Was checking out some old floppy discs and came across some introductory pieces for the great romance i was going to write at 17 lol brings back memories
Arrival at the chateau
Lillian tried not to let the fatigue of her journey force itself on her ever-heavy eyelids. It was impossible to keep awake. Despite fully rolling down the car window and facing her head towards the fast, cool breeze, the longing to snuggle up under a duvet was getting stronger as the journey went on. Thomas, the chauffeur, had managed to pick her out of the heaving crowd flowing between the terminals of Marseilles Airport a few hours ago, presumably by the confused and tired expression. Since then he had attempted to claim her consciousness by exchanging discourse about the weather, her flight and her new home for the next few weeks but without much success until they had reached a looming set of rock iron gates.
“Here we are Miss Hughes” his French accent laced with a sense of pride at the scene before them. “This is the scenic route – I think you will like Chateau * – it is the envy of many who come to visit it in the summer months.” he gave her a wide smile in the rear-view mirror.
Lillian managed an interested look but the thought of an invasion of tourists trekking through the grounds, or even the house, when she had so much work to get done before meeting the group had dampened her spirits a little. “Does it attract much attention then?” she asked, dreading the answer.
“Certainly before Master * bought it, the château was a popular historic site; being built in the late seventeenth century by one of the most influential families in France. But with the success of I’Potenti there seems to be more and more people wanting to see the grounds.”
“And inside the chateau?”
“Oh yes, they all say they will pay big money to see the private wings but Master * likes his privacy so only certain areas are open to public viewing”
“That’s understandable I guess – I know I wouldn’t like strangers poking about my personal belongings”
Thomas let out a big sigh as they turned out of the narrow, gravel lane and into wider surroundings. “He doesn’t like anyone there at all; the only reason he allows the chateau to be open to the public at all was because it was part of the conditions of his owning it in the first place…and I guess the extra money in his pockets does no harm either” he said quieter.
Not sure if she was meant to hear the last comment, Lillian decided to take in the view now that there was something to appease her weariness. There were no signs of the celebrated chateau as yet, but the grounds leading to it were breathtaking. Lillian remembered the only other time she had been in awe of such an environment was when she was six years old and had been taken to a country estate for a wedding. The surroundings had been much like what she was witnessing now; huge expanses of grassland dotted with various mature trees. She tried counting the different varieties but after accounting for Willows, Beech and Yews, her knowledge was exhausted. She was pleased to spot a tennis court just off the roadside to her right as they made their way slowly past an area that looked as though it was specifically made for the pilgrims to the site. Picnic benches furnished the barely wooded area and were joined by a small brick building which was probably an information hut.
“What do you think?” Thomas’s voice interrupted her sightseeing. She looked out of the front window and saw the chateau creeping into full view. (ADD BIT ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL BUILDING LOOKS LIKE)
Briefly being stunned into silence, Lillian managed to make pleasantries about what was before her. As they drove over a bridge to reach the car park to the back entrance to the chateau, Thomas had explained that there were even more sights to be seen to the front of the building and had cracked some joke about the moat that now surrounded them not being deep enough to drown in should she have the urge to take a dip in it.
At the sound of the car doors slamming shut, servants had rushed down the steps and around the car to take possession of Lillian’s suitcases. Thomas bid her farewell and told her that she would be left in the capable hands of Mary, the overseer of household who would show Lillian to her room. She didn’t wait long at the top of the steps before Mary made an appearance. The dumpy women looked at her as she might look upon the undesirables that invaded her realm.
“You’re in the * room, on the second floor. Follow me” she barked in perfect English inside the hall.
Lillian stepped in and was caught by the two marble staircases mirroring each other as they gently slanted up towards the first floor. Promptly, she followed the short-tempered woman to the staircase on the left. The portraits that lined the wall on her descent distracted her from the wheezes of the maid.
“Are these family portraits?” Lillian ventured to ask, feeling uncomfortable with the atmosphere already.
“No” Mary answered abruptly. “They are paintings of previous owners – as you can see Gerard is not amongst them yet.”
Silence resumed until they reached the first floor. Usually, Lillian had been used to long silences with her clients back home but for some reason she didn’t like it now – it wasn’t necessary and she felt obliged to fill the noiseless interaction. She dared another provoking comment.
“Big place this, must cost a fortune in upkeep” she mused. The observation obviously irritated Mary who met it with a thorough clarification of what the walls of the chateau contained.
“There are four floors – overall twelve bedrooms, many ensuite; two kitchens, four reception rooms; a library; a games room and a study room which has recently been refurbished into a studio. Is there anything else you would like to know?” She swung the double doors open and marched up the hall towards another flight of stairs. Not wanting to cause offence Lillian had started apologising but was interrupted with “I believe I have answered all the questions that young…ladies” she looked Lillian up and down “wish to know about the chateau”
The submission she had just experienced left and the maid’s remark had now created a feeling of resentment. How dare she? She knows nothing about – she stopped herself there. She had promised she wouldn’t let anyone goad her into a reaction ever again. Mary had obviously seen her fair share of gold-diggers to the chateau and she was only looking out for her young employers interests, and indirectly her own. She said nothing more and was glad when Mary left her to explore her room on her own.
Having problems converting word documents: if i cut and paste it doesn't stay in the same format as it was so just guessed what font size i would need - im guessing it should be lower than 5...
