Page 27 of Brix

Dierdre was so flabbergasted, at such a loss for words, she couldn’t speak. Storming upstairs in a very unladylike manner, they all heard the door slam and grinned.

“This still doesn’t tell me who Mary Elizabeth St. Valary was or is,” said Daphne.

“I believe I can help with that,” smiled the auction house employee. “My name is Anna Hall. I’m in charge of portraits at the house. When I saw this, I knew it was you.”

“How?”

“I’ve seen you many times,” smiled the woman. “The history of the painting speaks for itself. Mr. and Mrs. St. Valary, with their daughter, were on the Costina when it sank. She sat for that portrait less than two months before their departure.

“Heartbroken at the loss of their daughter, they returned to their chateau in France and removed themselves from the public eye.”

“Wait, are they still alive?” asked Brix.

“I’m not sure,” said Anna. “They’ve not been seen since the accident and withdrew from their involvement in the Lightkeepers. Their chateau can be found near Amiens. If they’re alive, that’s where they’ll be.”

“Anna, do you know anything about Lady Bishop?” asked Zulu.

“Not much. I know that she is a social climber, and, my apologies, Daphne, she married your father knowing that he would be highly successful and already possessed a Lordship.”

“We need to go to France,” said Daphne. “I have to see these people.” Brix kissed his wife, smiling down at her.

“Then we’re going to France.”

“Now what?” asked Marshall, wiping his nose.

“You fool! You were to ensure that painting was destroyed!” yelled Dierdre.

“And just how was I supposed to do that? It was under guard. I had no idea they were going to bring it here. Don’t blame me because your little plan is falling apart, Deirdre.”

“I’ve got to talk some sense into Randolph. He’s not acting rationally, and I have to get him to see that this was all a misunderstanding. I need to stay with you until all this blows over,” she said casually.

“No. No, you can’t do that. It would be highly suspicious, and everyone would be whispering about our relationship. I can’t have you in my home after everyone saw this episode.” She laughed, tilting her head back.

“Oh, that’s good. A relationship. With you? I think not, Marshall. Fine. I’ll stay at the St. Regis in London. Take me there. I need to rethink everything. Everything.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

By early morning, the entire team was on a train to France. As they passed through the lush green valleys of England and into the famous Chunnel below the English Channel, they ate a light breakfast in the dining car.

They’d tried several times to reach out to the St. Valary family, but no one had answered yet. According to the team back home, there were no death records for the couple and no additional children that were known.

“I’m not even sure what I’m going to say,” said Daphne. “Hello. I think I’m your daughter.”

“That’s a start,” smiled Mags. She reached across, squeezing her hand. “They’re going to be thrilled that you’re alive. Gabi will be able to draw blood and get it verified that you’re related. It will all be okay.”

“What if I’m not their daughter? What if their daughter was Cassandra? What if all of this is just a mistake, and I’m setting myself up for more disappointment?”

“Honey, you’re asking too many ‘what ifs,’” smiled Brix. “Besides, that painting about damn near proves it. You could be her twin.”

Only making her nerves more anxious by talking about it all, she ordered a small plate from the dining car and ate a light breakfast, speaking casually to the others.

Zulu made sure the painting was shipped to Belle Fleur so that it would be waiting for her when they arrived home.

When the train arrived in Paris, they took a second train to Amiens. With a little over a hundred thousand residents, the picturesque streets and buildings brought a sense of calm and déjà vu to Daphne. The pretty floral baskets hanging from the street lamps brought vivid color to the dark stone buildings.

“I feel like I’ve been here before,” she whispered as they walked down the streets. The eyes of residents and shopkeepers turned to stare in her direction as if they knew her, or at least someone who looked like her. Daphne didn’t notice, but the others damn sure did.

Just outside of the main town was where the chateau was located. A classic French style chateau with its steeply hitched pitched roof, topped with finials and decorative gabled wall dormers. The three stories were simply magnificent, and the gardens, although slightly overgrown, were surely magnificent in their day.

---