Travels With My Lovers

Then I found out that Gérard had saved the best Château for last.

Azay-le-Rideau was an exquisite, miniaturized gem on an intimate bend in the River Loire, with a cobalt blue roof and perfectly symmetrical turrets to match. The sight of it left me breathless. We admired it from all outside angles, entered and followed the crowds through the unadorned but magnificent hallways and up the imposing stone stairways. Unlike some of the other castles, its interior was bathed with light, an effect emphasized by the near-whiteness of its stone walls and staircases. When we had gotten to the upper limit allowed to the public, I spied a rope blocking off the upper top floor and began to descend the staircase.

Gérard stopped me. “Hang the rope. Let’s see what’s up there.”
“But it’s not allowed. That’s obvious from the rope suspended over the stairway.”
“Who’s to know?” He glanced around quickly to see if anyone was looking, seized my hand and led me up the stairs.

It soon became evident why the uppermost regions of the castle were off-limits. The floors were in disrepair, as were the walls. This did not bother Gérard. Seeing a closed door, he tried to unfasten it, and after a considerable amount of effort he managed to pry it open. Pulling me inside, he closed the door behind us.

We had entered an otherworldly atmosphere, a large, cavernous attic with uncharacteristically high ceilings, where assorted antique items were stored which hadn’t yet found homes. In spite of its lack of decor, the room had a vibration of ancient times and events oozing from every corner. We looked around, awed, at this quiet, enchanted place.

Then Gérard pulled me to him, leaned over my ear and whispered.
“I want to make love to you here.”
“What? Here? What if someone… catches us??
“No one will.” He enveloped my neck with hot kisses. “It’s off-limits, after all. Oh, I’m so turned on by you.”

My mind raced as I considered the consequences of such an audacious act.
What could happen if we’re caught? We’d be thrown out of the castle, for sure, but would we be arrested? Would I be thrown out of the country?

Ancient voices whistled around my ears as I pondered my fate. The atmosphere was so intimate, so steeped in antiquity. It would be like joining a guild of spirits, former lords and ladies who had stolen behind this ancient wooden door and indulged in their private fantasies. I threw caution to the winds and let myself be carried away by the passion and desire of my companion, one of the descendants of these voices from the past. We made love, excited and frightened by the threat of being discovered. And for a few brief moments, I became a denizen of that ancient Château of the Loire.