‘Cheese, please,’ said Antoine. ‘I’ll open another bottle of wine. However, the children may prefer something sweet now.’
‘David makes wonderful desserts,’ said Alexandra.
‘I’ll help,’ said Félicité unexpectedly.
‘I found the grape scissors,’ said Stéphie, pleased with herself. ‘We have grapes with cheese. And usually, they’re pudding.’ She frowned. ‘Grand-mère doesn’t approve of pudding. She says it makes people fat.’
‘My grandmother doesn’t think people should be fat,’ said Félicité as they carried dirty dishes through to the kitchen.
‘Are you feeling OK?’ asked Alexandra. ‘Do you need another painkiller?’
‘No, thank you. I feel better now.’ She gave a little smile. ‘Stéphie’s right. You’re quite a good nanny.’
They put the cheese on the table at the same time as the two puddings. There was an apple crumble and chocolate mousse. Stéphie thought she was in heaven. The adults drank cognac and became talkative. Stéphie, unnoticed, ate quite a lot of the mousse until she began to yawn.
‘I think it’s bedtime,’ said Alexandra, looking at Antoine. When the children’s father was present, was it still her job to declare an end to the evening?
‘Oh yes. Stéphie?’ said Antoine, who’d got into a discussion with David and Maxime about truffles.
‘Alexandra will put me to bed and stay with me until I’m asleep,’ said Stéphie.
‘I’ll come up too,’ said Félicité.
Henri, aware that if he stayed he’d be the only young person, got up as well.
‘I’ll come and kiss you all goodnight,’ said Antoine, smiling proudly at his family.
Alexandra heard him do that shortly after she had retired to her bedroom. It made her smile. Stéphie would sense his presence even though she was probably fast asleep by now.
Chapter Eleven
Some days later, at lunchtime, Alexandra was in the kitchen stirring the soup that David had started making that morning and had set on the wood range to cook. Alexandra had left the library, now a schoolroom, where she had been helping David with his Shakespeare lesson. It had involved an awful lot of laughing – not something Alexandra had previously associated with Shakespeare – and people taking parts and reading aloud. Everyone had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Jack had joined them briefly and then carried Henri away for a music lesson. The chateau was now a very different place from how it had been when Alexandra had first arrived.
Antoine came in as Alexandra was putting baguettes into a basket and arranging cheese on to a plate.
‘Well, that’s that done!’ said Antoine. ‘I’ve invited my mother-in-law to lunch.’ He paused. ‘And I had to invite my ex-wife as well – they were together at the time. I also invited Hortense, my mother-in-law’s friend.’ He paused. ‘Will David cook, do you think?’
Alexandra nodded. ‘Or I will.’ She was a bit offended by the assumption that only David could cook. Although she’d find cooking for those particular people single-handed a bit daunting. Everyone would watch her, possibly wanting her to fail. But she had been employed partly for her cooking skills. ‘Should you invite Maxime, too?’
‘If you’d like me to.’ He raised a Gallic eyebrow at her.
She ignored the eyebrow, knowing it meant he thought she was interested in Maxime beyond friendship. Although perhaps she should develop feelings for Maxime – he was very good-looking after all. ‘He’s extremely helpful and charming.’
‘You’re right. Maxime is a good friend and he may flatter Lucinda out of her pouting.’ He was thoughtful for a few seconds while Alexandra continued with the lunch preparations. ‘Her ego is bruised and it makes her irritable.’
‘When have you invited everyone for? I do hope it’s not today.’
‘Of course it’s not today!’ said Antoine, outraged at the suggestion that he might do such a thing. ‘It’s tomorrow.’
Alexandra made a noise, an exclamation that meant tomorrow was hardly better than today, and that she was a bit put out about it.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Antoine apologetically. ‘When we got into days that were convenient, tomorrow was the only one possible.’
‘I’m sure it’s not my place to comment on your social calendar,’ said Alexandra, her chin lifted.
Antoine seemed to find her indignation amusing. ‘I have infinite belief in your ability to cope with any emergency,’ he said. ‘Besides, you are English: no one will expect anything wonderful.’
Alexandra pursed her lips, trying not to join in his merriment. She was part flattered, part insulted, but mostly she wanted to laugh with him.
