Song of the Heart - Alexa Aston Page 0,81

brooch that Lady Sanvale had given to her. “I am trusting you to hold this for me, Coster, for safekeeping. Only if it becomes absolutely necessary are you to tell Lord Montayne I borrowed his horse and you’re not to tell him where I’ve gone, for I don’t wish to worry him.”

Patting his arm, she said, “Of course, I plan to return to Stanbury and bring his horse back safely, but in the event something should go wrong, you may give him the brooch as payment.”

Madeleine could tell even the unworldly Coster was none too sure of this plan but she believed he would carry it through for her.

“Be thinking of what tale you’d like to hear when I return. I will tell it especially in your honor.”

He seemed to like this idea a good deal. “Do you suppose it could be a song instead?”

Madeleine laughed. “Whatever you ask for, Coster. If it’s a song you want, I’ll be thinking it up on the road between here and Sussex.”

Coster smiled broadly. “Make it a song then, Madeleine. A very good one.”

*

Henri de Picassaret arrived shortly before the midday meal. Garrett had arrived from the south only minutes before. He’d wanted to see Madeleine briefly but de Picassaret was not a man to be kept waiting. He hurried outside to greet the French nobleman and did his best to hide his shock as de Picassaret dismounted. The comte faced him and Garrett took in how the man had declined since their last meeting. The Frenchman had lost a good bit a weight. His eyes sank so far into his skull that he looked like a walking corpse.

Knowing his duty as a host, however, Garrett greeted him warmly. “Comte de Picassaret, I welcome you to Stanbury.”

Henri nodded his head curtly in return. “We have much to discuss, Lord Montayne.”

Garrett agreed. “First, though, let us dine. We’ll have the entire afternoon in which to conduct our business. Cook has planned an elegant meal for tonight in your honor and I’ll provide special entertainment for you afterward.”

“I appreciate your efforts on my behalf, my lord,” Henri said as he followed Garrett into the keep.

The two men were closeted the rest of the day discussing wines. Henri’s manner was almost fawning as he tried to convince Garrett to return with him when he left for France.

“It’s in your best interest, Lord Montayne, to travel with me and inspect the vineyards that will soon be in your possession. It is a beautiful time of year in my country,” he explained. “Of course, when is France not beautiful?”

“I must agree with you,” Garrett said. “I visited there only last year for the first time. Our family vineyards are in Bordeaux. Although I have traded in wines for many years, I had never seen the properties we owned in the south.”

“How unusual. Exactly where are the Montayne vineyards? I have visited the region on occasion.”

“They are located close to the Garonne, surrounding a property called Chateau Branais.”

Henri blanched considerably. “What did you say?”

“The vineyard is at a place called Chateau Branais. Why, are you familiar with it? A family named Bouchard manages the estates. The son, Pierre, is most knowledgeable about the grape.”

Henri took a sip of the wine before him. He recovered some of his color. “Yes, I have been in the area before. I may have called upon these Bouchards.”

Garrett smiled. “They are lovely people. The father and son worked well together and the wife was quite charming. I’m fortunate to have such good hands supervising my lands.”

“I seem to recall they had a daughter when I visited them some years ago.”

Garrett looked at him blankly. “A daughter? Odd. They never made mention of her. Possibly she died? That might explain why nothing was said. If she’d married, surely her name would have come up in conversation for I was with them some weeks.”

Henri nodded slowly. “Perhaps I was mistaken. I’m sure you are right, my lord.”

Garrett stood. “My legs are tired from all this sitting. Would you like to see a bit of my property, Comte? Then we can adjourn to dine in the great hall. You’ll not be disappointed with Cook’s choices.”

Henri gave him a thin smile. “That would be most delightful, my lord.”

It took them close to an hour to conclude their brief tour. Garrett took pride in the farmland surrounding Stanbury and his stock of horses. De Picassaret was complimentary throughout their time together.

Eventually, they made their way to the evening meal.