built of native stone and had a slate roof,
featuring a huge hearth in the parlor, and one in the dining room
and kitchen as well as in each bedroom. There was a full width
covered porch in front and a large porch in back that the kitchen
let out onto. Ian warned them not to ask questions about it since
he had never been in it until last night.

Armando quipped “Maybe he had
something better to do last night.” which drew a lot of laughter
from everyone.

After about two hours they took to
their mounts and took a trail into the woods. Some of the others
took the carriage and returned to the chateau. Ian let Cosette
guide them. They came at last to the waterfall and dismounted
there, walking about a bit while the horses all grazed on the sweet
long wild grass.