The President and Antoinette De La Zur with Other Stories

Copyright © 2015 Geraldine Harris.

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ISBN: 978-1-4582-1862-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4582-1863-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015901329

Abbott Press rev. date: 06/23/2015

Contents

The President and Antoinette De La Zur

Mitzi Amsterdam and the Gondolier

The Book Club Meeting

The Mystery of Villa Di Rona

Terrance Applebee

Stella

To Mark D. Shatz

Thank you for love, inspiration, confidence, understanding, fun and laughter. Without you these stories could never have been written—nor would I have had the pleasure of writing them.

You paint my life with your generous friendship.

The President and Antoinette De La Zur

Duchess Antoinette De La Zur relaxed as she leaned back in her seat. The plane had taken off about twenty minutes ago in a dense fog. It had passed through the fog and was climbing at a leisurely pace.

Antoinette, the duchess, was a fascinating woman! Beautiful with perfect facial features: large almond shaped brown eyes fringed with a swirl of long thick black lashes, a straight Grecian nose, a mouth a little large perhaps, but perfectly shaped and colored with a deep red lipstick that emphasized her smooth cream colored, velvet complexion. Her dark eyebrows occupied ideal places on her face, as if they were hung there in just the right delicate arched shape.

She wore her long, lustrous black hair simply in a bun low on the back of her neck, and usually there were small gem-encrusted earrings on her delicate ear lobes.

In the true French style her clothes were designer understated and very elegant: sometimes all black, other times in soft feminine colors, or rarely, depending on the occasion, all white. They were fitted on her lean, high styled body. Had her circumstances been different she could have been an outstanding model for any of the famous designers in Europe.

Her home was in Paris, but born into a family whose father was in the diplomatic service, she grew up in various countries and attended their private schools. Her mother was the well-known heiress and socialite, Lyudmila Svendia.

Antoinette spoke four languages. Her English was so perfect that no accent could be detected.

At age twenty-two she was married to Duke Philippe, the ruler of a small country called Dilitaria. He too, was Parisian. He had inherited the kingship from his great uncle, Alfonse, who had no other immediate heirs. King Alfonse was so greatly loved by the Dilitarians that they insisted that some one from his bloodline continue as their king. Since Philippe was not in Alfonse’s immediate family, the Dilitarians preferred that he be called duke instead of king, but his responsibilities were, indeed, of a kingly proportion.

Antoinette and Philippe were a very happy couple with two adorable, lively children. They were greatly loved by their Dilitarian subjects. They resided in the ducal palace in the country of Dilitaria.

Antoinette, appointed to the position of royal envoy, was now on her way to the United States to attend a very important summit meeting.

She would meet with representatives from the four most important countries in the region to try to solve the disputes over a small but very important piece of land. The country of Dilitaria was the only country that occupied a portion of the Toreanic Sea coast. It therefore, contained the only port, the Port of Dilitaria, on the Toreanic Sea. This port was the only portal to international trade for the entire area. The small country of Dilitaria controlled all incoming and outgoing freighters. These freighters comprised the total of that region’s oceanic commerce. The members of the summit meeting were to decide how the port should be handled in order to avoid stopages, and to adjust the price of the port’s admission: storage, and rental fees. The people of Dilitaria did not want any outside country deciding how their port should be managed, however there were so many disputes over the handling of the freight that some profound agreement had to be reached!

Although this was an enormously important meeting that would affect Dilataria’s financial future, Duke Philippe felt it was more important for him to be present at the border since there had been several skirmishes at the line between Dilitaria and Itzgoria. The Duke wanted to go and settle the current dispute himself.

The Dilitarian border control officers had halted a huge convoy of trucks from Izgoria, carrying oil to their waiting oil tankers at the Port of Dilitaria, on the grounds that the trucks were carrying quantities of carefully hidden hydroponic marijuana.

The captain of the convoy refused to allow any searches of the cargo, and so progress had stopped. Tankers had arrived at the port and while waiting for their cargos of oil to be loaded; they had been moved to the port’s rental space. The rental fee, which was very high, continued.

This outraged the Izgorian government. The ground patrol, doing its job, felt threatened and eagerly awaited the arrival of Duke Philippe.

This was one of the major topics to be discussed and, hopefully, settled at the summit meeting. These results could affect Dilitarian’s financial future for years to come.

