Letters from Bordeaux

By Eva M. Brehm

What was Natalie thinking? How could she be under the same roof with an arrogant
snob like Jean Merceaux? A marriage of convenience he had suggested for the sake
of his grandmothers well being. How dare he think she had come to France to take
care of Isabelle only to betray her with this facade! Just because he owned all of
Bordeauxs vineyards didnt mean he owned her! She couldnt go through with it. She hated Jean!!! Or did she?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 29, 2001
• ISBN: 9781462084487

Eva M. Brehm

The author lives in northern Illinois. She is married with two daughters and is a nurse by profession. Her passion for romance novels began twenty years ago.

Book preview

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTERTEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

To My Family: Your dreams can come true!!!

CHAPTER ONE 

Natalie Spencer rested her head against the back of her seat as the airplane began to roll down the runway. She closed her weary eyes hoping that she was doing the right thing. So much had happened over the last two weeks, and now she was having second thoughts about the decisions she had made.

It had been exactly two weeks ago that she had received the news of her parents’ death in Rome. The hospital said it was a terrible automobile accident and all parties were instantly killed. David and Harriet Spencer had finally taken a long deserved vacation in Europe. It was always difficult for Natalie’s father to take time away from his export business. They were due to return home just two days after the accident had occurred. Natalie was a surgical nurse at a small hospital on the East coast when the call came in. She would never forget being pulled away from scrubbing in for surgery to receive the call informing her of the death of her parents. They were the only family she had, and now she was left all alone.

She was still trying to let it all sink in. The stipulations of the will were just too much. Her father had always been such a sensible man and knew that Natalie was much more mature than her twenty years of age showed. Actually, she looked to be about twenty-five and had always fooled the opposite sex even in her teen years. Men much older than herself were always inviting her out, yet she had no desire to become serious with anyone.

Natalie was to have a guardian until the age of twenty-one. All financial and business matters were to be made with the approval of this guardian. The only difficulty with this situation was that Natalie was not permitted to know the identity of her guardian. Natalie was thinking back to the day she sat in her father’s lawyer’s office.

I’m sorry, Natalie. I don’t know what possessed your father to keep this person’s identity a secret to you. He made out this will just after his partner died last year. I’ll never forget the day he came in to see me. He was rather perturbed and very adamant to have this person named as your guardian. The entire situation was ridiculous. She had always handled her own affairs, and now everything she did required the approval of some stranger whom she would never know. Had her father actually been going mad? Perhaps that was why Natalie made such a sudden decision to sell her family’s home. The estate was a lakeside mansion. The home needed a family. What would she do with such a large home on her own? Since all correspondence with her guardian was to be made via her lawyer, Peter Marshall, all arrangements for the

sale of the home were quickly and quietly taken care of.

* * *

It all seemed like such a long time ago, but it all happened within a matter of a few days. Her parents’ property was well sought after by many private investors who were just waiting for such an opportunity. Within days of the sale of the home, Peter had told her of a client who was looking for a nurse to care for his terminally ill grandmother in France. As Natalie was quite fluent in French, she jumped at the opportunity to take the position, much to Peter’s dismay.

Natalie, I told you about the position in case you know of anyone at the hospital who might be interested. I didn’t mean for you to up and relocate!

"Peter this is a blessing in disguise. It’s only a temporary position. It will give me time to get over my parents’ death and the sale of our home. I can take a personal leave from my position for up to a year, and then I’ll be able

to decide on what to do with my life once things calm down. Besides, I’ll be twenty-one by then and be allowed to make my own decisions."

She couldn’t understand Peter’s strange reaction to her willingness to take the position, and she felt a great sense that he regretted having told her about it. Regardless, here she was sitting on a plane on her way to Bordeaux, France. She was having slight second thoughts about her hastiness to take this position. Maybe she was just as crazy in making decisions as her father had been. She knew nothing of the family she would be working for, but who cared. This was only a temporary job!

As she sat on the plane on the way to a new life, she couldn’t help but think of her parents. They had been such a close family, and now she had nothing. She had been an only child and often had wished for a sister. As the film began to play on the airplane’s screen and most of the lights were dimmed, Natalie closed her eyes to sleep, but couldn’t stop the tears that silently rolled down her cheeks-finally releasing the great

sorrow that had overcome her over the past few weeks.

