All That Glitters (3 page)

The caterers and servants were enjoying themselves as much as the guests. Dressed in their gray and white uniforms, they moved about by the pool, serving everyone, and having a good time. They had their own table off to the side, and Peter told them not to be shy about helping themselves as soon as the guests had been taken care of.

Soon the party was over, and the guests left.

* * *

Jenny slipped her arm through Cammie’s. “How are plans coming for the wedding?” she asked her. “I’ll bet you’re excited!”

Cammie’s heart soared, grateful that someone was on her side. “You’re coming, aren’t you?” she asked Jenny. “It wouldn’t seem natural without you two there.”

Peter joined the group just in time to hear what Cammie said. “Count on it!” he promised her. “In fact—” His eyes danced. “How would you like it if we flew with you to Paris tomorrow?”

Cammie squealed with delight. “Oh, would you? I want you to meet Francois!”

She retired that night full of hope, feeling she had cleared the first hurdle in erasing any doubts they had—or at least to temporarily push them aside—and she was looking forward to the flight tomorrow. She was elated that Jenny and Peter were going with them. Now their group was complete—except for Roger Fielding, who had been called back to New York right after the party to handle unexpected snags in his new musical.

* * *

Six o’clock the next morning, Zack was the first to appear in his bathing trunks, ready to take an early swim.

“Hi!” Cammie greeted him as she entered the patio dressed in her bikini. Hildy and Jay appeared in their bathing suits and joined them, and they all went into the pool together.

“What a day!” Zack exclaimed. His eyes twinkled as he looked at Cammie. “I bet you can’t wait to get back to Paris,” he teased.

“I’ve been counting the hours, the minutes, the seconds!” she enthused. “Oh, I hope you like Francois!”

Zack gave her a searching look. For a moment it seemed almost as though she were pleading with him for approval. “Why wouldn’t I?” he asked. “You like him, don’t you?”

He swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out. How similar this is to Hildy’s experience with Greg, he mused, as he toweled off. Hildy knew Greg only a month when he asked her to marry him. Cammie has known the Count for only a month, and he seems hell bent on marrying her right away. The similarity made him uneasy, and for the first time since he heard about Cammie’s engagement, he began to have misgivings.

Breakfast was ready at seven o’clock—plenty of time for them to catch their ten-thirty flight to Paris. By this time Jenny and Peter had joined them.

Cammie was all smiles. Soon she would be reunited with her beloved Francois.

Even Hildy and Jay seemed more at ease. They were going back to their beloved France where they had fallen in love, and spent so many happy days.

Jenny and Peter also had fond memories of Paris. That was where they had first discovered their love for each other, and had been able to shed their past failed marriages, and start out new.

The limousine arrived at eight o’clock to take them to the airport. Their luggage was loaded into the limo and they were on their way. Traffic was light, and the chauffeur drove up to the loading curb at the airport in half an hour. The attendant quickly and efficiently unloaded their luggage and put it on the trolley, to be taken inside the building and sent to the loading dock by the plane.

The group headed for the First Class Lounge where Danish pastries were spread out on the table. They no sooner finished snacking when the announcement came over the intercom that it was time for the First Class passengers to start boarding. They quickly gathered their carry-on luggage and headed toward the gate.

As they started down the ramp, several people recognized Cammie, and asked for autographs. The other passengers were a little annoyed at being held up from boarding the plane, and Zack stepped in and graciously waved the autograph seekers away.

The group entered the plane and made their way to their spacious, comfortable seats in the First Class section.

Hildy and Jay sat together.

Jenny and Peter sat across the aisle from them.

Cammie sat with Zack, in front of Hildy and Jay.

As the plane left the runway and rose into the sky, Cammie looked out the window. Spread out below was the freeway with its myriad of cars, bumper to bumper.

She thought about Francois, demanding that she give up her career, and was surprised that she suddenly found herself resenting his request. He knows how much I love my singing. Why can’t he give a little? It seemed a trifle selfish and domineering. Her doubts about Francois returned. She tried to brush it off.