A meeting of this importance was not at all foreign to Antoinette. She had been invited by her husband to be his emissary on other important and threatening occasions.

Understanding the importance of the Duke’s absence, and the huge responsibility it placed on Duchess Antoinette’s shoulders, President Tucker had invited her to stay at the White House for the length of the summit. This was an exceptional invitation. Only one other visiting statesman had ever received a similar one. Antoinette was very honored.

The Dilitarian royal plane landed smoothly at the Presidential airport in Washington D.C. at exactly five p.m. right on schedule. Vice President James Byron was there, waiting for Antoinette, with an official White House limousine parked on the tarmac.

Inside the plane Antoinette had changed from Capri pants to a Chanel gray suit, high heels and a pearl and sapphire necklace: smoothed her hair, refreshed her make up and, with a spray of Armani perfume, adorned her face with a smile. She descended the plane’s steps and approached the Vice President with right arm extended. As they shook hands Antoinette kissed his cheeks in the accepted Dilitarian style of greeting.

Welcome to the United States, Your Grace. We are exceedingly pleased that you accepted the invitation from the President.

It is a pleasure to meet you, Vice President Byron. I am most grateful for President Tucker’s gracious invitation.

I trust your flight was a pleasurable one.

Yes. It became exceptionally so when I thought of the destination. They walked toward the limousine. The chauffer immediately opened the door. As they seated themselves the Vice President explained, The President is waiting for you. He is pleased that your plane flew through beautiful and safe weather.

The limousine entered the White House portico and guards opened the doors. Antoinette, accompanied by the Vice President, entered the White House. The door to the Diplomatic Reception Room was held open for them. They then followed the steward to the East Sitting Hall, a small, somewhat informal room bedecked with priceless furnishings. The President was waiting for her.

He approached her with hand extended and a beaming smile, I am so pleased to welcome you to the White House and of course to the summit meeting.

He is surprisingly handsome, Antoinette thought.

The President was tall, slender, and had a beautiful tan. Several locks of his brown, sun-streaked hair fell over his forehead. His deep blue eyes were shining and his dark suit was impeccably tailored. His air of smiling confidence was magnetic. He was the suave and enchanting product of a very wealthy family who summered on the French Riviera and wintered for short periods in the Swiss Alps. He had graduated from the finest college in the United States and had taken post-graduate work on the U. S. Constitution, International Relations, Political Science, and European History.

I feel very fortunate to be here, she answered as they shook hands.

I am sorry the First Lady, my wife Verna, is not here to also welcome you; she is being honored in Santiva, Africa, by the city’s elders. Her new organization, The Improvement Corps, has made many suggestions and changes, and the natives there have worked hard putting her suggestions into practice.

Antoinette smiled, Please tell the First Lady, that she has my respect and admiration for such good work, and send her my congratulations!

The President smiled and nodded, She will be returning in two weeks. Thank you, Your Grace. I will give her your message.

Vice President Byron added, Our First Lady is, indeed, very concerned about hunger in the world, and she is very active in several charitable groups.

Yes, now that our children are old enough to be away at boarding schools, she has the time to devote to her special interests.

After a few more moments of rather formal but pleasant conversation with the President hopefully expressing that she would find her stay comfortable. Antoinette delivered a message to the President from her husband apologizing for his absence, and explaining the imperative need for his presence at the Dilitarian border. Then Mrs. Delray, a White House attendant, arrived to take the duchess to the Queen’s Bedroom. Vice President Byron commented, You will please inform us if there is anything we could change or add to make your stay more comfortable. Antoinette nodded to the Vice President and smiled at the President, as she followed Mrs. Delray, a White House attendant, out of the door and down the long hall.

The Vice President turned to William and commented, Extraordinarily attractive woman, isn’t she?

He replied, Yes, and no doubt very cooperative to work with. But that was not what he was thinking!

All the way down the hall Mrs. Delray told Antoinette the history of the rooms they passed, This is the Blue Room, etc. They finally reached the stairway. "We are going to the second floor where the more informal family quarters are. You will be staying in the Queen’s Bedroom. It was originally called the ‘Rose Room.’ However the name was changed by President Garfield, who added the small sitting hall, which is shared with the Lincoln Bedroom next door.

The Queen’s Suite has been occupied by a number of royal guests: Queen Frederica of Greece, Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, Winston Churchill and V. M. Molotov and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, to mention just a few."

