Chapter Three:
Cinderella's Dream House
Jill Valentine's breath caught in her throat as the gates opened up and the limo drove through the opening and down a long path lined with big, shady trees. 'This Carlotta person must love her privacy.' Jill thought as their limo drove on and on. Nearly half a mile later the road opened up to an expansive, lush green garden. The garden was plain except for a beautiful lily pond right in the center and six marble statuettes lining the sides and enclosed by boxwood hedges.
Beyond the garden was Carlotta's villa enclosed by yet another impressively carved chantello. Everyone was speechless as the limo pulled to a stop right in front of the gate and their chauffer rolled down the partition. "Welcome, to the Cornaro Villa. Ms. Cornaro is waiting for you inside. I will get your bags." Chris nodded his thanks and opened the door. Everyone followed him out, star-struck. As they climbed the marble stone steps, Sherry was the first to snap out of her daze and let out a whistle.
"I don't care what you guys say," she said. "Judging from this house, I say that Chris does have taste when it comes to women." A withering glare from Jill shut her up. Just then, the large French doors burst open and a woman appeared. Jill was surprised with Carlotta, she was halfway to 50, but she still had the body of a 25 year old. Her face was still smooth but had signs of a few wrinkles and her hair was starting to gray.
"Christopher!" she exclaimed happily as she practically tumbled into his arms. "My dear, sweet, charming Christopher Redfield. Oh, how wonderful it is to see your tall, robust structure again!" There was a snorting sound from Leon but Claire stomped her foot down on his. Despite Claire's obvious resentment in coming along, Jill could see that the house impressed her too.
"And these must be your friends!" Carlotta said with a dazzling smile.
"Um... yes..." Chris said. "This is Jill Valentine, Sherry Birkin, Leon Kennedy and my little sister, Claire." He pointed to each of them.
"Pleased to meet you." Carlotta said, a slight Italian accent hanging in her voice. Her eyes closely examined them and when her eyes landed on Sherry, they lit up. "My goodness! Why, you dear, are the spit and image of my youngest niece!"
Carlotta's arm linked though Chris's. "Look at her darling: Petite, delicate, beautiful, superb! Why, I just might enter you in the Miss Paris pageant."
Sherry blushed with praise and stood straighter. Jill heard Claire stifle a laugh. Sherry knew how adults could be and right then, she must have realized that Carlotta would've gotten her the moon if she wanted. No doubt that over the course of their vacation, she would use that to her advantage. Sherry would return to the U.S. with ten fold more than when she left.
"Well, you must be tired from your long flight." Carlotta announced as she led them through the small foyer and straight into a grand, airy drawing room. Claire's head spun in several directions to take it all in. Three large French windows let in masses of light to shine on the flower- patterned salmon couches and chairs. On each of the cherry wood tables rested a floral arrangement surrounded by an assortment of Venetian antiques. From the barrel-vaulted ceiling ---showing a brilliant cabaret of 16th century frescoes--- hung a Napoleon III gilt-bronze chandelier. Claire felt a nudge at her side and Leon leaned over to whisper into her ears. "I especially love to sit on the 19th century salone grande and read some of Europe's finest literature." He said in a proper, British accent.
"I'm from Italy, dear." Carlotta corrected him over her shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Leon blanched in embarrassment but Carlotta simply smiled.
"It's perfectly all right. It's refreshing to have a person with humor around-just don't let Cook hear you. She's a 60-year-old, old maid from London."
Leon laughed lightly but Claire noticed that he didn't say anything anymore. Carlotta was rich AND a saint capable of performing miracles. Claire tried to remain impartial to Carlotta's worldly things, but everything was so beautiful and antique and over-the-top, she felt like Cinderella after she had been magically changed into a princess.
The silent trance Leon had gone into broke when they finally reached the East wing-where they were to room.
"Holy shit." Leon whispered as Carlotta pushed open a room with a Napoleon brass bed perpendicular to the wall.
"Your room, Ms. Valentine." Carlotta said with a graceful wave of her hand.
"Oh, HOLY SHIT!" Jill said in a voice almost too loud voice. Instead of being appalled at Jill's country bumpkin reaction, she smiled.
"Oh wonderful, you like it."
Jill managed to nod and ran her fingers over the printed cotton chintz on her bed covering.
