‘So charming!’ said Penelope. ‘We might have wished she hadn’t painted you wearing a boiler suit, but it is all we ever see you in these days.’
‘That’s what Félicité said when I questioned it. Can I get you another glass of wine?’
‘I think I’ve had enough, thank you. Can I take Jack and inspect the accommodation?’
‘I’ll come with you,’ said Alexandra, happy for an excuse to leave what was developing into a party. She felt embarrassed being part of the mural; it made her look as if she was one of the family and she really wasn’t.
Chapter Thirty-one
Suddenly, it was mid March and the wedding was only a couple of weeks away. Time had rushed on without anyone noticing how that had happened. And in spite of everyone’s hard work there were still things that needed to be done before the converted farm buildings became comfortable, glamorous places to stay.
Alexandra had been busier than ever, doing the things that seemed to be nobody’s job – a bit of grouting here, painting a skirting board there, putting candles in the candle holders and of course buying things for the kitchens. In spite of the days ticking by remorselessly, she loved it. She was worried things wouldn’t be finished in time to receive guests, who, annoyingly, were arriving a few days before the wedding, but she had faith. David was a great ally and good at placing large mirrors, urns and in one case a bird bath in strategic places.
A couple of days before Jack’s family arrived, everyone was going to the dressmaker in Antibes that Lucinda had recommended, to have final fittings for their wedding clothes. Afterwards they were spending the night with friends of Antoine’s who had a chateau near Nice.
In spite of careful planning, when Jack, Penelope and Lucinda arrived in their car, so they could travel in convoy, no one at the chateau was ready.
‘Milou went missing last night,’ explained David to Jack through the car window. ‘Stéphie won’t leave until he’s found.’
Lucinda sighed deeply and Penelope declared she might as well get out of the car and use the bathroom. So everyone got out and Alexandra made coffee.
‘Milou is a big dog,’ said Antoine patiently to Stéphie, not for the first time. ‘He will come back. There is no need to be worried about him, p’tite.’
‘I expect he’s gone off hunting,’ said Jack.
‘He’s never done it before!’ said Stéphie.
‘Actually, he went off for a couple of hours a few days ago, and came back,’ said David.
But nothing that anyone could say would persuade Stéphie that her beloved dog wasn’t gone forever.
Eventually, Alexandra, who’d only been going to Antibes as an adviser anyway, said, ‘Stéphie, you go now, have a lovely time and don’t worry about Milou. I’ll stay and wait for him and if he’s not back by – say – six o’clock I’ll go and look for him. But he will be back by then because he’ll be hungry. You know how much Milou likes his dinner.’
‘You won’t! You’ll forget!’ said Stéphie.
‘How can I forget Milou?’ said Alexandra. ‘He’s going to keep me company this evening when David is out and you’re all away having the finishing touches added to your outfits and having a lovely time!’
Eventually, after this scenario was repeated in different forms many, many times, the two cars set off to Antibes, Stéphie finally having been convinced.
‘Are you sure you’ll be all right this evening?’ David was standing on the step next to Alexandra. ‘I’m going to an art exhibition but I could skip dinner afterwards and come back early.’
Although he never ever said anything about his love life to her, Alexandra knew that David was planning to see his friend in town.
‘I’ll be absolutely fine,’ she insisted. ‘I’ve got quite a lot I want to do today and am secretly very grateful to Milou for getting me out of the dressmaking trip. Now I can finish grouting the tiles in the bathroom in the stable. It’s my new favourite thing!’
‘Honestly, Lexi, I fear for your sanity sometimes …’
‘And then I’m going to come back, eat the most unhealthy, delicious food I can find and sink into a deep bath. Then I’ll wash the grit out of my hair and probably fall asleep.’ She paused and then remembered. ‘Provided Milou comes back.’
The two kittens ran up to her at that moment and rubbed themselves against her legs. ‘Why don’t you find your big brother, or uncle, or whatever Milou is to you! Being cute isn’t all that useful, you know!’
‘I’m sure he will come back,’ said David. ‘He’s gone hunting, or maybe courting. He’ll make a nuisance of himself and some farmer or other will throw him out, or telephone.’
‘I know. The farmer will telephone just when I’ve submerged my head in the water. But I’ll go and collect him if that happens. Now, I’ve got work to do! Don’t hurry back tonight. I’ll be in bed really early.’
‘Well, don’t forget to fully load up the range with logs if you want hot water. The immersion heater is on the blink.’
Alexandra tutted. ‘I knew I had to ask the electrician to do something else when he was here yesterday. Never mind, he’s coming again tomorrow. As long as it’s done before the guests arrive.’