She opened the door, I hope you will be very comfortable here.

Yes, thank you. I am sure I will be. Antoinette gazed at the various shades of rose and pink, which decorated the walls, and the beautiful canopied bed.

Your luggage has been brought in.

Antoinette nodded, Thank you.

If there is anything you want or need you will find a pull cord at the end of the east wall. Good evening, Your Grace.

Mrs. Delray let herself out.

Antoinette walked around the large room admiring the priceless historical paintings hung on the walls, and wondering what to do about dinner! It was getting quite late and she was hungry.

As if by mental telepathy, there was a knock on the door.

Yes? she asked as she opened the door.

A messenger stood in the doorway. Good evening, your Grace. He gave her a monogrammed Presidential envelope.

I am to wait for a reply.

Come in please. She opened the envelope and read the note it held:

"For Duchess Antoinette De La Zur,

I would be delighted to have you join me in the family dining room for dinner, which will be served at nine o’clock this evening. There will be only the two of us since I didn’t wish to burden you with any formalities after your journey.

If you would find it more convenient to dine in your room, I will have your dinner brought to you.

I realize that you may be very tired after your flight.

Please inform the messenger of your desire.

Thank you.

President William Tucker"

Please tell President Tucker that I will be delighted to join him in the family dining room.

In that case, he asked me to tell you that a messenger will be here to accompany you to the dining room.

Thank you.

Antoinette changed from her suit to a pair of very wide legged blue satin pants with slits up the sides to the knees, and a matching long sleeved blue satin blouse. She added a pair of long pearl earrings; and since the neckline of the blouse was quite low, she added a five-strand pearl necklace, white, very high-heeled satin slippers, and a small white satin bag. She looked very elegant.

The President was waiting for her in a small sitting room adjoining the dining room.

He rose as she entered.

Since the family dining table seated eight, a small table had been set up elegantly on the side for the two of them—with a long white table cloth, flowers, and orange flames shimmering on the tall silver candles.

The President quietly admired Antoinette’s striking beauty. He held her chair, and she seated herself.

A waiter filled their crystal wine glasses.

The president held his glass up, To a very successful summit meeting.

Antoinette smiled and clicked her wine glass against his, I’m delighted to drink to that. She smiled.

Another waiter brought a silver platter of canapés.

And the elegant five-course dinner had begun.

Their conversation throughout was light, occasionally witty, enjoyable, and oddly very satisfying.

The President walked with her to the door, where a messenger was waiting to accompany her back to the Queen’s Bedroom. He smiled, I hope you will have the time to join me for breakfast in the morning, Your Grace.

Of course, I will be delighted to. She was very pleased at this invitation. Breakfast with the president would be very good for her ego, and in turn, increase her confidence for what she would be facing at the summit meeting.

Thank you and good night.

It is my understanding that the meeting will start at ten thirty. I will send a messenger for you and a presidential limousine will be waiting for you in the morning. Good night.

President Tucker could not disregard the delicious scent Antoinette’s perfume had left on the air, or her musical laugh that sounded like tinkling silver bells at Christmas time.

He called in the White House chef, and requested a very tempting breakfast menu. As he retired to his bedroom he was exceedingly pleased that he had invited her to stay at the White House. He changed to his pajamas while wondering what special topic to discus with her at dinner the following night. It was truly delightful, indeed, to have her company while his wife was away. He had a very happy marriage, but Antoinette filled in that part of him that had traveled extensively. They had both skied in Saint Moritz, attended the art festival in Cannes, the horse race in Sienna… and it was delightful to remember those things with someone. So President Tucker was in a relaxed and jovial mood as he looked forward to dining with Antoinette the following evening.

Antoinette was worried about the next morning’s meeting. She hoped fervently to get off to a good start with the envoys, who undoubtedly knew much more about ports then she did! Now, that she was here, and faced with all the circumstances, she wondered why Philippe had not sent someone who had a great deal of actual experience in port management.