"From what Chris has told me, I gathered that you'd like a room with plenty of sunlight. If you enjoy pleasure reading the chaise longue at the edge of the bed has perfect lighting at around noon. Each of your rooms has an adjourning bath." Carlotta said in a nervous, almost mechanical voice-as if she'd been practicing on what to say--- reminding Claire of the stereotypical new step mom in movies. Eager to please. Jill's room was almost as large as the conference room at the station and had a large bay window that faced out into the wooded area next to the villa and had a sofa built into its alcove.
The corner parallel to her bed held a peach colored Italian marble topped vanity table filled to the edges with crystal fixtures, glass orbs and potpourri.
Jill decided to follow the group and see the rooms the others had gotten. The next room was Sherry's. The girl squealed with delight as Carlotta opened a light green door and they saw a room that looked as if it belonged in a dollhouse. The decor was a mix of the lightest of pastel blues, pinks, greens and yellows. Mirrors were positioned all along the walls. The room was extravagantly furnished, with a corner near the swag- curtained window, where two small sofas sat with a table filled with make- up, hair brushes, hand-held silver mirrors and accessories. And there were numerous other things that only the teen queens of teeny-bopper movies possessed.
"The delivering company will be sending a vanity table perhaps sometime tomorrow. Jolene will put it up for you." Carlotta said unnecessarily at Sherry stared in astonishment at the baldacchino bed draped with a white eyelet canopy and placed on a second level of the room.
"Why is the bed so high up?" Sherry asked as she stared at the little wooden step stool that she would have to use to get on. Carlotta laughed as she moved around to pullout a second bed from beneath it. "Cortinians love to have sleepovers." She joked. "Cortina is where this was made, honey."
"And you have your own chandelier." Leon noted, staring up at the ceiling. Sherry followed his gaze and gasped when she saw the crystal chandelier strung with jade beads. "My friends are going to be SO jealous." Sherry commented. "Claire, we HAVE to take pictures."
"Okay." She said, laughing as they followed Carlotta out. The next room was Leon's. His room was nowhere near as elaborately decorated as Sherry's (no one's was) but it was still impressive none-the-less. Paintings hung on the super white walls that brought out the deep turquoise of the large area rugs spread all over the geometric hardwood floors. An ebony-embossed Empire-style bed was underneath a painting of the Last Supper and was trimmed with golden designs. The most notable ones were five-point stars that intertwined with ivy vines around the bust of a sleeping lion.
"Nice. Very nice, thank you." Leon said as he tested out the firm mattress covered in tightly tucked turquoise sheets and pillows that matched.
"This was one of the bedrooms that's adjourning bath was designed by one of Italy's most famous decorators."
Claire and Leon were the only ones that were intrigued enough to peek into the bathroom. It was indeed nice, but Claire didn't see why you would spend so much time on a bathroom. It was a mix of pale and dark blues and had at least four Tuscan sculptures.
"That tub is twice the size of the one back home." Leon commented, impressed. He turned back to the curtained doorway and looked puzzled. "How come there's a bench in here?" he asked Claire, who shrugged. Carlotta was waiting in the bedroom with the rest.
"Maybe she knows about the nasty habit you have about leaving clothes all over the floor."
"Claire, if you knew about the other nasty habit that I have, you'd be glad there's a bench in here." He grinned jocularly. Claire felt her face grow hot and she headed for the door. "Come on, I'd like to see my room. I'm exhausted."
"Well?" Carlotta asked expectantly as they came out.
"It's... it's very nice." Leon replied.
"Oh, good, you all like your rooms..." she twittled her thumbs nervously. "Um, Claire, you're next."
Claire forced a smile, "It appears so."
Carlotta nodded and led them out to the next room and opened the door. Claire expected something nice-everything in the villa was nice, but NOTHING prepared her for the room that she entered. It was not as richly endowed as Sherry's dollhouse room, but it was the nicest bedroom that Claire had ever seen.
A gorgeous rose pink four-poster bed was lined perpendicular to the bright white walls. The bed was a baldacchino with rose blossom vines entwining all over the headboard and posters. An elegant pink canopy of Italian silk hung over the bed in the shape of a teepee and led all the way up to the ceiling, a trail of roses following it's path, and ended in the statuette of a swan, it's wings outstretched. The floor was white marble and bare except for a large pink shag rug at the edge of the bed of flowers. The white-beamed ceiling had tiny pink blossoms hand painted onto it and in the corner of the room, right next to a pearl white vanity table was a small breakfast nook with a table and a bunch of tea accessories.
