The Chateau

The slender, blue-eyed woman with black hair that was streaked with gray, sat behind a cherry wood executive desk with burl wood inlays and brass fitting. Her head was bowed as she scribbled out notes for tomorrow, including scheduling the duties for the chattel, the menus, and a couple of tradesmen that the she had to contact about needed repairs.

Her attire was something from another century. An all white ankle length batiste dress with a high, lace covered collar and a white lace trimmed yoke. Long, puffy sleeves buttoned at the wrists with a tiered skirt, also trimmed in lace. She was Annde Cecile Desclos, the Chatelaine for the Chateau, which housed the headquarters of the Roissy Society. She was also a member, as indicated by the iron signet ring, banded with gold on the inside, that she wore on her left ring finger. The convex signet bore a three-spoked wheel inlaid in gold, with each spoke spiraling back upon itself like the solar wheel of the Celts.

The kitchen staff, valets, and chauffer all wore typical servant livery, specific for their jobs. The gardener dressed as he pleased, usually old, stained covered khakis, plaid shirt, a bandana around his neck, and a beret. But the women who served two weeks out of each year as the Chattels of the Chateau (barring medical reasons), wore unique, especially designed clothing. The dresses were long, with full skirts and necklines cut so low as to totally expose the breasts.

Turning to her hard cover appointment book, Mme. Desclos checked to see which quests might be departing. She knew from memory that one of the Chattel's annual two-week stint at the Chateau ended in the morning so she would be leaving. Next, she consulted the arrivals to make notes if Chauffer would have to be dispatched to the train station or airport, and if so, at what time. Often times, those living on the Continent would choose to drive, or be driven, to the Chateau.

A small smile curled at the edges of her crimson lips when she saw who was due in tomorrow.