There had been a lot of shopping, and Henri’s music group was now meeting twice a week practising carols. Jack and Stéphie had started making characters to supplement the santons, the traditional clay crib figures that had been found in the attic. There weren’t nearly enough animals, in Stéphie’s opinion. They’d made a workshop in one of the old stables, out of earshot of the telephone, and so had missed Antoine’s calls. Félicité was painting a background scene with palm trees, shepherds and sheep on the hills and a heavenly host with real gold paint.
‘Does Véronique have to come?’ said Stéphie. ‘I hate the way she hugs me all the time.’
Alexandra and David exchanged glances. ‘I know!’ said David, who had completely taken over Christmas catering plans. ‘Why don’t we invite lots of people to come for Christmas? Could you come, Maxime?’
‘For Christmas Day? Yes! Christmas Eve is the important day in France,’ he said presumably for Alexandra’s benefit, who already knew this.
‘Excellent!’ said David. ‘We are having an English Christmas.’
‘Penelope is really looking forward to it,’ said Jack. ‘We all are,’ he added awkwardly. ‘But can we just invite everyone here instead of going to Penelope’s house? We just work here. We don’t own the place,’ he went on.
‘I think it’s perfectly permissible for you to invite people for Christmas,’ said Maxime, after a quick glance at David. ‘You will be doing the work and I’m certain Antoine won’t grudge extra money spent on food and wine at this time of year. As his lawyer, I give permission on his behalf!’
‘Oh, thank you, Maxime!’ said Alexandra, putting an arm round his waist and giving him a little hug. ‘If we choose who we invite we won’t feel as if we’re being invaded by Véronique. I don’t think having her in charge would be much fun.’
‘She’d want us to wear ghastly frilly dresses,’ said Félicité. ‘Like Grand-mère, although worse.’
‘Have you got dresses like that in your wardrobe?’ asked Alexandra, suddenly thinking she should know the answer. It hadn’t occurred to her to go through her charges’ wardrobes. She washed the clothes they wore and put them on their beds when they were dry.
Félicité nodded. ‘I like the colour of mine, but it’s very babyish.’
‘If you can still fit into it, we could adapt it. Otherwise, we’ll get rid of it,’ said Alexandra. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and began to plait it. ‘We’re going to make Christmas really special!’
‘Bravo!’ said Maxime, raising his glass in a toast.
‘Come on, let’s eat,’ said David. ‘Félicité? Find a knife and fork for Maxime, there’s a dear.’
Alexandra was doing the washing up and Félicité, who had become far more amenable lately, was drying, when Alexandra said, ‘Where shall I put her?’
David, who was at the table shelling walnuts for a cake he planned to make, said, ‘Well, you don’t want to end up giving her your bedroom again.’
‘You mean Véronique?’ said Félicité. ‘Isn’t there a room near where you and Jack are sleeping?’
‘There is, but it’s a bit … well, put it like this: it needs work,’ said David.
‘A lot of work?’ asked Alexandra.
‘Not sure,’ which indicated to Alexandra that he was sure, and it was in a bit of a state.
‘Let’s look at it tomorrow,’ said Alexandra and reached for the last dirty saucepan. ‘We can see what needs to be done then.’
Félicité came with Alexandra to inspect the walls of Véronique’s potential bedroom the following morning.
‘It’s a pretty room with lovely views,’ said Alexandra. ‘And it’s near a bathroom. We could ask David to share the bathroom with Jack at the end of the passage.’
‘But it has a large damp stain on the wall,’ said Félicité.
‘Yes.’
Alexandra was just considering which was less work: repainting the wall, or giving up her room to Véronique, when Félicité said, ‘I could paint a mural.’ In spite of her casual tone, Alexandra could tell she wanted to do it and was nervous in case her idea was rejected. ‘I’ve been wondering about doing one in my bedroom. I’ve enjoyed doing little ones for the doll’s house and the crib, and have been thinking about doing a much bigger one.’
‘What about paint? Where would you get it?’
‘I’d use house paint, I think,’ said Félicité. ‘I’d need some small brushes for the detail. Do you think it’s a good idea, then?’
‘Excellent!’ said Alexandra. ‘Apart from looking really good, the smell of paint would disguise the smell of damp!’
Félicité laughed. ‘You really don’t like Véronique, do you?’
