Chapter 4

Elizabeth arrived in Paris, France, without any difficulty. The voyage had been uneventful on calm oceans, giving her an inner sense of peace. From the coast of France, she had taken a train into the city of Paris and now was waiting on the platform for the person who had been sent to get her. She felt self-conscious, as she stood by herself, not even knowing whom she was supposed to meet. All of the other disembarking passengers had been picked up a short while ago, leaving Elizabeth and the empty train alone at the station. She was about to walk to the end of the station when she heard an automobile rumble up. A short, older man got out and approached Elizabeth tentatively.

"Mademoiselle Goodwin?" he asked softly.

Elizabeth stared back at him a moment before she remembered that she was using an assumed name. "Ah...yes...that's me," she replied hastily.

The little old man removed his cap quickly and bowed to her. "I am Pierre, from Madame Trent's estate. I have been sent to get you," his accent was thick as the English words stumbled from his lips.

Elizabeth smiled. "It's nice to meet you," she said as she picked up her satchel.

Pierre smiled shyly and retrieved the rest of her luggage, consisting merely of one other case half-full of clothes that Rachel had insisted she take along. He escorted her to the waiting automobile and loaded her case in the back. Then he helped her in the backseat and took his place in the driver's seat. He pulled away from the curb and sped away from the station and towards the city. As they drove through Paris, Elizabeth looked at the old city in wonder. The architecture was so different from London, and the weather! It was sunny and warm, not like the Sahara, but still, a vast improvement to the gloom of her hometown. She sat back and relaxed as she enjoyed the last leg of her journey through the countryside of France.

They left the big city and drove many miles to reach the town of Vincennes. It was a large old town, rich in ancient history, and Elizabeth delighted in the old masonry that made up the buildings and houses. They pulled up to an old, wrought-iron gate and Pierre hopped out to open it. Then he quickly drove through it and on up to the front of the mansion. It was three stories tall, with ivy climbing all over the north side of it, and French doors with small balconies graced every other window. Elizabeth stepped out of the automobile in awe, thoroughly charmed with the old mansion. Pierre grabbed up her case and escorted her up the brick stairs to the large double doors, which opened before she reached the top step. A short, round woman with grey hair and twinkling green eyes greeted her.

"Ah, Mademoiselle Walker! It is a pleasure to meet you!"

Elizabeth gasped. "You know my real name?"

"But of course," replied the woman with a smile. "The other name was a, how you call it, a disguise, no?"

Elizabeth returned her smile. "Yes, it was."

"I am Nanette, I run the household here for Madame 'Lina. Please come inside," she stepped out of the way to let Elizabeth in.

Elizabeth walked into the grand hallway and instantly fell in love with the place. It was colorful, light, and airy, a drastic change from the cold, dark hallways of her own home. There were paintings everywhere on the wall and where there wasn't a picture, there was some other little knick-knack or keepsake. The thing that was most surprising was the amount of lace. There were various colors and styles everywhere as Nanette led her along the hall and up the grand staircase.

"I will show you to your room, so that you can freshen up, then Madame will wish to see you and make your acquaintance," said Nanette.

"That sounds fine," replied Elizabeth.

Nanette took her towards the end of the second floor hall and opened a door. Elizabeth walked in and gasped. The room was big and full of sunlight, coming from two sets of French doors on either side of the large bed. The main color was dusty blue, with rose accents everywhere. Once again, bits and pieces of lace dotted the furniture, walls, lamps, and bed coverings, giving the room a very feminine feeling. There was a fainting couch along one wall, a writing desk and chair, nightstands on either side of the bed, and a bassinette. Elizabeth did a sharp intake of breath.

Nanette turned around at the sound. "Is something the matter, Mademoiselle?" she inquired.

"Does ...does everyone here...know...about me?" Elizabeth asked breathlessly.

