Free The Marriage Bargain by Sandra Edwards Page A

closed, he turned to Camille. “There will be times when you may not be able to find me. If that’s the case and you need something, seek out Soren. Otherwise, don’t be too open with the staff.”
    A quick and disturbing thought assailed Camille. Julian thought he’d hired an actress. Camille was no actress. What if she blew it? “Look I know this whole plan was born because you want to retain your freedom.” The fear of being left alone with his family pushed her words out in a brittle, broken tone. “But you’re not going to leave me alone for weeks on end, are you?”
    “No, Chéri. If I go away on business, you will accompany me, just as it would be expected of any newlywed couple in love.”
    Camille’s relief escaped in a quick deep breath. The further Julian kept her away from his father and Madeleine, the better.
    “Don’t be nervous.” Julian’s arm encircled Camille and snuggled her close.
    “I know, I know. I’m perfect for the part.” She was glad he thought so, but she had her doubts.
    Camille’s gaze traveled outside the window, her eyes drawn to the crowded city looming ahead. Old-World architecture peeked through the modern-day lampposts, traffic lights, and automobiles lining the paved streets. The ancient city had been effectively transformed into a twenty-first century metropolis.
    As they left the jumbled urban center, the buildings diminished becoming sparse, replaced by rich, lush countryside. Camille was impressed with the winding roads and the grand estates perched atop rolling hills. The beauty of the landscape made the near-hour trip pass quickly.
    The limousine turned off the main road and followed a tree-lined avenue twisting and winding its way up a hill. At the top, a barricade of ancient stone walls and massive pine trees guarded the fortress. When the path cleared, a sprawling chateau, three stories high in some places and with turrets on either side, sat majestically against the countryside. The site stole Camille’s breath away.
    Damn. Did this mean Julian had won that silly bet?
    The car slowed to a stop in a covered archway where a group of people, presumably Julian’s family, were waiting. Camille felt like she was in the midst of some strange foreign film.
    An older couple stood alongside a man about Julian’s age and a young girl. And behind them, a row of servants—Camille figured them for servants because of their attire. The men were dressed like Soren and the women had on maids’ uniforms.
    Camille climbed out of the car with Julian’s help. He rested one hand against the small of her back and led her to the older couple first. His parents, Maurice and Claudette de Laurent.
    Julian’s brother—and if Camille remembered correctly, his younger brother—peered at her with cold, judging eyes that were almost the same color as Julian’s bluish-green, but maybe a little paler.
    His sister Lecie was maybe eighteen and the epitome of the beautiful girl-next-door. Camille knew the type. With her blonde hair and blue-eyed good looks, she was everything all the other girls in school detested yet desired to be. And she was probably nice as hell to boot.
    She hated it when she was forced to like those drop-dead gorgeous types—like Tasha.
    Camille fidgeted, lacing her fingers together behind her back. Julian slipped a hand comfortingly around hers. How was she ever going to convince his entire family? There were so many of them. Parents, a brother, a sister. She’d never experienced the chaos of a big family. It’d always been just her and Granny Mae. Even holidays were quiet.
    Lecie stepped toward Camille. Julian must have sensed her discomfort and slipped between them, making small talk with his sister and asking about her latest endeavors and if she’d chosen a university to begin her studies in the fall.
    “Somewhere far away from here,” she answered in near-perfect English.
    Camille laughed, thoroughly amused. She remembered feeling that way when she’d