At the Chateau for Christmas by Rebecca Winters

Author:Rebecca Winters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

“JESSICA. I’VE BEEN anxious to meet you.”

The blue eyes were like Laura’s in color, but they stared at him without warmth. “How do you do, Mr. Valfort.” She turned to her daughter. “Will you please tell me what’s going on? I’m very uncomfortable. You made it sound like this was a life-and-death situation.”

“It is, Mom. My life and Maurice’s.”

Nic eyed Laura. A nerve was hammering at the base of her throat, revealing her tension. “Excuse me while I put her suitcase in the car.”

“Where are we going?” Jessica demanded after Laura climbed in the backseat with her. Nic was already at the wheel and watched them in the rearview mirror. Only a little while ago she’d been in his arms and they’d kissed each other with an abandon he hadn’t thought possible. He’d never be able to put it from his mind.

“If you recall, Irene left me something in her will. It’s a house on the Valfort estate, the one Maurice lived in with her. We’re going there now to have dinner.”

Her mother’s face filled with alarm. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You have to!”

As he drove them to the château, Nic marveled at Laura’s courage to deal with this tragedy head-on.

“Did you receive the money Nana left you and Susan? Maurice had the attorney send it to Holden headquarters.”

Jessica looked at a complete loss. “I haven’t seen any money.”

“Then check with Aunt Susan,” said Laura. “I’m sure she has taken charge of it.”

“Why do you say that?”

Her bewilderment convinced Nic that Laura’s mother wasn’t the architect of the horror story that had torn families apart.

“Because she has run your life ever since I can remember. In the process, she ruined all our lives. Your sister is a sick, manipulative woman. Because of her lies, she not only deprived us of your mother and my grandmother, she poisoned Maurice’s family against him and Irene.”

“How can you say that?” her mother cried.

“Because it’s true. In a few minutes we’re meeting with Maurice.”

Jessica shook her head. “No. Don’t try to force me.”

“Mom, you owe this to him and to us. Our three lives are on the line. Susan ruined the Valforts’ happiness and ours. I need you here so together we can make amends to Maurice and his loved ones before we fly back to San Francisco. He’ll tell you just how disturbed Susan was and still is. You’re not going to like it, but when you’ve heard everything, you’ll understand that she needs psychiatric help. However, we’ll talk about that later. Right now it’s not too late to rectify the situation with his family.”

Nic grimaced. Touched as he was by Laura’s desire to make certain the Valfort family knew the whole truth, the thought of her leaving Nice was unacceptable to him.

When he drove up in front of the summerhouse, Maurice opened the doors and walked out to greet Jessica. “It’s been a long time since I last saw you. Your mother and I waited many years to see you cross over this threshold.

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