Nanette smiled big. "Of course! Madame hides nothing from us." She saw the worried look on Elizabeth's face and went over and put an arm around her shoulder. "This is nothing to be ashamed of! You are having a baby, the most wonderful gift anyone can give to the world."

"But...I'm not married," said Elizabeth quietly.

"Tut!" exclaimed Nanette with a wave of her hand. "This is not a big deal here in France, in fact, it happens all the time. When l'amour strikes, it is difficult to resist, n'est pas?" She gave her another squeeze around the shoulders and then went to open a door in one of the walls. Elizabeth peeked inside and discovered it was a bathroom, with a sink, toilet, and a huge four-footed copper tub.

"This is all so wonderful, I can't believe it," Elizabeth sniffled.

"Do not cry, Mademoiselle! You will be happy here. Madame 'Lina, she is a bit odd, but she is good, you will see. Now, you can freshen up while I unpack your cases, no?" Nanette moved around to the cases while Elizabeth went in and splashed some water on her face.

She came out a few minutes later feeling refreshed and watched Nanette pull her desert skirt and blouse out of her satchel.

"Ooh-la-la! This is tres jolie!" exclaimed Nanette as she held it up. "So silky and feminine! You will notice that Madame 'Lina likes the pretty things that make us women desirable to the messieurs," she said as she hung up the delicate items.

"Yes, I've noticed it."

Nanette laughed. "Well, do not be too surprised by Madame herself! She still thinks of herself as a young lady and dresses as such. Monsieur Trent, he loved her feminine ways," sighed Nanette. "It is good you are here to be her companion. She has been alone too long. Come, I will take you to her now."

Nanette led Elizabeth out of the room, down the hall, and down the staircase to the parlor. They walked into the parlor and Elizabeth saw what Nanette meant. Madame Jacquelina Trent sat among fluffy, lace-covered pillows and throws, her hair coiffed high on her head, with beads strung throughout the silver cloud. She had bright, blue eyes that sparkled with intelligence, and cheeks that were deeply rouged. She had a pink-chiffon, floral-print dress on, which had a fitted bodice and a full skirt, with a princess neckline and puffed sleeves, and a thin lace choker around her neck. She had high-button shoes on of camel color and a lace handkerchief in one hand. Elizabeth's smile was returned by the older woman, with genuine warmth.

"Madame 'Lina, this is Mademoiselle Walker," said Nanette.

Elizabeth turned to Nanette. "Please, call me Elizabeth."

"As you wish, Mademoiselle Elizabette," and Nanette hurried out, leaving her alone with the older woman.

"Elizabeth! I'm so glad you could come and keep an old woman company. There's not many people that would do that nowadays. Please, come sit by me. I always have tea at this time in the afternoon, so we'll just sit here and get acquainted, shall we?" Madame 'Lina patted the chair next to her. Elizabeth smiled and walked over. She sat down as Madame 'Lina poured her a cup of tea. Madame 'Lina saw a confused look on Elizabeth's face. "Is something the matter, my dear?" she asked politely.

"No, it's just that, I guess I thought you were French, but you're not," stammered Elizabeth.

Madame 'Lina laughed. "No, not French, although, I've been living in France for so long I might as well be. No, Mr. Trent and I are originally from England, that's why I still take afternoon tea," she said with a wink. She handed the cup to Elizabeth and then passed her the tray of scones. Elizabeth picked one out and nibbled it throughout their conversation. "Rachel told me everything that happened to you, so there's no need for you to talk about it again unless you want to. I must say, she neglected to tell me that you were so pretty."

Elizabeth blushed. "Thank you," she said demurely.

"Is your bedroom acceptable?"

"Oh yes," breathed Elizabeth, "it's more than acceptable. It's wonderful, so sunny and light."

Madame 'Lina laughed. "That was the first thing I wanted when Mr. Trent and I moved here...a house with plenty of sunlight, to take the place of the drabness of London. I hated London. I found it too depressing."

