A stone wall blocked the path, incongruous and lonely. “The only standing wall of the chapel. The rest was destroyed during the war,” the count commented.
They circled around it and discovered Bernard and another man smoking cigarettes and chatting with big gestures under the shadow of an oak tree. Behind them, the forest created a dark, dense background for the ruins. The two servants flicked their cigarette butts away and stood. The count explained their presence. “Bernard and Albert, my chauffeur, will help us.”
Cheryl stood rooted at the entrance of the church grounds, her pulse racing. She inhaled, absorbing the dust and history buried in the sacred ground. Her first restoration project, although her part would be minimal. She raised her sight to the clear sky, wishing Doc could guide her in her search. She surveyed the area, her hands clenching at her side to suppress her trepidation. Her professional eyes measured the space, about a hundred feet in length to twenty, twenty-five in width. Not too large, the size of a small house. She edged near the site boundary, carefully proceeding, her gaze glued to the ground. Taking one step at a time, she paused, examined and assessed her surroundings.
At what seemed to be the entrance of the church, the count joined his two servants and observed the students, arms crossed on his chest. Chuck and Adriaan paced along the opposite side, crouching from time to time to study some vestige of the destroyed chapel, while Roberto and Juan-Pablo engaged in a conversation, easy to follow for whoever watched their animated gestures.
Karl reached the end of the chapel and leaned on a broken marble bench—or an altar—lost in concentration.
Cheryl avoided coming close to him and crossed to the other side to meet with Chuck and Adriaan shortly joined by Roberto and Juan-Pablo.
“Do you think we will find it?” Adriaan asked, his eyes shining with interest.
She raised her eyebrows. “Find what?”
“The statue, of course,” Roberto provided. “It’s here, somewhere under the ruins. We may have to dig the ground foot by foot.
Adriaan patted her arm. “We count on you, Cheryl, in our search for the statue. Wouldn’t it be great if we find it and surprise the count?”
Juan-Pablo interrupted. “The count hasn’t explained the details. He may not reveal anything about the priceless statue.”
Her gaze drifted to their host who seemed to ignore them at the moment. For some reason she didn’t understand and couldn’t explain, she felt compelled to defend him. “He doesn’t know us well enough. Maybe he can’t trust us yet.”
“I don’t blame him.” Adriaan’s lips twisted to one side. “I certainly don’t trust our friend there.” His chin tilted toward Karl who seemed deep in his thoughts.
Heavy steps echoed in the silence. The count trod toward them. “Did you have your fill of old stones for your first day?”
Juan-Pablo chortled. “Just a faint taste. We were discussing the chapel ground.”
“Do you mind if I take pictures?” Cheryl asked.
“Not at all. You can use the rest of the day visiting some of the neighboring chapels from the list I gave you.”
A moment later, they headed toward the castle in a boisterous exchange of comments.
François accompanied them to the Grand Hall. “Enjoy your free time . We’ll reconvene here tomorrow at ten-thirty to continue. Is this acceptable?”
“That late?” Surprised, Cheryl raised her head to meet his questioning gaze. He was giving her plenty of time to rest and wake up at her leisure.
~*~
Sitting in his leather chair, François tapped his fingers on the desk. His gaze wandered through the large bay window. The men would soon leave for the nearby town of Tours to spend the rest of the day and Cheryl had gone back to her room.
Their interest in the statue had caught him by surprise last night. He’d tried to avoid the questions, evade Adriaan and intimidate Karl. How he wished he could find it himself.
The phone rang. He picked it up and grinned, recognizing his sister’s voice. “What a nice surprise.”
“This is an official call to give you the message of Maman.”
François’ smile faded as he heard the laughter in his sister’s voice. He knew their mother too well and the message she repeated almost on a daily basis. “Marilène, do me a favor and mind your own business.” Getting married and producing an heir was absolutely out of the question. François enjoyed his freedom and his mistresses. Like his father, he was not husband material and would only make a wife miserable with his philandering.