The room had a whimsical, romantic feel to it and Claire suddenly felt overwhelmed. All of this was for her?
"Do you like it?" Carlotta's voice spoke up.
Claire turned around and smiled. "Like it? I love it."
Carlotta let out a breath that she had been holding. "Well, fantastic. That about ends the tour, I suppose you'll want to wash up and rest before dinner... I hope you all enjoy your stay here and---"
"Wait a minute." Claire said suddenly, turning to Chris. "Where is YOUR bedroom?"
She turned to Carlotta who had a deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. "Chris is staying in this wing too, isn't he?"
Carlotta cleared her throat before replying. "Well, I just thought it would be nice if he stayed in the next wing with... with me..."
Claire had to take a step back as everyone except for Leon exited quietly. Why hadn't Claire seen this before? All these wonderful rooms and worldly things were only to make them forget that Carlotta had first invited CHRIS and them second. She had something much more on her mind than entertaining them.
Chris gave Claire a reassuring nod and patted her shoulder. "I want you all to be comfortable. You wouldn't have fun with me hanging around. Besides," he added. "this wing is much too crowded already."
Claire was about to open her mouth, to say that this wing had at least fifteen rooms in it, but a desperate look came into his eyes, telling her to shut up.
He linked arms with Carlotta hesitantly before leaving Claire alone with Leon. After a few moments Claire exploded. "I'M SO STUPID! WHY DIDN'T I SEE IT?" she asked Leon who ran over to stop her from destroying everything.
"Claire, calm down." Leon said soothingly as he wrapped his arms around her arms and waist and fought against her struggling.
"Let go of me. I'm leaving this place. I don't want to stick around and see Chris knock up some middle-aged tramp."
"She's not a tramp Claire," Leon argued. "She's a lonely widow who's looking for love---granted she had to take a dip into the cradle of idiocy to find it..."
"How could he do this?" Claire replied in a much quieter voice.
"It's okay. Let's just enjoy this while we can. Make the best out of what you have." He smiled before adding, "And right now, we've got the world."
Claire sighed before resting her head on his shoulder. "If she wants Chris so badly, she's going to have to put up with me."
Leon laughed ruefully as he sat down at her vanity. "That's right. But try not to hurt her to badly."
Cinderella's Dream House
Jill Valentine's breath caught in her throat as the gates opened up and the limo drove through the opening and down a long path lined with big, shady trees. 'This Carlotta person must love her privacy.' Jill thought as their limo drove on and on. Nearly half a mile later the road opened up to an expansive, lush green garden. The garden was plain except for a beautiful lily pond right in the center and six marble statuettes lining the sides and enclosed by boxwood hedges.
Beyond the garden was Carlotta's villa enclosed by yet another impressively carved chantello. Everyone was speechless as the limo pulled to a stop right in front of the gate and their chauffer rolled down the partition. "Welcome, to the Cornaro Villa. Ms. Cornaro is waiting for you inside. I will get your bags." Chris nodded his thanks and opened the door. Everyone followed him out, star-struck. As they climbed the marble stone steps, Sherry was the first to snap out of her daze and let out a whistle.
"I don't care what you guys say," she said. "Judging from this house, I say that Chris does have taste when it comes to women." A withering glare from Jill shut her up. Just then, the large French doors burst open and a woman appeared. Jill was surprised with Carlotta, she was halfway to 50, but she still had the body of a 25 year old. Her face was still smooth but had signs of a few wrinkles and her hair was starting to gray.
"Christopher!" she exclaimed happily as she practically tumbled into his arms. "My dear, sweet, charming Christopher Redfield. Oh, how wonderful it is to see your tall, robust structure again!" There was a snorting sound from Leon but Claire stomped her foot down on his. Despite Claire's obvious resentment in coming along, Jill could see that the house impressed her too.
"And these must be your friends!" Carlotta said with a dazzling smile.
"Um... yes..." Chris said. "This is Jill Valentine, Sherry Birkin, Leon Kennedy and my little sister, Claire." He pointed to each of them.
"Pleased to meet you." Carlotta said, a slight Italian accent hanging in her voice. Her eyes closely examined them and when her eyes landed on Sherry, they lit up. "My goodness! Why, you dear, are the spit and image of my youngest niece!"
Carlotta's arm linked though Chris's. "Look at her darling: Petite, delicate, beautiful, superb! Why, I just might enter you in the Miss Paris pageant."