* * *

As she collected her luggage, an attendant called out, Is there a Mademoiselle Spencer here?

Yes, I am Miss Spencer.

There is a chauffeur waiting over there in the corner for you. Bonne vacances!

Vacation? She hoped it would be more like a vacation than a job! She approached the elderly man in the corner. Je suis Mademoiselle Spencer.

Ah, Miss Spencer, I am Philipe, Monsieur Merceaux’s chauffeur.

Your English is very good Philipe.

Monsieur Merceaux insists that all his staff speak both French and English, Mademoiselle.

Oh, please call me Natalie.

Philipe looked to be about in his sixties with gray hair and very gentle eyes. Natalie immediately liked this elderly gentleman. As he got in the car behind the wheel, he looked at Natalie in the rear view mirror and said, Have you ever been to Bordeaux Natalie?

No I have only been to France once about ten years ago. We stayed in Paris.

I hope you will like it here. The drive to Bordeaux is approximately one and one-half hours.

With this comment he left Natalie to enjoy the scenery. About an hour later he broke into her thoughts with, Have you ever met Jean- Claude Merceaux?

No I have not. All these arrangements were made through my lawyer and my guardian. Philipe’s look was somewhat guarded. Natalie was not quite sure what it meant.

Natalie, you must not let Jean-Claude scare you. He is a very nice man. I have worked for Jean’s family for twenty years now.

I...I don’t understand. Why would he scare me?

Jean does not like any intruders where his personal life is concerned. He did not want a nurse in his home to care for his grandmother. Until now, he and my wife, Monique, have been caring for his grand-mere. Now her days or months are numbered and Jean spends a great deal of time traveling for his business. My wife is no longer capable of taking care of Isabelle alone. She and Jean have had many arguments over the care that his grandmother requires, and finally he has unwillingly agreed to get the help of a nurse, yourself.

Natalie was thinking that this was great-not only would she be working for a total stranger, but also for one who did not welcome her.

Tell me, Philipe, what type of work is Monsieur Merceaux involved in?

Oh, Miss Natalie, have you never heard of the great Merceaux vineyards? Jean owns all the vineyards and wineries that produce Bordeaux wine.

Probably some stuck up; arrogant type of guy who thinks it’s a waste to hire a nurse to care for his grandmother.

What other family does Jean have? Couldn’t anyone else help?

Jean’s mother died giving birth to him. His grandmother raised him. That is why he is so attached to her. His father died last year from a bad heart.

Somehow Natalie felt that she was going to regret coming here. Things all of a sudden did not seem right.

Jean has been under a great deal of pressure since his father’s death. He’s been improving the business. His father would not allow him to make any changes, and the business was losing money. Now he has turned around all business dealings, and business is booming. He has been acting rather odd and troubled the last few weeks. I think he is worried about his grandmother.

Natalie sat in silence for the rest of the trip. The countryside was absolutely beautiful. She saw hundreds of workers in the vineyards. She wondered if they all worked for Jean and if all these vineyards were his.

Finally the Mercedes turned down a tree-lined street that was surrounded by a heavy black wrought iron gate that opened automatically.

"Welcome to La Petite Bordeaux. This is Jean’s family home."

Natalie was too dumbfounded to speak. Although her home in the States was quite huge, she had never seen anything like this. There were rolling hills of green, flowers of all colors, and beautiful trees everywhere. It seemed to go on forever until the car reached the top of a hill and the family’s home came into full sight. It was absolutely breathtaking!

A drive wound through the trees until it became a circular driveway that came right up to the front door. The house almost looked like a Mediterranean home. The house was a sparkling white color that looked as though it had just been painted. Its rooftop had red shingles and what seemed to look like a one story home all of a sudden became three layers of rooftop.

As Philipe stopped the car and helped Natalie out of the car, an elderly woman approached them. Natalie immediately knew that this must be Monique by the way the two of them exchanged glances.

This is Monique, my wife. Monique, Natalie Spencer.

The elderly woman immediately displayed a sense of warmth about her. When she smiled her entire face lit up.

Welcome, Natalie. We are happy to have you.