“Well, Maman insisted I gave you the message. I did, voilà.”
“Start by setting a good example. Maman craves to hold your babies in her arms. Are we going to see you soon?”
“I may drop by when your dear friend Edith leaves.”
“She’s not here and will not be coming soon.”
“Really? Is there anyone else I should meet?”
“Non.”
Marilène laughed. “Somehow I don’t believe you. I think I will be coming for sure. Au revoir.”
His little sister could be an absolute pain when she put herself to the task. He hoped she wouldn’t arrive unannounced when he had too many things to cope with and a damsel in danger to protect.
Annoyed by his sister’s call and his mother’s unsolicited interference in his life, he strode to the bay window and stared blankly at the front alley. He had no intention of changing his lifestyle to please his mother but the discovery of the missing statue would provide an excellent alternative to mend the rift in their relationship.
Unfortunately Professor Howard wasn’t here to help him. François doubted Cheryl could advise him as effectively as her mentor but he was ready to give her a chance. Besides, he had to keep her close by and protect her from a real danger. Very close. François stopped frowning and smiled. He definitely appreciated her physical beauty as much as her intellectual attributes.
Speak of the devil! The young woman strode away from the chateau. But was it really Cheryl? The Cheryl he thought he knew?
He sucked in his breath as his gaze fastened on her naked waist revealed by low-cut black pants and a short black-and-white top. Merde and hôuly cow, he swore in French and frenchy English. She’d definitely shed her bookworm image. Where was she going in this dress-to-kill outfit, her hair clasped at the nape of her neck and her camera and fanny-pack dangling against her side?
He expected her to keep straight through the iris fields. Instead she turned to the right and marched into the forest. Did she miscalculate her directions? She seemed to walk purposefully.
François froze, worried, then stunned. Nothing lay on the right, except oak trees and beyond them…the ruins. If she wanted to go back to the chapel, why not use the path through the rose garden, the one he showed them in the morning? Why the big detour through the forest where she could get lost?
Without hesitation, he hooked his phone on his belt and dashed out of his office. Her bare waist could cause trouble in no time. He stiffened, his blood racing downward.
What was the matter with Cheryl? Didn’t she have enough sharks swimming around her without throwing more tempting bait at them? She was his responsibility and he needed to be sure she’d meet with no harm. But Lord, she had a knack of complicating his life.
~*~
Cheryl accelerated her pace, her low-waist leggings and sports bra the ideal clothes to run through the heat of midday without sweating in discomfort. The breeze carried a fragrance of flowers and played with her hair. She inhaled with pleasure, now completely attuned to the colors and scent of the wild irises. They soothed the throbbing pulse hammering against her temples.
A comfortable shade covered the path, replacing the blazing sun, as she entered through the curtain of majestic oak trees. Careful examination of a map downloaded from the internet had shown her the exact position of the chateau. By heading north along the front drive then east for thirty minutes through the forest, she should end up at the ruins. She kep
t her gaze focused on the sliver of sunrays flickering through the branches. The trick was not to deviate from her path.
Suddenly, more sunlight illuminated the trees, announcing a clearing. Cheryl’s breathing relaxed. She’d done it. She’d crossed the forest without trouble and reached the ruins without anyone seeing her. Except… Someone had preceded her to the chapel. Someone stooped over the marble altar.
Cheryl halted behind the last tree. The man straightened. Karl, a video camera in his hands, filmed the whole area. Annoyed by his presence when she had expected some private time, she watched him scan the site. He shifted the camera toward the entrance, the direction where she was hiding. She stepped back, not wanting to deal with him. What was he doing here? Had he seen her through the magnifying lens of the instrument?
The video camera glued to his eye, he strode toward the entrance of the chapel’s site. As she backed up within the curtain of trees she stumbled on a dead branch and stifled a shriek of pain.
