‘She has not given him an answer. Yet.’
‘And what do you think?’ She sounded breathless.
‘I think maybe we should concentrate on the stairs, and not on talking.’
‘No, no, it’s good. Takes my mind off the fact I can’t climb the bloody stairs on my own. Tell me what you think of this offer.’
‘I think that perhaps it is for the best.’
‘What?’ Sylvia grasped the banister and turned to face him. ‘The best? How on earth would that be for the best? She seems so happy back here at Feywood, with you. I haven’t seen Juliet like this in years.’
‘But I cannot be the reason she stays, if there is a better life for her in London, a life she understands, a life that fulfils her.Non, it is better if I stand aside. I do not want her to resent me. You do not know all, Sylvia, but believe me when I tell you that I am not good enough to be her reason to turn these things down.’
‘What utter nonsense. For a start, you wouldn’t be the only reason she stayed – any fool can see that her art is flourishing, as is her general…well-being, I suppose you’d call it. For goodness’ sake, don’t let her back into Toby’s tender embrace, although I can hardly believe she’d go back to him, or back to London at all. She’s so happy here.’
They had reached the door of Sylvia’s room and Léo opened it.
‘Juliet is a wonderful woman who can make her own mind up. It’s not a case of me ‘letting’ her do anything, or not. I must accept that this has just been a pleasant diversion for her in a glittering life.’
He helped Sylvia sit on the bed, and she handed him her shawl.
‘Well, I think you’re being melodramatic and very stubborn for some reason. Whatever it is that you think you’ve done or haven’t done that makes you unworthy – well, don’t you think Juliet can decide for herself about that as well? The point is that you have always treated her well, simply loved her and been loved back, and that is more than enough.’
Léo shrugged.
‘I am not so sure. Now please, let me help you. What can I do?’
‘Nothing. I’ll be fine now, I promise. Go and tell Juliet to stay, that’s the best thing you can do.’
He smiled sadly.
‘Bon nuit. Until tomorrow.’
When he had left Sylvia, Léo headed back towards the cookery school, hoping not to see anyone else; this was not to be the case. As he crossed the lawn, he saw a figure making its way rapidlytowards him, and although he quickened his steps, he was not able to avoid Toby.
‘A word, if I may, Brodeur?’
Léo stopped, sighing.
‘I do not think we have much more to say to one another.’
‘Well, I have something to say to you, and you’ll bloody well listen.’
Léo shrugged.
‘Speak quickly, please, my work is not yet over for the day.’
‘I hope you’re not going to stop Lettie going back to London. You must realise that she can’t achieve her potential stuck here.’ He waved his arm around dismissively. ‘With you. The opportunities I mentioned will soon make her forget all of this.’
‘And help her, perhaps, to remember you?’
‘Lettie and I are just good friends now, that’s all,’ said Toby pompously. ‘And as a friend, who has known her and her family for many, many years, I am both well placed to make such an offer and to understand what it means to her. Do you want to hold her back in some way?’
‘No, no, of course I do not want this,’ said Léo, taken by surprise. ‘I may not know Juliet as well as you do, but I also want the very best for her.’
‘And do you think you know what that is?’
‘I do not pretend to, no,’ replied Léo.
