An online novel by Gillette Edmunds

Charlie and Sonya drove along the river until they found a wooden bridge. Across the river, they drove back until they found a dirt road up the hill. The castle was on top of a rocky cliff. They parked at the chicken wire fence and got out.

Peering through the wire, he asked her, “what does that sign mean?”

“I told you I don’t read French.”

“So why did you think that advertisement meant this castle was a hotel?”

“Let’s just go to Beaune,” Sonya said. “I was wrong.”

“God, I’m disappointed,” Charles said. “I was really thinking about buying something like this.”

Sonya put her arm around his waist and hugged him. “What about all the wine tasting you want to do?” she whispered.

“Can’t you taste it right now,” she said and licked the inside of his ear.

He shivered and pulled away from her.

“You’re right,” he said. “I’ve got to learn the names of more French wines. We’ll run into other castles. Some of these French restaurants in Cleveland are catching on, Sonya, and I’ve got to know what to order, not just food, but also wine. It’s supposed to be castle country around Beaune anyway. We’ll find another castle to stay in.”

“Haven’t they always had French restaurants in Cleveland?” Sonya asked.

“No, it’s the latest thing.”