Zack eyed her as the expressions on her face changed dramatically. “Are you okay?” he asked.

Cammie had momentarily forgotten about Zack’s intuitive ability. I’ll have to be more careful, she warned herself.

She quickly smiled her sunniest smile. “I’m fine,” she assured him.

She continued to stare out the window, and for a moment she thought her mind was playing tricks on her.

The lanes on the freeway suddenly became lines on the staff of sheet music, and the cars seemed to resemble musical notes in different shapes and sizes—a quarter note here, a half note there, moving up and down as the cars weaved in and out of traffic—dancing with each other—just like the choreography that Cammie danced to in the musical.

Still other cars looked like whole notes with various rest signs in between, as some motorcycles sped by. One or two of them actually looked like bass and treble clefs.

It almost seemed to her that they were coaxing her not to desert the musical career that she loved so much. What an imagination! she mused.

But suddenly a hearse appeared, and she could have sworn she saw Francois’ face on the hood, taunting her! This is crazy! she thought, as she tried to deny this illusion.

She blinked, and the musical hieroglyphs became mere cars once more, and Francois’ face on the hood of the hearse disappeared. Soon the plane rose high above the earth beneath, and as it broke through the clouds and into the sunshine, the freeway with its cars and lanes could no longer be seen.

Badly shaken by this hallucination, Cammie quickly turned from it, feeling disloyal. She loved Francois, and was willing to make any sacrifice necessary in order to be with him.

He had said he would meet them at the airport, and just the thought of this set her tingling. She couldn’t wait to be with him again. She had told him that her parents and some friends, who were coming with them, wanted to stay in Paris for a few days, and then go for a week’s tour on a barge through the wine country, before flying with him to his Chateau in Biarritz.

Although he seemed surprised at first, he quickly assured her that he would be glad to stay longer in Paris, and even go with them on the barge. He couldn’t have been nicer, she reminded herself, and remembering this made her feel guilty to have doubted him, even for a moment.

As they approached Orly Airport, Cammie could feel the thump of the wheels as they were released from their locked position. She checked to make sure her seat belt was secure in preparation for the landing.

Her heart pounded with anticipation. She would soon be in the arms of her beloved Francois once more.

CHAPTER IV
 

It was six-thirty in the morning in the French town of Biarritz, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The chattering of busy sea gulls, diving for their fish breakfast, awakened Count Francois Dubonnet II. He found it extremely annoying, especially as he realized he must get up and fly to Orly Airport to pick up Cammie and her parents.

He rose from his bed and made his way into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, cursing under his breath. Why can’t she get to Paris at a decent hour? he griped, completely ignoring the fact that she had traveled all night to get back to him. Why should I bow to her parents’ wishes to stay in Paris for a week, and then tour the wine country for another week? Patience was not one of Francois’ virtues.

Then he smiled. Never mind. Whatever makes her happy will be well worth it. What a stroke of luck that she was at the casino that night! He had wondered how he would meet her, and suddenly there she was. He recognized her immediately, looking across at him from the other side of the room. He had wasted no time introducing himself. He remembered with satisfaction how impressed she was. The first hurdle had been successfully cleared. Let’s hope the others are as easy, he mumbled.

He finished his shower and dressed, ready to grab a quick bite and head down to the runway just outside the Chateau by the ocean. He had checked everything on his private jet last night so it would be ready for takeoff first thing this morning, in time to arrive in Paris, and meet the plane coming in from California.

It was raining hard as he descended the stairs and the ramp that led out to his jet. He could hear the hum of the engines as he approached.

Gabe, his chief caretaker and butler, was standing by the huge door with his slicker. “It’s all ready to go, Sir,” he told Francois, as he held the umbrella over his head to shield him from the drenching rain. “Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you to Paris? It’s almost a two hour flight. You might get sleepy.”

“No,
Gabe,” he assured him, “I’ll be fine.” He pulled himself
up into the sleek, silver bird, sat down at the
controls, waved to Gabe, and took off.