"Yes," said Elizabeth absently. "Um...Madame 'Lina..."

"Please," interrupted Madame 'Lina, "just call me Lina."

Elizabeth smiled. "All right then, Lina, I was...I am just...concerned...that I might not be the right companion for you. I'm going to have a baby shortly and I'm not sure how such an arrangement can work."

Madame 'Lina took Elizabeth's hand. "You will be the perfect companion for me, and when the little one comes along, why, he or she will have a loving 'auntie' to play with when mummy needs a break. You see, Mr. Trent and I couldn't have children. It's the one blight in my life. We moved into this large house expecting to fill it with many children. The entire top floor is a huge nursery. We tried several times, but I was not made to carry a baby inside me."

"Oh, I'm so sorry Lina!" exclaimed Elizabeth.

Madame 'Lina just smiled. "There is nothing to be sorry about. Some people can bear children, others can't. So, you will stay with me and there will finally be the sound of little feet running up and down the hall."

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "All right then. I'll be your companion. So, what does a companion do?" she inquired.

"Oh, we share our days together talking, reading, shopping, which reminds me," Madame 'Lina's eyes twinkled, "we will need to take you shopping for clothes. Rachel told me you escaped your dreadful ex-fiance with just the shirt on your back."

Elizabeth laughed. "Well, it's not quite as bad as all of that. I was able to bring a few things."

"So tomorrow, I will show you our town and get you acquainted with the people there. There are many little shops in Vincennes that are precious. Then, this weekend we'll make a trip into Paris and shop all day long. You will need maternity clothes along with what you regularly would wear, and I know just the shop."

"I don't have much money...," began Elizabeth.

"That is not a concern. As your 'employer', I provide you with a place to live, food, clothing, anything you could possibly want, plus give you a little spending money on the side. It's a business arrangement, if you want to think of it that way. Hmm...," thought 'Lina out loud, "we'll have to get you some traveling trunks. Pierre told me you only had two small cases with you."

"Traveling trunks? What for? I just got here," said Elizabeth.

"My dear, traveling trunks are for traveling! Lonely old widows love to go on journeys with their companions. It's what we do!"

"We're going on a journey?" asked Elizabeth.

"Yes. Not right away, but in a couple of weeks we'll go to Italy and Spain for a few months. I've already got a house reserved in both of those places, and we'll spend the time going to art galleries, monuments, and seeing all of the historical places. Would you like that?"

"Oh, yes!" said Elizabeth, her eyes shining brightly.

'Lina smiled. "Good. But we'll come back home in plenty of time for you to have your baby, never fear. Now, tell me about you and Rachel in school and how you met."

Elizabeth and 'Lina talked into the afternoon, heedless of the servants that came in and out to take away their tea things, and slowly built a great respect for each other.

The next day, 'Lina took Elizabeth around to some of the local shops, introducing her to the various proprietors and showing off her new companion with a flourish. The shopkeeper of the little bakery took a special interest in Elizabeth, telling 'Lina that she reminded him so much of the daughter he lost to illness, and would Elizabeth mind if he treated her as his own? Elizabeth smiled at the jolly round baker and told him she didn't mind at all.

"Ah, you make me a happy man!" cried the rotund pastry chef. "You must come by my shop often, and I will save the most delectable pastries for you, just like I used to give my Annette."

"That is very kind of you, monsieur," said Elizabeth shyly.

"And you must call me Jean-Claude! Everybody does!" He puffed out his chest, throwing his arms wide.

"Thank you Jean-Claude!" waved Elizabeth as 'Lina took her on to the next shop.

So the day went by, as Lina showed Elizabeth around the town of Vincennes. Elizabeth was relieved that most of the shopkeepers could speak some semblance of English, for she couldn't understand a word of French. They went back to the mansion in the late afternoon and had an early supper, for the next day Lina was going to take Elizabeth into Paris to shop for a new wardrobe.

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