Strong arms reached around her waist and lifted her. A hand clamped over her mouth. She was dragged backward and pushed to the ground.
Chapter 5
Remembering the self-defense techniques she’d learned last winter in a karate workshop, Cheryl kicked back, twisted right and left, opened her mouth and slammed it shut on the hand gagging her.
“Stop it, you little devil.” François snatched his hand away from her teeth and sucked on the bite.
“Are you crazy?” she uttered between gritted teeth. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Apparently, I did not scare you enough.”
Cheryl looked around. Where was she? Except for a bright spot ahead of her, cool darkness surrounded her. They squatted on the ground. She smelled earth and mildew.
“Where did you haul me?”
“Shhh, keep your voice low. I don’t want him to find this place.”
“Where are we?” She whispered this time.
“It’s the opening of an underground tunnel. You were not supposed to learn about it.” His voice sounded disgusted. She could swear he glared at her in the dark.
“A real secret tunnel?” Cheryl smiled, her predicament forgotten. She’d discovered a secret tunnel on her first day at work. If that didn’t beat all.
“Yes, a secret tunnel that may not be secret anymore, thanks to your curiosity. Didn’t I tell you, last night—”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.” She heard him snort.
“What were you doing here, anyway?” he asked, his voice still edgy.
“I just wanted to examine the broken marble table. I couldn’t do it this morning with Karl almost standing on it.” She tried to see his expression in the feeble light. “It may be hollow and contain…something.”
He scoffed. “You expect it to hide the statue? Rest assured I have already examined it carefully. Meanwhile, you exposed yourself to danger in the most careless way. Crossing the forest alone is risky. You could have walked in circles for hours. Not to mention bad encounters.”
His hand touched her hair in a gentle caress. Had he really worried about her? She closed her eyes, relishing the pleasant tingles that raced from his hand to her heart and the pit of her stomach.
His hand dropped and he eased away. “Let me check to see if he has left.” His voice turned steely. “Don’t move from here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She shrugged and folded her arms. Why did he have to smother the delicious sensation that invaded her a minute ago?
François came back. “He is gone. I hope he did not catch you in his video.”
He pulled her hand and helped her crawl out of the tunnel. They both straightened and brushed the dirt from their clothes.
“François, do you think he’s up to something? I mean something illegal?” She bit her lip, wondering if the count shared her mistrust of the German student.
“I don’t know. He is not a friendly guy. But then he is not the only peculiar student around here.” François sent her a meaningful look.
Cheryl gasped. “Do I inspire your mistrust? I’m not a sneaky person.”
His incredulous eyebrow shot up.
“Honestly, I just want to learn.”
“Yes, I know you’re an excellent student and I do trust you.” He took both her hands in his. “But until I know these men better, I ask that you be careful. If Karl’s intentions are suspicious and he discovers you’re spying on him, he may not like it. And you were alone in the forest.”
“You don’t need to worry. I can take care of myself. I’m a black belt in karate.”
He dropped his head and released a loud sigh. “Cheryl,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “As long as you live in my chateau, I am responsible for you. Kindly remember that.”
He was gorgeous, his eyes shining with a golden fire. The warmth of his hands around hers filled her with a sense of security. “Okay, okay. I won’t wander in the forest until you show me the safest paths. As for Karl, I’ll admit I’ve noticed the guy hasn’t smiled once yet. But I can keep him at bay if necessary.”
François suddenly squinted, his gaze dropping to her belly. “What…is…” he groaned. She heard him suck in his breath and he froze on his spot. He let go of her hands as though she’d burned him. “You do like to play with fire.”
She glanced at the rhinestone sparkling in her belly button and couldn’t suppress a smile. “Oh, that. I had it put there a month ago to celebrate my last exam and the beginning of a new life. One which includes the publication of my thesis. I hope you don’t mind if I mention the secret tunnel in my next article?”
“When the chapel is built you can write whatever you want and do as you please. Until then…” He cut the air with a decisive gesture that grated on her nerves.
