Page 73 of Whispers At Dawn
Luc caught on and added to the conversation until they were all talking. Lizzie held her breath as they approached the secret room.
Lizzie had asked Suzanne to warn them of their visit so they wouldn’t think they were coming to see them.
Beau, who had stayed obediently at Luc’s heels until then, padded over to the row of barrels positioned near the concealed entrance and whimpered.
‘Your dog seems to have a fancy for a glass of wine,’ the commissaire said, laughing at his own wit.
The big dog lowered his body onto the cool ground and started scratching and sniffing. Lizzie looked at Jack, fear rocketing through her.
‘Come here, Beau. Here,’ she said, but Beau’s attention was fully on a wine barrel, and he wouldn’t be distracted.
‘He is certainly fascinated by something,’ Von Schneider said, taking a few steps towards the barrel.
Luc snapped at his dog, but Beau didn’t obey his master.
Lizzie said, ‘It’s probably something highly unpleasant, like a rat.’
‘My wife is correct. We have terrible problems with rats down here, and they spread disease, you know. I would advise you to proceed with caution.’
Von Schneider stepped back hastily, an expression of distaste on his face.
‘Here, boy,’ Lizzie said to Beau as he scratched frantically. She moved swiftly towards the barrel, and peered inside, the blood racing to her head.
Lizzie stopped herself from exclaiming and quickly replaced the lid.
‘You too, Isabelle. Move away,’ said Jack.
‘It’s nothing,’ she said. ‘Beau is a hunting dog. It’s enough for him to smell the scent of a rodent and he gets very excited.’
Jack was looking at Lizzie strangely, trying to figure out what was going on. There was a muffled noise, and the commissaire jerked his head up. ‘What on earth was that?’
‘These cellars are older and creakier than us, my friend! Remember, we are in a medieval maze, and rocks have been known to fall from the ceiling,’ Luc said.
Beau was still scratching, and Lizzie wondered how to distract him. ‘I’d like to get out of here. It’s creepy at night.’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ Luc said. He ordered Beau to his side, who reluctantly left the barrel and obeyed his master’s firm instructions.
‘Perhaps it will be better to take the full tour in the daytime, after all,’ Von Schneider said. He turned to leave, his distaste for rats and falling rocks evident. ‘In my enthusiasm, I seem to have overlooked your experience. I don’t wish to endanger you all.’
Lizzie released a ragged breath and moved away from the secret cellar entrance. She exchanged a look with Jack and they both started walking briskly the way they had come.
‘You are welcome, any time,’ Luc said, as though his preference mattered, and he had a choice about whether to allow a Gestapo officer to plunder his wines on demand.
They reached the top of the steps and Lizzie breathed in the fresh evening air after the musty cellar. Dusk had fallen and the first silvery stars twinkled in the darkening sky.
It would be the most wondrous evening if she hadn’t spent it with the devil. As they reached the courtyard, Lizzie counted the seconds until she could excuse herself and planned never to see the Gestapo officer again.
‘A wonderful idea has occurred to me,’ Von Schneider said, pausing as he scanned the château, admiration burning in his eyes.
Lizzie stared at him, praying his latest idea in no way involved her.
He addressed Luc. ‘I find myself not wishing to leave this evening. Would you be so generous as to offer meaccommodation for the night? I’m drawn to this place and would love the opportunity to stay in such a fine château.’
Lizzie gulped, and in her panic, she replied before Luc. ‘That sounds lovely, but your driver awaits you, Herr Von Schneider.’
He turned to Lizzie. ‘Please call me Walter. I have not forgotten, dear Isabelle. I’m sure in a place as magnificent as this, the staff will find a room for my chauffeur. Is that not so, Luc?’
Luc said smoothly. ‘It will be the greatest honour to host you both.’
