Alexandra interrupted this oft-repeated assertion that Véronique was very happy in Alexandra’s room. ‘I’ve made your room very comfortable. Félicité? Come with me to show Véronique. Your mural is what is making the room so special.’
‘Really?’ Félicité obviously doubted this statement.
‘I think so,’ said Alexandra.
‘And so do I,’ David agreed. ‘Honestly, Véronique, you’re going to love what we’ve done with the room.’
‘Come along, everyone!’ said Alexandra briskly and set off, assuming people would follow. What she wasn’t expecting was that Antoine would come too. And as the party passed Stéphie’s door, she and the animals joined the procession.
‘Well!’ said Véronique after Alexandra had shown her into the room with a conjurer’s flourish.
‘Isn’t it amazing?’ said David. ‘Antoine, did you know your daughter had such artistic talent?’
‘No,’ said Antoine, impossible to read. ‘I didn’t.’
The jungle mural depicting vast trees in a mixture of several shades of green with vivid parrots and tropical flowers was very well done, but it did dominate the room, there was no denying. For a few moments Alexandra wondered if she would have to give in and let Véronique have her room, just to save arguments. But the room was larger than hers, with a beautiful view, and the bathroom was next door.
‘I don’t think I can sleep here,’ said Véronique. ‘That mural will give me nightmares.’
‘It wouldn’t give me nightmares!’ said Stéphie. ‘Look how pretty the dressing table is.’
‘The bathroom is next door,’ said David. ‘And you will have exclusive use of it. There’s another bathroom, further down the corridor, that Jack and I will use.’ He didn’t mention that this bathroom was small, draughty and quite a long way away, obviously designed for use by servants only.
Alexandra took a breath, wondering why she and David were bending over backwards to make Véronique comfortable when she was not remotely appreciative. But it was for Antoine: she wanted to make his life as easy as she possibly could.
‘I think you will be very comfortable here, Véronique,’ said Antoine. ‘And if your mother should change her mind and join us for Christmas, the room is easily big enough to share. We could find an extra bed.’
Alexandra caught the quick smile of apology he sent her and instantly forgave him everything.
‘There’s always room for one more in a chateau,’ said David after what seemed a rather long silence.
Everyone had set off back to the main part of the house when the front door opened. In came Jack and Penelope. They were laughing and Penelope’s chignon was beginning to come loose. They both looked young and silly and very, very happy.
‘What’s going on?’ said Antoine. ‘What have you two been getting up to?’
‘We’re engaged to be married!’ said Penelope.
‘She said yes,’ said Jack at the same time.
Just at that moment, they realised they were standing under a bunch of mistletoe and Jack gave Penelope a hearty kiss.
‘Grand-mère!’ said Stéphie. ‘I didn’t know you knew about kissing!’
‘Go into the salon, everyone, and I’ll call Henri,’ said Antoine firmly. ‘This situation requires champagne!’
Chapter Twenty-five
Alexandra had decided to refuse the glass of champagne that Jack was offering her until she spotted Véronique looking disapproving so she took it, although she knew it would make her feel tired. They were gathered in the salon and she was perched on a little settee a little way away from the others. She was plotting her escape.
‘The thing is’, said Jack, walking about in front of the fire, still bubbling with enthusiasm, ‘we need to have the wedding quite quickly, before my brother emigrates, so he and his family can come.’
‘We want to come too!’ said Stéphie. ‘So do the kittens. Milou doesn’t care. He’s a boy. They don’t care about weddings.’
‘You and Félicité will be my bridesmaids,’ said Penelope. ‘You will wear very pretty dresses and have flowers in your hair.’
‘I thought weddings, after your first, were usually simpler, more austere affairs,’ said Véronique, determined to suppress everyone’s joy.
‘Not in this case,’ said Penelope.
