Kay Cornelius, Summons to the Chateau D’Arc

Summons to the Chateau D'Arc

Kay Cornelius

Five Star, Aug 2005, $26.95, 324 pp.

ISBN: 1594143862

In 1882, before she dies, mama makes her daughter twenty years old American Ellen Edmon promise that she would write to the Marquis D'Arc. Mama wants Ellen to visit the chateau in Dreux, France where her mama spent some happy moments of her life. After mama passes away Ellen writes and the Marquis responds providing her with passage and a job as companion to his wheelchair bound sixteen years old daughter Lucy.

Ellen arrives at the Chateau D'Arc to find Lucy does not want her there, her older brother Jacques seems to only want to bed her, permanent guest Madame Albert hates her, her employer the Marquis is kind but distant, and the estate manager Philip Mailley is hostile. Ellen finds the tension between everyone quite excruciating, but tries to help Lucy while hiding her desire for Philip. Soon she finds herself wondering what happened to Lucy's mother ten years ago when she seem to just vanish and what was the cause of Lucy's horse riding accident at the same time that paralyzed her. Her snooping leads to someone amidst the household trying to kill her and she fears it is Philip who she loves.

SUMMONS TO THE CHATEAU D'ARC is an intriguing gothic historical romance starring an innocent newcomer, a mansion that is somewhat dark especially the upper floor and a brooding hero who wants nothing to do with the newcomer. The story line is action-packed though the killer seems to have hidden his homicidal history with some help too easily. Still fans will appreciate this fine tale due to the antics of the kindhearted courageous Ellen.

Harriet Klausner