Once ushered into the house, Natalie paused a moment to take it all in. The entry foyer had a gray marble floor that seemed to extend forever. A massive chandelier hung over the grand entry to show off its magnificence. A hallway extended to the right and left of the foyer, and straight ahead was a huge winding staircase up both sides of the wall.

A mahogany table against the wall between both staircases held a huge vase with the most beautiful exotic flowers she had ever seen. Monique graciously asked Natalie to follow her. They went up the stairway, which in turn led down a bright hallway lined by several doors. Monique opened the last door on the right.

Miss Natalie, this will be your room.

Oh! Natalie gasped. It’s beautiful.

The room was exquisite. The walls showed a hint of soft rose color. The entire room was surrounded in shades of rose. A large mahogany bed stood out from one of the walls and placed on it was a silk bedspread in a deep rose color with several silk pillows arranged neatly on top in various shades of rose. At the far end of the room were two large window seats in a floral and ivy pattern. A small settee and table stood next to a doorway that led to the bathroom. Several vases of fresh flowers were placed throughout the room. Natalie could not help but instantly feel comfortable in her new surroundings.

I will let you get settled in and rest a little, Natalie. It is one o’clock in the afternoon, and we won’t expect you until six o’clock for dinner tonight. Jean-Claude was hoping to make it for dinner tonight.

What about Jean’s grandmother? Should I not see her first?

We have strict instructions that Jean wants to introduce you to his grandmother himself tonight. In the meantime, you are free to look around the house or rest as you please. Dinner is usually a formal event in this home, so you will be expected to dress accordingly.

As Monique saw the slightly puzzled look on Natalie’s face she added, Perhaps a nice dress would be just fine.

Natalie could not help but to smile at the woman. She sure could read Natalie’s mind.

Monique, before you go...where is Jean’s grand-mere right now?

Her room is two doors down from here on the left. She stays in her room most of the time and occasionally joins us for dinner. With a slight nod, she left the room.

Natalie once again looked around the room. She walked over to the windows to another breathtaking site-the courtyard. Her full-length bedroom window actually opened up to a balcony shared with the room adjacent to hers. She stepped out onto the balcony and stood looming over a beautiful courtyard that contained a kidney shaped swimming pool surrounded by green and white striped patio furniture, trees, flowerbeds, and running fountains. At the far end of the courtyard was a pond. It probably even had fish in it.

CHAPTER TWO 

Natalie was not tired at all. She was filled with excitement of wanting to look into each room in the beautiful home. This would work out fine. She would be able to take a swim in the pool either early in the morning or late at night. That is if her job allowed her such liberties.

Natalie decided to spend some time exploring. She quietly walked down the hallway and back down the staircase. The place was very quiet and she almost felt as if she was sneaking around. Once downstairs, Natalie took the hallway to the left that brought her into a large great room. The room had beautiful mahogany furniture with navy blue, burgundy, and hunter green striped material. Off to the right stood a huge black grand piano. She wondered if Jean or someone else played it or if it was merely there for decoration. A huge stone fireplace framed one wall, and two burgundy leather wing back chairs stood prepared for occupancy.

Another room led off this great room. A doorway led her into what obviously was the main dining room. A long table with twenty chairs formally graced this room. She did not particularly care for this room. It seemed a bit too formal and cold.

Finding a doorway that led to the courtyard, Natalie followed the interlocking brick pathway to the pool area. Natalie sat down in one of the lounge chairs and looked up to see that she was right below her own room. All of a sudden the thought of meeting Jean-Claude tonight made her nervous. Philipe made him sound like a monster and then there was Monique’s comment about strict orders. This Jean must be a disgruntled old man she thought.

Once back in her room, Natalie decided to take a hot bath and freshen up from the trip. Besides, a new feeling might give her the courage she needed to face Jean tonight. She had noticed that someone had been in the room and neatly placed her belongings in the drawers and closet.

Natalie soaked in a hot tub for half an hour before finally climbing out of the tub. This family certainly was lacking for nothing. Even the bathroom could have passed as a formal room.

It was now five o’clock, and Natalie decided to get dressed for dinner. She chose a simple but elegant black dress. It was sleeveless with a straight skirt, to which she added a string of pearls and pearl earrings. She decided to put her hair into a French knot. A small amount of blush and pink lipstick, and she was all set.

She briefly studied her reflection in the mirror. Natalie had always been a beautiful girl but tonight