Sherry blushed with praise and stood straighter. Jill heard Claire stifle a laugh. Sherry knew how adults could be and right then, she must have realized that Carlotta would've gotten her the moon if she wanted. No doubt that over the course of their vacation, she would use that to her advantage. Sherry would return to the U.S. with ten fold more than when she left.
"Well, you must be tired from your long flight." Carlotta announced as she led them through the small foyer and straight into a grand, airy drawing room. Claire's head spun in several directions to take it all in. Three large French windows let in masses of light to shine on the flower- patterned salmon couches and chairs. On each of the cherry wood tables rested a floral arrangement surrounded by an assortment of Venetian antiques. From the barrel-vaulted ceiling ---showing a brilliant cabaret of 16th century frescoes--- hung a Napoleon III gilt-bronze chandelier. Claire felt a nudge at her side and Leon leaned over to whisper into her ears. "I especially love to sit on the 19th century salone grande and read some of Europe's finest literature." He said in a proper, British accent.
"I'm from Italy, dear." Carlotta corrected him over her shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Leon blanched in embarrassment but Carlotta simply smiled.
"It's perfectly all right. It's refreshing to have a person with humor around-just don't let Cook hear you. She's a 60-year-old, old maid from London."
Leon laughed lightly but Claire noticed that he didn't say anything anymore. Carlotta was rich AND a saint capable of performing miracles. Claire tried to remain impartial to Carlotta's worldly things, but everything was so beautiful and antique and over-the-top, she felt like Cinderella after she had been magically changed into a princess.
The silent trance Leon had gone into broke when they finally reached the East wing-where they were to room.
"Holy shit." Leon whispered as Carlotta pushed open a room with a Napoleon brass bed perpendicular to the wall.
"Your room, Ms. Valentine." Carlotta said with a graceful wave of her hand.
"Oh, HOLY SHIT!" Jill said in a voice almost too loud voice. Instead of being appalled at Jill's country bumpkin reaction, she smiled.
"Oh wonderful, you like it."
Jill managed to nod and ran her fingers over the printed cotton chintz on her bed covering.
"From what Chris has told me, I gathered that you'd like a room with plenty of sunlight. If you enjoy pleasure reading the chaise longue at the edge of the bed has perfect lighting at around noon. Each of your rooms has an adjourning bath." Carlotta said in a nervous, almost mechanical voice-as if she'd been practicing on what to say--- reminding Claire of the stereotypical new step mom in movies. Eager to please. Jill's room was almost as large as the conference room at the station and had a large bay window that faced out into the wooded area next to the villa and had a sofa built into its alcove.
The corner parallel to her bed held a peach colored Italian marble topped vanity table filled to the edges with crystal fixtures, glass orbs and potpourri.
Jill decided to follow the group and see the rooms the others had gotten. The next room was Sherry's. The girl squealed with delight as Carlotta opened a light green door and they saw a room that looked as if it belonged in a dollhouse. The decor was a mix of the lightest of pastel blues, pinks, greens and yellows. Mirrors were positioned all along the walls. The room was extravagantly furnished, with a corner near the swag- curtained window, where two small sofas sat with a table filled with make- up, hair brushes, hand-held silver mirrors and accessories. And there were numerous other things that only the teen queens of teeny-bopper movies possessed.
"The delivering company will be sending a vanity table perhaps sometime tomorrow. Jolene will put it up for you." Carlotta said unnecessarily at Sherry stared in astonishment at the baldacchino bed draped with a white eyelet canopy and placed on a second level of the room.
"Why is the bed so high up?" Sherry asked as she stared at the little wooden step stool that she would have to use to get on. Carlotta laughed as she moved around to pullout a second bed from beneath it. "Cortinians love to have sleepovers." She joked. "Cortina is where this was made, honey."
"And you have your own chandelier." Leon noted, staring up at the ceiling. Sherry followed his gaze and gasped when she saw the crystal chandelier strung with jade beads. "My friends are going to be SO jealous." Sherry commented. "Claire, we HAVE to take pictures."
"Okay." She said, laughing as they followed Carlotta out. The next room was Leon's. His room was nowhere near as elaborately decorated as Sherry's (no one's was) but it was still impressive none-the-less. Paintings hung on the super white walls that brought out the deep turquoise of the large area rugs spread all over the geometric hardwood floors. An ebony-embossed Empire-style bed was underneath a painting of the Last Supper and was trimmed with golden designs. The most notable ones were five-point stars that intertwined with ivy vines around the bust of a sleeping lion.