“There’s no reason to bully me because I came to the ruins without your permission, Monsieur le Count.” She shrugged and accelerated her pace. “You can lord it over your villagers, but remember I’m here on a mission.”
He caught up with her and grabbed her arm to stop her. She watched him bat back his anger. His scowl relaxed and he smiled. “Let us forget this incident. Would you like to stroll through the countryside?” His soft, soothing voice lured her gaze back to his eyes.
“I was planning to have a walk after my exploration at the ruins. But first I’d like to visit the tunnel.”
“There is nothing to discover here. It’s a simple passage.”
“Fine. I’ll come back later.”
“Merde. Do you have any idea what a handful you are?”
She chuckled. “François, be reasonable. The statue may be hidden somewhere in here. I owe it to Doc to find the statue and it would be a nice item for my paper.”
“The paper again. Merde and merde.”
“Oh, boy. Your mother should have washed your mouth with soap for all these shits.”
He burst out laughing. “Touché. My mother is a sweet lady who doesn’t have much influence on me. But Bernard spanked me often enough to teach me clean talking.”
“Seriously, François, I want to visit the tunnel. Remember, team, friends. I have agreed to work with you. Although I’m beginning to wonder if—”
“You made your point. Just promise you won’t try to come here alone.”
“I promise. How long is this tunnel?”
“I don’t know exactly. It is long and dark. The ground is bumpy and treacherous but I have a pocket flashlight and I’ll hold you.”
“What? Why, I don’t need—“
“If you want to go through the tunnel, you have to let me lead you.” He took her hand and walked her back to the opening concealed by foliage. They crawled through and straightened inside. His arm wrapped around her waist, his hand burning against her flesh.
“Hey.” She fidgeted and disengaged herself.
He removed his arm. His knowing smile rushed the blood to her face. “Sorry. I don’t want you tripping.” Holding her shoulder, he chuckled. “Is that better?”
Actually it wasn’t. But at least her naked shoulder seemed more resilient than her waist. She didn’t bother to answer and concentrated on her steps.
François clicked on his flashlight and directed the beam downward. They silently progressed through the tunnel, Cheryl less concerned about the rocks and weeds carpeting the ground than the manly breath warming her neck. The passage angled and narrowed. He flashed the light right and left to illuminate the sidewalls.
Cheryl sighed. “Why don’t you go first? I’ll follow you.”
“You will be in the dark. I don’t want you to fall. Move in front of me.”
He edged behind her, his hand still holding the flashlight ahead of her. She accelerated her pace and caught her foot in a crevice. François’ arms steadied her before she could fall. “Easy. Stay next to me. I don’t want you hurting yourself.” Unfortunately, he didn’t let go once she’d regained her balance.
Damn it. This wasn’t working at all. “How much farther to go?” Her voice sounded hoarse even to her own ears. Was her paper worth the turmoil she had to cope with? Her paper, no. But finding the statue, yes. For Doc. Certainly not to please François who already garnered more pleasure than he deserved from her search.
“Are you all right?” François asked as he bent over her shoulder, his hard frame pressing against her back and buttocks.
“Yes. Yes, I’m fine.” Her throat felt clogged by an unusual lump and her chest was overheating. What a dumb idea she’d come up with. He could rest assured she’d never cross this tunnel again.
Suddenly, François backed up. “Here take the flashlight,” he said, his voice gruff. “I will follow. I know this passage inside out. We are almost at the end.”
As if to prove him right, a flicker of sun appeared ahead of them.
Alleluia. They’d made it. The opening was high enough for them to exit without crouching. François extended a hand to help her over straggled branches and high weeds and led her around the bushes concealing the tunnel opening.
Cheryl breathed deeply and recognized the now-familiar odor of wild irises. She flashed a bright smile as she gazed at the carpet of color. “Thank you, for showing me the secret passage.”
Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin' Anthology 2015 Page 80