The curse of Kalaan (13 page)

“What are ye doing here?” Lil’ Louis stammered, turning pale. His attitude took Virginie completely by surprise.

“Well, Isabelle and her mother, the countess invited me to spend the winter with them here on the isle and…”

“
S
atordellik!”
[49]
Lil’ Louis cursed under his breath before asking, “Are they here too?”

“Yes, but…” Virginie stammered in reply, as Lil’ Louis quickly took off up the steep path.

He continued to blaspheme all the way up the path and soon the young woman’s astonishment gave way to curiosity. The old man was behaving quite strangely, even for him and he climbed the path with an incredible energy, despite his heavy breathing due to the effort and his weight.

Just as they passed the village, Lil’ Louis, grunting and panting, turned left onto a track leading to a lovely longhouse nesting in the castle ramparts, only few yards from the western cliffs.

“Warn Kalaan... he’ll kill me…
Ma Doue, de ma Doue
...” the old man went on and on.
Then suddenly, they were both transfixed by screams of terror.

“’Tis daylight!” Lil’ Louis cried out and began to run as the church bells rang nine.

As for Virginie, without thinking an instant, she seized an ax from a chopping block, and ran after the old man to help her friends. It was in these circumstances that they arrived at the house.

Now, back to the present, Virginie found Isabelle and Amélie next to the fireplace. They were both safe and sound, and staring in stupefaction at Virginie’s boots. She looked down too and started in surprise when she saw the ax blade lodged in the wood floor not an inch from her right foot.

“Good heavens!” she gasped, losing any desire to laugh.

“Is everything all right?” Virginie didn’t recognize the deep, accented voice that spoke.

Looking up she saw a mountain of blue fabric and a pair of eyes looking at her from within, confirming there was indeed a human being underneath. Frightened once again, her first thought was that it must be a masked bandit, so Virginie grabbed the ax and again raised it above her head.

“Get back hoodlum,” she shouted as the young stranger who had pulled up her trousers stepped forward, gesturing to someone behind Virginie.

Lil’ Louis took the weapon from Virginie, smiled at her reassuringly and murmured in her ear, “All is well, child. You are safe here. These are all friends who arrived with the count. There is no danger.”

“But... the screams?” Virginie’s worried eyes went from one face to another, stopping at the tall woman.

The way the strange woman stared at her, as if she wanted to eat her, was making Virginie more and more uncomfortable. To top it all off, she was convinced the woman was going to kiss her hand before Isabelle intervened, stepping between them.

“We saw a huge rat and you know how I fear rats.”

“Yes,” Amélie said from the fireplace. She hadn’t heard everything her daughter said. “A horrible little mouse.”

Virginie frowned, thoroughly confused.

“Mother means a mouse as big as a rat.”

“Yes, that’s it, a rat, the size of a mouse,” Amélie said. “But come here, close to the fire my child. You must be chilled to the bone.”

Virginie was not fooled; she knew something was not right and they weren’t telling her everything, but she went over to the dowager countess and sighed in relief at having put some distance between that strange young women and herself.

“Virginie, I would like to introduce my second cousin, Catherine of Croz,” Isabelle said, gesturing towards the strange woman. “She has just returned from a journey with Kalaan and… her trunk was lost in the storm, hence her unusual clothing.”

“Oh...” was all Virginie could say. She was still very uncomfortable, as Catherine was brazenly eyeing her.

“And this is Salam, Kalaan’s Egyptian friend.”

“Sir.” Feeling quite abashed Virginie greeted him ceremoniously nodding her head. And to think she’d taken him for a bandit and threatened him with an ax.

Salam, who was distracted by Catherine’s idiotic behavior, simply returned the nod.

“And of course, you already know Lil’ Louis.”

Lil’ Louis seemed even more overwhelmed by the recent events than Virginie. His mouth open, he looked questioningly at Salam, while shooting meaningful looks in the direction of Amélie, Isabelle and Catherine. Virginie knit her lovely golden eyebrows in confusion. Something very mysterious was happening here and she began to feel like an unwilling actress playing a part in a very bad play.

“Where is the Count of Croz?” She asked noticing his absence.

“Oh, my brother is a little tired. He’s gone to bed and will probably snore through the day. Don’t you think so, Catherine?”

Catherine did not seem to appreciate Isabelle’s teasing remarks and was about to respond when Amélie stood up.

“Ladies, let us return to rest at the castle and leave the men to do the same here.”

Virginie and Isabelle obediently followed her out to the cobblestone courtyard where Amélie halted her troops like a sergeant on a battlefield.

“Catherine! Come my child,” she called with a voice of authority.

The beautiful, tall young woman with jet-black hair appeared in the doorway. Virginie found it difficult not to laugh at her petulance. The idea of accompanying the other women up to the castle did not seem to please her in the least.

“I am perfectly alright here, my… aunt.”

“Now, now,” Amélie replied with a voice of authority, “You must consider your reputation, my dear. To the castle, immediately!”

Isabelle was stifling her laughter and shooting teasing looks at Catherine who responded by sticking out her tongue. Then she hung her head and shook it as if feeling sorry for herself. The group started back in direction of the castle.

As they left the courtyard, Amélie called out over her shoulder, “Lil’ Louis, I’ll expect you in my office at precisely four o’clock!”

“
Ya
, Madame Amélie,” he replied with a sigh.