"Nice. Very nice, thank you." Leon said as he tested out the firm mattress covered in tightly tucked turquoise sheets and pillows that matched.
"This was one of the bedrooms that's adjourning bath was designed by one of Italy's most famous decorators."
Claire and Leon were the only ones that were intrigued enough to peek into the bathroom. It was indeed nice, but Claire didn't see why you would spend so much time on a bathroom. It was a mix of pale and dark blues and had at least four Tuscan sculptures.
"That tub is twice the size of the one back home." Leon commented, impressed. He turned back to the curtained doorway and looked puzzled. "How come there's a bench in here?" he asked Claire, who shrugged. Carlotta was waiting in the bedroom with the rest.
"Maybe she knows about the nasty habit you have about leaving clothes all over the floor."
"Claire, if you knew about the other nasty habit that I have, you'd be glad there's a bench in here." He grinned jocularly. Claire felt her face grow hot and she headed for the door. "Come on, I'd like to see my room. I'm exhausted."
"Well?" Carlotta asked expectantly as they came out.
"It's... it's very nice." Leon replied.
"Oh, good, you all like your rooms..." she twittled her thumbs nervously. "Um, Claire, you're next."
Claire forced a smile, "It appears so."
Carlotta nodded and led them out to the next room and opened the door. Claire expected something nice-everything in the villa was nice, but NOTHING prepared her for the room that she entered. It was not as richly endowed as Sherry's dollhouse room, but it was the nicest bedroom that Claire had ever seen.
A gorgeous rose pink four-poster bed was lined perpendicular to the bright white walls. The bed was a baldacchino with rose blossom vines entwining all over the headboard and posters. An elegant pink canopy of Italian silk hung over the bed in the shape of a teepee and led all the way up to the ceiling, a trail of roses following it's path, and ended in the statuette of a swan, it's wings outstretched. The floor was white marble and bare except for a large pink shag rug at the edge of the bed of flowers. The white-beamed ceiling had tiny pink blossoms hand painted onto it and in the corner of the room, right next to a pearl white vanity table was a small breakfast nook with a table and a bunch of tea accessories.
The room had a whimsical, romantic feel to it and Claire suddenly felt overwhelmed. All of this was for her?
"Do you like it?" Carlotta's voice spoke up.
Claire turned around and smiled. "Like it? I love it."
Carlotta let out a breath that she had been holding. "Well, fantastic. That about ends the tour, I suppose you'll want to wash up and rest before dinner... I hope you all enjoy your stay here and---"
"Wait a minute." Claire said suddenly, turning to Chris. "Where is YOUR bedroom?"
She turned to Carlotta who had a deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. "Chris is staying in this wing too, isn't he?"
Carlotta cleared her throat before replying. "Well, I just thought it would be nice if he stayed in the next wing with... with me..."
Claire had to take a step back as everyone except for Leon exited quietly. Why hadn't Claire seen this before? All these wonderful rooms and worldly things were only to make them forget that Carlotta had first invited CHRIS and them second. She had something much more on her mind than entertaining them.
Chris gave Claire a reassuring nod and patted her shoulder. "I want you all to be comfortable. You wouldn't have fun with me hanging around. Besides," he added. "this wing is much too crowded already."
Claire was about to open her mouth, to say that this wing had at least fifteen rooms in it, but a desperate look came into his eyes, telling her to shut up.
He linked arms with Carlotta hesitantly before leaving Claire alone with Leon. After a few moments Claire exploded. "I'M SO STUPID! WHY DIDN'T I SEE IT?" she asked Leon who ran over to stop her from destroying everything.
"Claire, calm down." Leon said soothingly as he wrapped his arms around her arms and waist and fought against her struggling.
"Let go of me. I'm leaving this place. I don't want to stick around and see Chris knock up some middle-aged tramp."
"She's not a tramp Claire," Leon argued. "She's a lonely widow who's looking for love---granted she had to take a dip into the cradle of idiocy to find it..."
"How could he do this?" Claire replied in a much quieter voice.
"It's okay. Let's just enjoy this while we can. Make the best out of what you have." He smiled before adding, "And right now, we've got the world."
Claire sighed before resting her head on his shoulder. "If she wants Chris so badly, she's going to have to put up with me."
Leon laughed ruefully as he sat down at her vanity. "That's right. But try not to hurt her to badly."