Mme Dubois read the form, which caused her to raise her eyebrows a couple of times. ‘So, you are English?’
Alexandra nodded.
‘But you speak French?’
Alexandra felt she’d demonstrated that fairly well already, but she nodded.
‘You are a reasonably competent cook?’
Alexandra nodded. ‘I said – on my form.’
‘Mam’selle, you wrote that you were the head of a company, and I suspect this is not the case.’ She narrowed her eyes, the nearest thing to a smile that she could manage. ‘Possibly your French isn’t as good as you think.’
Alexandra murmured apologetically.
Her interlocutor continued, ‘And you can drive?’
Alexandra produced her English driving licence as proof of this, praying Mme Dubois wouldn’t look beyond the first page and discover her real age.
Far from it. Mme Dubois barely glanced at the licence before handing it back between the tips of her fingers. ‘That seems satisfactory,’ she said. ‘The position is only for a month. You knew this?’
‘I did, madame.’
‘Very well, mademoiselle. This position is for a nanny – the children’s permanent nanny is away visiting her mother who is sick. Do you have the relevant experience?’
Alexandra took an inward breath. The thought of her looking after children was a bit of a shock; she’d hardly ever met a child, let alone cared for one. On the other hand, she’d had plenty of nannies herself and knew a good one from a bad one. ‘Certainly, madame,’ she said.
She was ready to explain that she hadn’t written this on her form because she didn’t know the job required nannying skills, but Mme Dubois didn’t seem to care.
‘There are three children in the family. They are older. Will you be able to cope with this?’
Alexandra nodded, relief that her charge wasn’t a newborn baby making her positively enthusiastic. ‘Oh yes.’
‘And three children? You will manage?’
‘Definitely.’ This probably was a bit over-confident but it was only for a month, surely that couldn’t be too difficult? She could take them on outings to the tourist destinations of Paris. Donna would come to help – it would be fun.
Mme Dubois studied her for several unnerving seconds. ‘You understand that we require the position to be filled urgently, or we would not consider anyone like you. However, the Count has been informed of your background, and as it is only a very temporary arrangement, you may be suitable.’
‘Thank you,’ said Alexandra, duly humbled.
‘We will check your references, and if they are not satisfactory, you will be dismissed forthwith.’
Alexandra had given Donna’s husband Bob as one reference, and the female cousin with the grandest name that included a title as her other. She really hoped the cousin wouldn’t denounce her. ‘Of course,’ said Alexandra meekly.
‘You look very young for your age, mademoiselle.’
Mme Dubois’s gimlet stare drilled into Alexandra in such a haughty way, it made Alexandra find her backbone. When she had written down the wrong date of birth on her form she had anticipated this question. Although in general she knew she looked fairly mature for a twenty-year-old, it was possible she’d be challenged. She gave the woman a sweet, wrinkle-inducing smile. ‘I know. I have always considered myself to be extremely fortunate.’
This induced a rise in one perfectly plucked eyebrow. ‘Good.’ Mme Dubois opened a drawer and produced a fat envelope. ‘This is half the money you will be paid; you will get the remainder when you leave. And your train ticket.’
Alexandra’s hand had been outstretched to take the offered envelope. ‘Train ticket?’
‘Yes. The position is in Provence: you travel to Marseille. You seem surprised?’
‘Yes! I didn’t know – no one mentioned – I thought the job was in Paris.’
Mme Dubois looked at her as if this suggestion was odd. ‘But no, I thought this had been made clear when it was suggested you come for an interview.’
