Kate's Parisian Escape

Chapter 24

Château de Langlois, July 1788

Loire Valley, France

Adeline shivered as she entered the wine cellar. It was dank and musty but despite the heat kept their spirits cold and chilled. She carried a single candle in her hand and held it aloft to check the room was empty.

It was. But then again it was the middle of the night so there shouldn't be anyone down here. It was why Christian suggested they meet in the cellar. They had been corresponding by letters, but he said they needed to speak in person.

She walked through the barrels of wine as she waited for Christian to arrive. She wore a white nightgown and a blue wrapper with silk slippers. The vineyard on Château de Langlois had always produced well. Lately, her nerves had been taunted with tension with worry over Juliette. She knew it was a mistake for her to run away with Marc but no matter what Adaline said she could not convince her otherwise.

"Adaline, are you here?"

Christian had arrived, carrying his own candle, and stood at the opening to the cellar.

"Yes, I'm here." Adaline responded walking to his side.

"You look lovely," he murmured.

"How can you tell?" Adaline joked. The cellar was pitch black except for their two flickering flames. But even so Adeline could tell he was wearing navy breeches and a white shirt.

Christian smiled. "I don't need to see you to know you're beautiful."

Adeline blushed. "Oh, Christian, I've missed you!"

"I know. I've missed you too." He took Adeline's hand in one of his own. "But it won't be for much longer now."

"What about Juliette?"

Naturally, Adeline had conveyed to Christian all the details regarding Juliette's plans to run away with Marc. All except one that is, which she knew she must tell him now.

"She can't marry that fool, Marc. Louie only has terrible things to say about him."

"I didn't know you and Louie spoke?" Adeline said, surprised.

"We've known each other since boyhood. He'd sometimes help out in my father's stables."

Adeline waited for more, but Christian didn't continue. Somehow, she was sure that Christian was leaving out a very important detail regarding his relationship with Louie.

"What can we do then? Juliette is set on running away with him...and there's something else."

"What?" Christian squeezed Adeline's hand tighter.

Adeline averted her gaze from Christian. "Juliette laid with Marc."

Christian abruptly let go of Adeline's hand. "No. Is she mad?"

"She thought it was the simplest way for you to call off the engagement."

"But she already knows I planned to do that!" he cried agitated at Juliette's stupidity.

"This happened before she learned of our feelings for each other."

"Damn! Roux is more devious than I thought."

"Julie is ruined now, isn't she?" Adeline asked sadly.

"Unless her heart truly wants Marc. But it would be foolish of her to engage with any other gentleman. When they discovered the truth then she'd really be right and ruined."

"You can think of no one else?" Adaline asked.

"Save myself?" Christian answered. "No... well."

His face turned contemplative.

"What is it Christian?" Adaline pressed.

"There may be another way."

"Yes?"

"I can't discuss it with you now. There isn't much time. I will send word as soon as I know more."

Christian took Adeline's hand again and placed a single kiss upon it. "Soon this will all be behind us. I count the days until you are my wife."

"As do I."

But Adeline knew they would never get their happily ever after unless they could save Juliette. She hoped Christian knew what he was doing because he was right, there wasn't much time left.