CHAPTER ONE
1897It was a beautiful morning.
Early mist wreathed mystery around the landscape, but behind the haze there was the promise of sunshine.
Valeria Montford exulted in the freshness of the air and the high spirits of her horse. She had cantered up a hill and now sat down for a moment drinking in the view over the Loire valley.
Valeria loved France and she particularly loved the château where her friend, Juliette Desrivières, lived.
From where she had halted, Valeria could see, far away, the towers of the Desrivières château.
Valeria had met Juliette at their finishing school in Brussels. They had become best friends and at the end of the year, Juliette had invited Valeria to a house party at the château.
“You must come,” Juliette had said. “I want you to meet Jean-Pierre