The flying time to Paris gave Francois a chance to mull over his plan for Cammie. As far as he could see it all fit perfectly, and a pleased smile broke over his face. Contemplating this made the flight seem shorter, and in what seemed almost no time at all, he was circling over Orly Field. He quickly spotted the runway, and glided gracefully down to a perfect landing. He taxied to his private gate, with plenty of time to disembark, and make his way to Gate #7 of Parisian Airlines.

The plane from California arrived on schedule, and Cammie and the others were among the first ones off the plane.

As Francois strode across the airport to greet them, Hildy almost fainted. For one wild moment, she thought she was coming face to face again with Gregory Wilcox! She stood there, stunned. The resemblance was so strong it was positively eerie. She shook her head and blinked, trying to erase what she was sure must be an illusion.

But Zack, also, seemed to tense up when he saw him.

Jay simply stared, speechless.

Noticing this gave Hildy a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. This is crazy, she thought. But as Cammie rushed into Francois’ arms, Hildy’s fists clenched, and she felt a sudden, strong impulse to turn and run, taking Cammie with her.

Zack came quickly to her rescue as he put a steadying hand on her shoulder and tried to calm her down.

“Mom—Dad!” Cammie’s excited voice sounded to Hildy as though it were coming from far away. Cammie grabbed Hildy and Jay by the hand and pulled them over to him. “This is Count Francois Dubonnet,” she announced with great pride, “the man I’m engaged to marry!”

With a big smile Francois extended his hand. As Hildy returned the handshake, she thought she saw Greg Wilcox’s phony charm oozing from him. I’m imagining things, she told herself, and made a great effort to regain her composure.

Then he spoke. So many years had passed since she had heard Greg’s voice, that she had forgotten what it sounded like. But it all came back. Yes, she could have sworn it was Greg’s voice coming from Francois!

She started to shake. This is stupid! she told herself. He’s not Greg. Greg is dead. Besides, she reasoned, Francois is much younger than Greg would have been, if he were still alive. This is nothing but my fear for Cammie that’s at the bottom of this hallucination.

Hildy looked at Jenny and Peter. As they shook hands with Francois, she could tell that they, too, had noticed his startling resemblance to Greg, but they didn’t seem disturbed by it. It has to be a coincidence, Hildy tried to convince herself.

Jay’s voice cut through Hildy’s thoughts. “Honey, we’d better go to the carousel and pick up our luggage. We’ve had a long trip. We should go to the hotel and get some rest.”

In a daze, Hildy found herself agreeing. She moved like a robot going through the motions. Jay took her arm in an attempt to steady her. Zack walked beside her, holding her other arm.

Cammie followed with Francois, hanging on to him, laughing and talking excitedly. She was with her beloved Francois once more, and that was all that mattered.

Their luggage was waiting on the carousel, and they were soon on their way to La Grande Veue Hotel, the same hotel where they had stayed twenty-one years ago when it was brand new.

Francois had rented a limousine for the occasion. This, however, didn’t impress Hildy, or any of the others. Limousines were a way of life to them. If Francois did this to try and get on our good side, thought Hildy, he’ll have to do better than that. As they rode along, she scolded herself. This is the man that Cammie wants to spend the rest of her life with, and she tried to convince herself that she was letting his resemblance to Greg color the situation.

Traffic was heavy, and the limousine didn’t arrive at the hotel until shortly after noontime. The bellman and doorman recognized Francois, and rushed around trying to please him. They whisked away their luggage to deliver to their rooms.

The hotel was every bit as grand and beautiful as Hildy and Jenny remembered.

“It’s just the same, isn’t it?” Jenny exclaimed as they entered the lobby. “Nothing has changed!”

If only that were true, thought Hildy. But it wasn’t the hotel she was thinking about.

It didn’t take long to get settled in their rooms. They decided to order sandwiches from room service, rather than going to the restaurant. Francois had invited them to his suite for cocktails at seven. It was one-thirty now—plenty of time to rest.

Hildy napped fitfully. Horrible memories—memories she thought were long gone, and part of a nightmare past—returned full force to haunt her. She moaned in her sleep, and Jay reached out for her hand in an effort to comfort her.