'This just isn't good enough!' Mrs. Cox snapped, waving the flimsy piece of paper in front of her daughter's face. 'Do you know how much your education is costing us?'
She was in despair. Her daughter Laura, at 19, had just failed her first year at college, her grades poor, and her future was in balance. She was an intelligent girl, but the report from her tutors and supervisors was that she was easily distracted. Essays were late, assignments incomplete.
Laura was studying French history, and her parents, both university lecturers themselves, knew that she was capable of undertaking the study involved, but her application was missing.
Laura herself knew that she had failed her parents and was inwardly ashamed: she knew she hadn't done herself proud, and was upset that she had let her parents down. She was an only child, an unexpected baby late in life, and her parents were much older than her friends' parents. As a result, she had had rather a sheltered upbringing, and in her first year at college she had spent more time catching up on music, gigs, clubbing and having fun rather than study.
The only thing she hadn't got to grips with was men: she was the product of a local girl's school, and had had very little experience of boyfriends before she went to college. She was a pretty girl, attractive rather than beautiful but she had inherited her mother's slim build, and her fathers striking auburn hair. She was very wary of men, not used to the juvenile brashness of the college boys, their loudness and their noise, hunting in packs as they did at the Student's Union. She had earned the reputation of being off hand and cool, but this simply made her more desirable in their eyes: who would be the one to win her?
Her mother sighed deeply: what were they to do with their wayward daughter? In the end, Professor Cox had contacted friends of theirs in France. Vivette and Georges were delighted to have Laura as a house guest for a few weeks; her language skills should improve no end if she was living in the country.
Laura was mutinous: she didn't want to go and stay with strangers in France. For all she knew, they lived in the back end of beyond, no life for a young woman like herself, but her parents were adamant; if she wanted to continue at university she would have to go.
Vivette met her at the airport in Lyons, and Laura was taken aback by how young she was: this was no dried up old prune the age of her parents, but a vibrant young woman in her early thirties, tanned and lithe. Maybe Georges had a younger second wife? Laura thought, but her questions were to be unanswered as Vivette went on to explain that Georges was detained in Paris on business, although he intended to be home to meet their young guest as soon as he could.
The drive from the airport to her host's home was long, and Laura's heart sank a little at the thought of the distance she would be from civilization. There would be no escaping, she would have to study. Vivette had chattered charmingly throughout the journey, pointing out landmarks of interest, and telling Laura of the history of the surrounding countryside, and Laura couldn't help but warm to her hostess's obvious friendliness and open spirit.
As they pulled into the drive of the couple's house, Laura drew her breath in in surprise: this wasn't a house; it was a chateau, elegant white towers outlined against the darkening sky of early evening.
Vivette showed her to her room, and left her to unpack and freshen up, adding that dinner would be served at 7.
This set the scene for the next day or two: elegant country living, the like of which she had not experienced before. The house was richly furnished and beautifully decorated, the gardens were extensive, and there was a large pool to bathe in should the weather get too hot. Vivette took her to the local village, and Laura's spoken French improved dramatically as she shopped for fresh vegetables and provisions in the local market.
Laura found herself quickly regarding the older woman as a friend; growing up without sisters, cousins or younger aunts, Laura had had no one close to confide in, but the French woman was so open and approachable that she was drawn to her, and soon opened up, speaking easily about her lack of a boyfriend, and her worries about her parents.
A few days after her arrival, Vivette apologetically announced that she had to leave Laura for the day on her own. She had to go into town on business, but would be back before dinner.
'You should study the paintings in the house,' she suggested to Laura, 'Part of your course is Art History, non?'
When Laura confirmed that it was, Vivette went on; 'There are some particularly fine works of art in the master bedroom suite, ma petite, you should go there and look. Georges won't mind,' and with that, she left, dressed in a sharp business suit and elegant high heels.
Laura did as she was bid, and after lunch, she wandered around the house looking at the fine artworks that decorated their home. She had not seen the master suite, and as she climbed the circular staircase to their turret suite she worried a little; this was their private space, and she was a guest. But Vivette had specifically invited her, so she dutifully made her way there.