‘Do you know one?’ asked Henri.
Soon Jack was shuffling cards and getting Stéphie to pick one and it wasn’t long before Henri knew the trick too. ‘Arithmetic is really helpful for card tricks,’ Jack said finally. ‘As well as a bit of magic.’ He took a card from behind Stéphie’s ear and caused a lot of giggling.
Alexandra couldn’t help noticing that while Henri and Stéphie were quickly relaxed with David and Jack, Félicité held back. Alexandra found herself understanding the older girl completely. She wasn’t interested in card tricks and didn’t want to be forced to learn anything against her will. And yet Alexandra knew if Félicité wasn’t taught at home she’d probably be sent away to school.
‘I do hope you two men are going to be good teachers,’ said Alexandra. ‘So far I’ve had the children’s grandmother wanting to move in to look after them, probably so they learn proper manners, and their mother wanting to take them away and possibly send them to boarding school in England. But if you two can teach them something maybe everyone can stay here.’ She smiled at the group. She was partly saying this to gently remind Félicité what her options were. ‘I’d better go in and do something about dinner,’ she said.
‘I’ll come and give you a hand,’ said Félicité.
Alexandra didn’t do more than smile her thanks but inside she was amazed. It was the first time Félicité had volunteered to help, even if it was to distance herself from her new tutors.
‘And the market is tomorrow?’ said Jack at dinner, a few hours later.
‘Yes,’ said Alexandra for at least the third time, ‘we’ll go in my car – the estate’s car – as usual. You’ll both love it, I’m sure.’
‘What, the car? Or the market?’ asked Jack.
‘I am absurdly excited at the prospect of the market,’ said David and then yawned. ‘Now, if I can remember how to get there, I think I’ll take myself off to my palatial quarters.’
‘I’ll come too,’ said Jack. ‘Delightful as this is, enjoying this charming company and eating such delicious food, it’s been a long day.’
The moment the men had left, Alexandra said, ‘Now, Stéphie, I must get you off to bed too. You must promise not to tell your grandmother I let you stay up so late.’
‘It’s even past my bedtime!’ said Félicité, helping her sister with the heavy chair.
‘And don’t you dare confess that to Grand-mère!’ said Alexandra. ‘We’ll never hear the end of it!’
By the time the hens were shut in, Milou had had a last prowl around and everyone except Alexandra was in bed, she surveyed the kitchen. It was where they’d enjoyed a very jolly meal but now it looked a mess. David and Jack had bought wine on the ferry so there were empty bottles as well as numerous glasses and far too many dirty plates. Alexandra had been distracted by the company and the chat and the range had gone out. There would be no hot water until it was lit again. She sighed and decided to leave it. The mess would all still be there in the morning. She didn’t need to worry about it now. All she could think about was her own bed and sleep. But she was content as she went up the stairs; David and Jack were going to work out brilliantly.
Chapter Nine
Alexandra was in a very deep sleep when she was awoken by Milou barking. It wasn’t the full-throated deep bark he used for intruders, but it was still a noise. He must have heard something and gone down to investigate. Alexandra thought she should do the same. It was probably David or Jack wanting something from this end of the chateau.
Knowing Milou was down there already gave her courage but although she wasn’t a nervous person and was accustomed to being in a large house on her own, she was trepidatious. She pulled on a light dressing gown but didn’t put on slippers which clacked on the stairs. She wanted to be silent.
She was aware that Milou’s noises had changed to a strange whimper she hadn’t heard before and when she reached the hall she saw he was on his back legs, his front paws on the shoulders of a man. She could hardly see him because the dog was in the way but she knew it was Antoine.
He was talking to Milou in a low voice, in French; she couldn’t quite follow what he was saying but it sounded very fond.
At last Milou jumped down and then saw Alexandra and came up and barged into her with his shoulder, in case she was feeling left out. The Comte de Belleville looked up. ‘Ah, Alexandra, is it not?’ he said in English.
Alexandra thought her name had never sounded so wonderful. She cleared her throat. ‘Yes. I heard noises and thought I should investigate.’ She spoke in English too. Her French was good but not perfect and she didn’t want to make a mistake.
‘That’s very brave of you.’ Antoine looked at her in silence for a few moments.
Alexandra felt very conscious of her long cotton nightie – she’d bought it from the brocante stall at the market in Saint-Jean-du-Roc together with the simple cotton wrap she wore over it. Her hair was down over her shoulders, in need of a trim. She wished she’d had warning of his appearance; she’d have at least got dressed.
‘I knew Milou would protect me if need be. Can I get you something? Have you been travelling for hours?’
‘Yes, and yes. What is there to eat?’
Alexandra remembered that the kitchen was in a state but she also remembered she had made onion soup the day before. ‘I have some soup. Why don’t you go into the salon? I’ll bring it to you.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Antoine. ‘We’ll go into the kitchen. Will the stove be in? I’m cold.’
He’d set off down the corridor before she could stop him. He halted at the door of the kitchen having switched on the light. The single bulb hanging from the middle of the ceiling made the kitchen look more than just the site of a drunken party, it looked spooky, like a crime scene in a film. Alexandra was mortified. Antoine was looking at the table crowded with glasses and bottles, the draining board piled with dirty plates, and the floor, which had piled-up saucepans on it.
‘What on earth’s been going on in here?’ he asked. ‘In case it isn’t what it seems?’
