‘Forgive my husband,’ said Nicolette, who was Philippe’s wife. ‘He is paying you a compliment but in a very clumsy way.’
The children, who were all teenagers, came up to Félicité, Henri and Stéphie, who were standing in a row not quite knowing what to do. A girl, about the same age as Félicité, said to Stéphie, ‘Would you like to come and see some kittens? They are in the barn. We can also play ping pong?’
‘What lovely children you have, Nicolette,’ said Alexandra as they moved indoors.
‘They like other children and Sandrine is very maternal. She will love having little Stéphanie to play with.’ She handed Alexandra a glass of champagne from a tray and took one herself. Then Nicolette moved to the window and Alexandra followed.
‘What a beautiful view!’ she said, and then realised it made her sound very English.
‘But the chateau is also in a beautiful place?’
‘Oh yes. I will be very sorry to leave it.’ Alexandra hadn’t intended to say anything remotely personal but possibly a few sips of champagne had loosened her inhibitions.
‘I am sorry too, if you will be leaving. I think Antoine’s children have been without a mother too long.’
‘Oh, but Lucinda has come back! She’s no longer in Argentina. She lives in town, with her mother.’
‘Maybe I haven’t remembered correctly but she is not the mother of the little one?’
‘No,’ said Alexandra. ‘Sadly not.’
‘And you can’t stay? As their nanny?’
Alexandra shook her head, suddenly feeling emotional. ‘No. I have relations in Switzerland. In the spring I must go and live with them, when the children are established in school, or have another nanny, or someone who can look after them when Antoine is away.’
‘They will miss you!’ said Nicolette.
‘How do you know?’ said Alexandra, smiling to cover the tears that threatened. ‘They may hate me!’
Nicolette shook her head. ‘They don’t hate you. Antoine told Philippe all about you. Come, let us find the children. It is time for lunch.’
They were all in the barn. Félicité was playing table tennis with a boy who seemed a bit older than she was. Henri was looking at an old tractor with another of the boys and Stéphie was with Sandrine, on her knees, surrounded by kittens. They all looked extremely happy.
Lunch was hugely enjoyable for Alexandra, possibly because she wasn’t responsible for any of it. A lovely young woman put dishes on the table, a man filled glasses, and she didn’t have to get up once.
‘This is delightful,’ she said to Nicolette when the opportunity came up. ‘Such good food and such well-behaved children. Yours are being so kind to ours.’ Alexandra didn’t notice her use of the possessive until it was too late. She did feel as if the children were hers, although it was a ridiculous thought.
‘Their school – I can see Philippe is boring Antoine with the philosophy – focuses a lot on the children being kind to each other. And what are good manners if not kindness?’
Alexandra could think of people she knew who used what they considered to be good manners as weapons, to make others feel inferior. ‘What indeed! So, are yours happy there?’
‘Very. It’s like a large family. Academic achievements are important but they are not the only thing. They do a lot of music and drama.’
‘Henri will like that,’ said Alexandra. ‘He’s very musical. But he will need someone to teach him the cello. He is really gifted.’
‘The school has specialist teachers who come in for things like that. Henri would be encouraged and supported.’
Alexandra fell silent as she realised that Lucinda would have to agree to her children going to this school, and she probably wouldn’t approve of it at all. And it might be very expensive, too. If it was small, it was bound to be.
‘Can I pass you something?’ asked Nicolette, indicating the tartes and gateaux that had been offered for dessert, possibly concerned by Alexandra’s sudden silence. ‘Or maybe more coffee?’
‘No, thank you. I’ve had what one of my schools taught me to call “an ample sufficiency”. English people don’t really consider enthusiasm for food to be polite.’
Nicolette laughed. ‘We must give you an opportunity to talk to my children about their school, when I’m not there. They will tell you the truth, possibly, because you are so much younger than their parents.’ She smiled. ‘Which is not to say that you are too young for Antoine. In many ways women are so much older than men, no?’
‘Antoine and I aren’t a couple,’ Alexandra said urgently. ‘Everyone makes a joke of it – I would do myself – but I am only the nanny.’
Nicolette seemed disappointed. ‘Oh. I thought there was a spark between you.’