As the only woman attending, Antoinette wanted to arrive early. She was being very careful not to give any of the envoys an opportunity to belittle or criticize her. Two of the countries that had sent representatives were the notorious Arab countries Beria and Fendahi, where they treated women with no respect and women had no rights. Without a backward glance and with the slightest provocation, their army officers were ordered to chop off parts of women’s anatomy such as their hands or the lower parts of their noses as punishment for the slightest crime. These two countries used the Dilitarian port for their huge oil shipments. While they could not accept a woman at any government talks—at this summit they had no choice. They must, at the command of their rulers: get the Dilitarian Port charges lowered on their oil tankers as they passed through the port, and also lower the storage fees, which Dilitaria charged, if the berths were filled and the Arab tankers were required to wait for an open one. And now a woman had the power to change these fees! The Arabs felt that dealing with a woman was a direct insult, an affront to their dignity!

Antoinette hoped she had the intelligence, experience, and foresight to wisely handle this situation. Apparently, her husband, Philippe, thought she did. He paid her the ultimate compliment when he sent her on this mission.

The remaining two countries Livenia and Subitz would be much easier to deal with since their values were similar to Dilitaria’s. Livenia needed the use of the port to export their abundance of packing cartons, which they used to ship automobile parts. Subitz needed to export their varied canned foods and breadstuffs.

The United States was chosen to be the meeting-place because few of their freight vessels arrived in U.S. ports. And there was no difficulty with port charges. The U.S. ports were simply open and their berths available.

Antoinette changed to a blue French lace nightgown. And with her thoughts on the next day’s meeting, she picked up the telephone and requested that the White House telephone service awaken her at eight a.m.

As she got into bed, her thoughts surprisingly changed to the allure of President Tucker! He appeared in her mind, handsome and smiling. He exuded a sophisticated charm tinged with a profound maleness that Antoinette had become aware of the moment they met.

The telephone rang. A sleepy Antoinette picked up the receiver, Yes? A pleasant female voice said, Good morning, Your Grace, It is eight o’clock.

Thank you.

She dreaded this first meeting. She showered, put on a very mannish tailored beige suit with long pants, almost no makeup, and no jewelry. She wanted to look as un-feminine as possible because of the Arabs!

She received a call from the hostess in the family dining room.

"Breakfast will be served in twenty minutes, Your Grace. Will that be convenient?’

Yes, that is perfect.

An escort will be there for you.

Thank you.

Well, she thought, this summit meeting is what I came for! However, I am honestly terrified!

Her fear must have shown for the President greeted her with the utmost courtesy, and very gently.

Good morning, Your Grace. He smiled. "You look very industrious this morning, and rightly so. You have a very important job before you. We both know you will do well. If there is anything I can do to be of service, you have only to ask. The effect that had on Antoinette was visible. Her shoulders relaxed and her facial muscles seemed less strained.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Due to the circumstances their conversation was at a pleasant minimum.

They finished their breakfast and rose.

I will be waiting to hear how it went, Your Grace, perhaps at dinner?

She smiled, Yes, until then. Salute!

Salute. He responded, also smiling. The president turned to his waiting secretary…

It was a short ride. The presidential limousine parked in front of the Watson Federal Building where the meeting was to be held.

The chauffer opened the car door for her.

The meeting is expected to be over this afternoon at about four thirty or five.

Yes, Your Grace. I will be here waiting for you.

Good. Thank you.

Well … at least I can look forward to getting in the car and leaving, she thought. That’s the wrong attitude, Antoinette, you’re the chairman and it’s your port they will be discussing! Your port is causing all these problems and you are expected to take care of it! She stood up a little straighter as she entered the meeting room.

It was a large room with a very long highly polished brown wooden table. Antoinette didn’t count, but she guessed, at least thirty-two green upholstered chairs had been placed around the table. Only the first five at the head of the table would be used, unless of coarse, the envoys brought secretaries or aides.

As she looked around it occurred to her that it might be nice to have coffee and perhaps some kind of little cakes available, Arabian Mescouta cookies. And, oh yes! Arabs like mint tea.

She called the building’s offices and asked for the superintendent.

Yes? Good morning, Your Grace. I am Mr. Sakowski, the superintendent. I hope you found everything in the Ambassador Room to your liking.

Yes indeed, Mr. Sakowski, thank you. I only wondered if some coffee, Arabian Mescouta cookies, and mint tea could be placed in here.

Of course! That will be done immediately. Anything else, Your Grace?

No, thank you. If there is, I will call you.

The refreshments were delivered and set up on a small side table along with a beautifully arranged bowl of fruit.

Approximately ten minutes later, the door opened and Vice President Byron walked in.

Startled, Antoinette