Alexandra opened her mouth to say she was only there for a few more weeks but closed it again. Grand-mère might say something useful.
‘I know you’re not here permanently but the education of my grandchildren has been neglected too long already.’ She paused. ‘I have decided to move in here and take on the task.’
There was a chorus of horrified gasps from the children. Alexandra glanced at them and saw real anxiety.
‘But, Grand-mère,’ said Stéphie, ‘you hate it when we visit! You wouldn’t like staying with us!’
The two older women exchanged glances. Grand-mère’s friend raised an eyebrow, possibly acknowledging that Stéphie had a point.
‘Stéphanie is correct,’ said Grand-mère, ‘but I have many beautiful, fragile things in my house. Here you live …’ She hesitated, picking her words. ‘… in a very informal way.’
‘We do live informally,’ said Alexandra. ‘As befits a household of young people. I think you might not be comfortable here.’
‘We wouldn’t be comfortable,’ said Henri.
‘Henri,’ said his grandmother, ‘you’re forgetting yourself. For the education of my grandchildren, I am willing to make sacrifices. I will personally make sure my grandchildren do not grow up as savages.’ She gave Alexandra a very formal smile, as unlike an expression of pleasure as a growl. ‘So, my dear, it will not be necessary for you to continue here. I am taking over the household. You can go home.’
Stéphie gasped in horror. Félicité and Henri looked at each other in panic. ‘No!’ said Félicité. ‘I mean, Grand-mère, it is very kind of you, but really – we’re fine! We don’t need you to sacrifice yourself.’
‘I will be the judge of that, petite,’ said Grand-mère more kindly.
‘But you don’t like Milou!’ said Henri.
Grand-mère nodded. ‘Milou will live in his kennel outside.’
‘But he hates it outside!’ Henri protested.
‘He’ll howl!’ Stéphie added.
‘Then he will be put somewhere so we won’t hear him howl,’ Grand-mère went on relentlessly.
‘But why?’ wailed Stéphie, obviously upset.
‘Because, ma petite, you are growing up with no education!’
For the first time Grand-mère’s friend nodded in agreement but still didn’t speak.
‘But that’s not true!’ the little girl went on. ‘Alexandra is teaching me to read!’
Both women looked at Alexandra with interest. ‘Oh?’ Then they turned back to Stéphie. ‘Can you show us?’
‘I don’t think Stéphie would like—’ Alexandra broke in, unable to bear the thought of the little girl being tested in this public way. But before she could express her objection Stéphie got up eagerly.
‘Of course!’ she said. ‘I’ll go and get Milly-Molly-Mandy!’
Although the staircase was made of stone, Stéphie’s sandals could be heard slapping against the steps as she flew to fetch the book.
‘It’s kind of you to help the little one with her reading,’ said Grand-mère with surprising warmth. ‘But what can you do for Félicité and Henri? They will be obliged to take exams at some time. They may wish to go to university. Without my help they’ll know nothing of the classics.’
Swallowing her surprise that this conventional woman should be thinking about university for her grandchildren, Alexandra said, ‘I could possibly arrange for a Shakespearean actor to come and teach them. He’s an excellent teacher.’ She was confident about this; David had taught her all about antiques as well as teaching her to drive. ‘I feel it’s better to study with someone who can make the language really come to life.’
‘That would be good!’ said Félicité quickly, enthusiasm almost disguising her anxiety.
The two women had a quick conversation in French that was too fast and quiet for Alexandra, who was sitting across the large salon, to understand.
After they had stopped, no one spoke. Alexandra couldn’t tell if Félicité had heard what had been said or not. But her knee was bouncing up and down and she was pulling at her fingers in a worried way. Henri was staring at the floor.
At last Stéphie appeared with Milly-Molly-Mandy and Alice, the mended horse.
