Speak Now

Chapter Seven

A couple days had passed since their visit to see Ludwig and Feliciano, and Maddie had mustered up a new found source of strength. Ludwig’s words rang in her ears profoundly: “If jou can’t vin his heart in zhe end, zhen jou know it vasn’t meant to vork.”

She decided to step up and help Francis; she couldn’t just keep relying on her friends. No one else could do this for her. This was something she needed to get over herself. Maddie pulled out her phone and found Frances number. No time to think, just go for it, she breathed in and hit the call button. It rang twice, then she heard the click connecting the call. “‘Ello?” the Frenchman cooed.

Maddie shivered slightly at the thick accent. She quickly shook her head, shaking away any fantasies on the edge of her mind. She wasn't quite sure what to say. She’d pictured this scenario over and over in her head, but now that it was happening, she was speechless.

“Is zhat you, érable*?” Francis recognized her anyway. “Is zhis my darling Madeline zhat ‘as called moi?”

She smiled at how happy and excited he sounded, “Yes, I called to tell you I think I will help you after all.”

“Merci, merci!” Maddie held the phone away from her head as the Frenchman shouted in joy. She let out a breathy laugh. “So, um, Francis. Did you have anything, um, planned...for today?” she asked nervously.

Francis grew silent as he pondered his schedule for the day. “You know, I ‘ave to go look around at zhe chapels on Alice’s list, perhaps you could tag along? Give zhe feminine touch, non?”

“Yes, yeah, that sounds uh - that works fine,” she stammered. God, he made her so nervous!

They arranged to meet up at Francis’ place in an hour. When Madeline got there, Alice was rushing out to her deep purple Jaguar e-type. Madeline had never spent much time with Alice; their relationship was very complicated. Madeline would have to say she knew more of Alice, than about Alice. Alice had a very prominent family. Her father was head of a very successful trading company, and he was loaded. Alice was more or less - to Madeline - a spoiled brat.

The stuffy girl almost trampled Madeline as she came flying out the doors. She looked behind her, harumph-ed to herself, then flung open the driver door to her car. Madeline watched, frozen in place as the busy woman’s electric green eyes cut through her being. Alice glared at Madeline, then tore away down the path towards the street. “Madeline?” she jumped.

“Ye-yes?” she turned around and saw Francis walking out his front door, offering her a hand up.

“Are you alright, mon ami?”

“Ye-yes; I was just, um… I wasn’t paying attention, and, well - um, Alice... bumped… into me and…” she grew quiet, a faint blush visible across her face. Francis smirked; he was fully aware of Alice’s dislike of Madeline and if he had to guess, it wasn’t entirely Madeline’s fault they collided. “Well, honhon, why don’t we get started on zhis list zhen?” Francis faced Madeline, opening the passenger door for her. Madeline slid in, closing the door behind her. Francis ran around to the driver’s side of his red Bugatti Veyron. Handing the list to Madeline, he started the car, “Laissez-nous commencer**.”

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Maddie felt her heart flutter when they arrived at the last chapel. Francis had confided that he liked this one best. It was something Madeline herself would love to get married in; it was an old stone building surrounded by a gorgeous garden. She let out a sigh; this wasn’t what Alice would approve of and they both knew it. The chapel was too dull; it wasn’t elegant or regal enough for her highness.