Also at Alexandra’s suggestion, Stéphie had put her father at the top of the table with Félicité on one side and Stéphie on the other. Henri was next to Stéphie. After that, Stéphie had lost interest rather and just focused on writing names on cards and finding every obscure piece of cutlery the credenza drawers contained. This included snail tongs with matching forks and a very decorative set of cutlery for hors d’oeuvres.
‘My goodness,’ said Antoine when he came into the dining room holding several bottles of wine. ‘We really are having a banquet!’
Alexandra and Stéphie looked up. ‘Indeed we are,’ said Alexandra, ‘although it’s just possible we won’t need every single knife, fork and spoon that are out.’
‘Alexandra said that it’s nice to get everything out sometimes,’ said Stéphie, just a bit defensive. ‘And they are so pretty! We can’t see them when they’re just in the cre – the cupboard.’
‘That’s very true. And seeing everything reminds me that we should invite my mother-in-law for a meal.’ Antoine didn’t look terribly pleased at the prospect. ‘Fortunately we have Alexandra to help us.’
Alexandra wasn’t absolutely sure if he was being sarcastic but decided probably not.
Félicité came over. ‘And what about my mother? Do you have to invite her for a meal too?’ She did not sound happy at the thought.
‘I think so, chérie,’ said Antoine. ‘But we don’t have to think about that now.’
Alexandra could see that Félicité was upset at the prospect. She knew some of this would be because of her period but she also had very valid reasons for not liking her mother much.
‘The trick,’ said Alexandra, ‘when there’s someone you don’t want to invite, is to invite lots of other people too, then they’re diluted and it’s better. Look, here’s Maxime. We could invite him when we invite Grand-mère?’
‘You are experienced in the art of entertaining?’ Antoine asked.
‘A bit, yes,’ said Alexandra firmly. She realised he found her confusing and hoped he realised she would do whatever was necessary for the children in her care.
Antoine nodded.
‘I’m going to see how David is getting on in the kitchen, and make a start on the crumble,’ she said briskly and left the room. ‘Then we must find Jack.’
‘I am ready, more or less,’ said David, wiping his brow with the back of his hand a little later. ‘You take the anchovy tart and I’ll take the stuffed tomatoes.’ He paused. ‘I did them because the tomatoes were amazing, like pumpkins! And not everyone likes anchovies.’
Alexandra laughed to herself as she took the tart. She’d known David would be excited about the produce. She was excited about it herself, but she didn’t love cooking in quite the same way David did, or her friend Meg, who was one of the girls she’d lived with in London. Food was Meg’s passion, and her other friend, Lizzie, was passionate about dressmaking – any kind of sewing really. What was her passion? Alexandra liked lots of things, antiques, living in France, and she had come to love her charges in a very short time. But her passion seemed to be her boss – a state of affairs that couldn’t go on.
She put the tart down on a mat, leaving space for the stuffed tomatoes.
‘My goodness! A veritable feast!’ said Jack, who had appeared from his room.
‘Oh my God,’ said David. ‘I didn’t know we were having snails! How terrifying!’
‘We’re not having snails!’ said Stéphie. ‘We just wanted to put out the tongs.’
‘Oh, that’s all right then.’ David looked exaggeratedly relieved to make Stéphie laugh, which she did.
‘Maxime, could you help me pour the wine?’ said Antoine. ‘Do sit down, everyone. I think we should eat this delicious repast without delay,’ he said. ‘Stéphie, have a tomato.’
Everyone followed his lead and soon everyone had food on their plates.
‘Bon appétit,’ said Antoine.
He had looked at Alexandra before he said it but she didn’t think she should take the role of hostess. It was one thing when they were eating in the kitchen, but this was more formal.
‘Well, isn’t all this delicious!’ said Jack after everyone had started eating.
‘And I thought Englishmen couldn’t cook!’ said Maxime teasingly.
‘I didn’t know men could cook,’ said Stéphie.
‘Well, they can,’ said Alexandra. ‘And David does it very well.’
‘Chérie!’ said Antoine to his youngest child. ‘Your papa can cook. I just don’t get the opportunity.’