And here was yet another mystery. Virginie could not imagine what the old man could possibly be reproached with. There was something very fishy happening on the isle, ever since the return of an invisible Kalaan and Virginie swore she would uncover the truth before the end of her stay. As for Catherine, what an outrageous woman!

Where on earth did she come from? How did she end up traveling with Kalaan? Virginie couldn’t leave now. Her curiosity had been aroused; plus she still had to wait for a letter from the detective she hired. No matter what, she was safer on Croz than alone in Paris.

Now it was time to rest.

Chapter 9

An almost perfect dinner

             
“
T
arnation! Are you going to stop going on about petticoats and hairpins? Just leave me alone!”

The commotion pulled Virginie out of a deep sleep. Wan and disoriented, she sat up in bed. Her eyelids were heavy and at first she couldn’t remember where she was. It took her a few minutes to recognize the room and remember she was on the Isle of Croz. The little marble and bronze clock on her bedside table showed 1 o’clock. She had slept less than 4 hours; what on earth was happening now?

The shouting from the room next to hers answered her question. People were arguing and she immediately recognized the voices of Isabelle and Catherine, but also, the more subdued voice of a young maidservant.

“But, Miss, please,” she pleaded,” The countess instructed us to…”

“I really could not care less what she instructed!” Catherine ranted, “Whosoever dares to dress me in those rags risks knowing the edge of my sword.”

When she heard a frightened scream and the sound of a stampede in the hallway, Virginie decided to leave the warmth of her bed. She pulled on her dressing gown and slippers.

“You’re stubborn as a mule!” This time it was Isabelle’s voice.

“I would like to see you in my position!”

“But I am, and have been ever since I was born. Dressing in women’s clothing won’t kill you.”

What an extraordinary discussion,
Virginie said to herself. She had just gone out to the hall, and noticed an open door, not far from hers.

“Never! Give me Maden’s old clothes if I cannot have my own!”

“Mother gave all of Father’s clothes to the needy when he passed away.”

Virginie was completely confused now. She could not understand Catherine’s attitude. She had absolutely no manners! As a guest in her aunt’s home she should be more polite and respectful. She certainly shouldn’t be swearing left and right or screaming like a wildcat.

“In that case, I will go around in my under garments.”

“You wouldn’t!” Isabelle was starting to worry.

“You think not? Just watch me!”

Virginie had the privilege of watching as well. Catherine walked out of her room wearing nothing more than an incredibly indecent knee-length transparent chambray shirt.

Suddenly, there was a racket behind her back that made Virginie jump. She spun around to see a young valet, his cheeks on fire. He was kneeling, trying to pick up the shattered pieces of the dishes he’d been carrying.

“I will bring you more refreshments, immediately,” he murmured just before disappearing down the stairs.

“He looked like he had just seen a ghost,” commented Catherine who seemed to be thoroughly amused. She winked at Virginie, who turned to look at her.

“Not a ghost, no. Only an insolent minx,” Virginie curtly replied.

“Insolent? Me?” Catherine simpered as she walked up to Virginie with a mischievous smile.

Virginie’s eyes widened. She wondered if the cousin could possibly be dallying with her. What Catherine said next confirmed her fears.

“You are such a pretty little thing, when you are fresh out of bed, as delectable as forbidden fruit.”

“Th...thank you,” Virginie managed to say. She was confused by her reaction, feeling both bewildered and strangely troubled.

“Catherine! Stop bothering Ginny and come here immediately!” Isabelle, close to losing her temper, appeared at the door and took her by the arm. “A ‘
lady’
does not behave in such a manner,” she added calmly, shooting warning looks at her cousin.

This seemed to have a cooling effect on Catherine, for she said a few juicy words before turning around and returning to her own room.

“Please accept my apologies for her, my dear Ginny.” Isabelle turned to follow her cousin back to her room.

“No dresses,” shouted Catherine slamming the door in Isabelle’s face.

Isabelle leaned with her forehead against the door and sighed. She couldn’t take much more. Seeing her friend so distraught, Virginie took her in her arms.

“You and your mother should send her back home,” Virginie gently suggested. “The woman is unbearable.”

“If only it were possible,” Isabelle moaned. But then she smiled brightly and added “Pay no heed to her. Catherine was raised surrounded by men. She’s spoiled rotten and a Croz to boot!”

“Well the members of your family do tend towards strong character,” Virginie said in an amused tone. She smiled and winked at Isabelle.

“Oh, yes indeed. We have our share of pirates in the family, as well as blue-bloods. And I’m sure it’s the same for you, Ginny!”

The young women laughed together, remembering the foolish things they would secretly do in the past and left each other in the hallway, one went to see the dowager countess and the other returned to her room to prepare for dinner
[50]
, which would be at exactly 2 o’clock.

After Virginie’s bath, Gwendoline, her chambermaid, came in to help her dress and do her hair up in a twisted bun.

“There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the castle, Mam’selle,” she observed joyfully as she put the last hairpin in Virginie’s copper-gold hair.

“And I think I know the cause — Her Majesty Catherine.”

Gwendoline giggled. “For sure! She is our only subject of conversation in the service quarters; everyone has a story to tell!”

Gwendoline had been in Virginie’s service for almost five years and they were very close. The chambermaid, in her forties was plump and always had a jovial smile on her face. Her red hair was always neatly tucked under her starched cotton cap and her clothes were always immaculate.