Alexandra smiled at them both and went to find her apron, glad that she’d bought something prettier to put over herself than the overall the previous chatelaine of the kitchen had worn.
‘Come and see the hens, Papa,’ said Stéphie. ‘Alexandra can pick them up!’
Antoine and his youngest daughter walked through the corridor to the courtyard while Alexandra focused on the kitchen.
She turned on the tap to get the washing up started at the same time as she got going on breakfast. As always there were plenty of eggs but there was also some leftover ratatouille and some local sausages. She put some duck fat in a pan and cut up some sausages. Soon she had a couple of things sizzling away.
‘Good Lord!’ said a carrying male voice. ‘The smells are from heaven!’
‘Or from Provence,’ said David, ‘whichever happens to be nearer. Good morning!’
Both David and Jack were dressed and well groomed and ready to be sociable.
Inevitably, Antoine and Stéphie chose this moment to come back into the kitchen.
Usually, Alexandra liked people and having a full kitchen didn’t put her off but just now she stifled a desire to scream. Just at that moment she wanted everyone to go away and leave her to cook and wash up. She was a nanny who cooked, nothing more. But there was no one else who could act as hostess so she had to make the introductions.
‘Ah, Jack, David, good morning! I hope you slept well. Let me introduce you to …’ She hesitated. She knew his name but at that moment she could only think of him as Antoine or Papa, neither of which would do.
Antoine got up. ‘I am Antoine, Comte de Belleville – these children’s father. Am I right in thinking you are here as tutors?’
‘That’s the idea,’ said Jack. ‘I’m Jack Andrews, maths and music. I’m properly qualified to teach maths but I’m also a professional musician.’
‘And I’m David Campbell: actor, antiques dealer, gourmand and gourmet, and most importantly friend of Alexandra’s. Shakespeare is my speciality, or at least, it’s why I’m here. We only arrived yesterday so no one has learnt anything yet.’
‘Except I can do a card trick,’ said Henri.
‘That was just a little ice-breaker,’ said Jack. ‘I do intend to teach you algebra.’
‘What’s algebra?’ asked Stéphie, intrigued by the word.
‘Difficult,’ said David. ‘Shakespeare is much more fun.’
‘Hey! Algebra can be fun too!’ said Jack. ‘But you may not need to learn it yet, Stéphie.’
‘How do you propose to teach Shakespeare?’ asked Antoine.
Alexandra withdrew to her stove. They could talk amongst themselves now. She could focus on getting people fed.
‘That was a stupendous breakfast,’ said David a little later. ‘I was expecting a bit of baguette and butter and maybe a croissant.’
‘We’d have to drive to get bread in the morning,’ said Alexandra, ‘and I thought you’d all be hungry.’ She meant she thought Antoine would be hungry, and how he felt was somehow very important to her.
‘Do you intend to start lessons immediately?’ she asked.
‘Do we have to?’ said Stéphie. ‘Papa has only just got back! We need to hear all about his adventures.’
‘Maybe we should have a day to get used to each other before we start lessons,’ said Jack. ‘David and I could go to the local town – Saint-Jean-du-Roc?’ Antoine nodded. ‘And possibly buy some things, to save Alexandra some work—’
‘It’s market day,’ said Alexandra. ‘I could give you a list.’
‘No one wants to come with us?’ asked David, looking round the kitchen. ‘I see that no one does.’ He smiled. ‘So, when we’ve done the washing up—’ ‘
‘No need!’ said Alexandra. ‘Really! I’ll be fine on my own.’
She and David knew each other very well and as their eyes locked she managed to convey to him how much she wanted everyone out of the way.
‘Children, we should assist Alexandra—’ said Antoine.
