‘Will you be able to mend the ornament?’ asked Félicité.
Alexandra shook her head. ‘I’m sorry but it’s in far too many pieces. Was it precious?’
Félicité shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I think Grand-mère gave it to Papa one Christmas.’
Stéphie giggled.
Henri picked up the carafe and poured some wine into Alexandra’s glass ‘Here you are,’ he said, holding it out to his carer and protector. ‘It might cheer you up.’
Alexandra laughed. ‘Thank you, Henri! I’m sure that as your nanny I should refuse it, but that was a bit stressful, wasn’t it?’
Félicité was looking pale and anxious. Henri sat down next to her and Stéphie, most anxious of all, hugged her big sister’s arm.
‘I think we should ring Maxime,’ said Alexandra, having taken a sip of rosé. ‘He’ll know what to do.’
‘Why do we have to do anything?’ said Henri. ‘We don’t want to go with her. What else is there?’
‘The thing is …’ Alexandra began.
‘She might be able to make us go with her,’ said Félicité. ‘I don’t know. She is our mother.’
‘It would be much better if your father could tell us what to do,’ said Alexandra.
‘I wish he’d come home!’ Stéphie wailed. ‘We need him to look after us!’
‘We’ve got Alexandra,’ said Henri.
‘And Milou,’ said Alexandra. ‘Do you know? When your mother found me in the garden, he was with me and he growled! What about that!’
‘He never growls unless there’s another dog,’ said Stéphie, impressed.
‘I know!’ Alexandra felt her small lie was justified. He hadn’t growled properly, just grumbled a bit.
‘I want Alexandra and Papa!’ said Stéphie, her voice beginning to break.
‘Well, let’s ring Maxime and see if he can get your father to come home.’ She didn’t say that when their father arrived, she would probably have to leave. Stéphie might want them both, Alexandra and her papa, but she didn’t really need them.
‘Papa is always very difficult to get in touch with; his work takes him all over the place,’ said Félicité.
‘Maxime will sort it out,’ said Alexandra, sounding more confident than she felt.
Chapter Eight
Maxime was in his office when Alexandra called him. She had sent Henri and Stéphie away to see if there were any more eggs, promising them chocolate mousse if there were. Félicité was sitting on the sofa, looking pale and unhappy.
‘The children’s mother was here!’ said Alexandra, less calm now she felt she could be. ‘She wants to take them away to live with her. Only not Stéphanie. I didn’t realise she wasn’t actually related to the other two.’
‘Lucinda? Lucinda is here?’
‘She’s just arrived back. She’ll be staying with her mother, apparently. Where is the Count? Could he be asked to come home? And can I legally stop Lucinda taking Félicité and Henri?’
‘She can’t drag us out of here against our will,’ said Félicité.
‘Félicité says they don’t want to leave, but what’s the legal position?’ Alexandra asked.
‘I don’t know, but I can find out and I’ll cable Antoine and tell him to get home as soon as possible.’
‘Do you know when he might be here?’ asked Alexandra, hoping she didn’t sound pathetic. She was used to solving her own problems and needing help was disconcerting.
