‘Really! Antoine asked me if I wanted time off. In fact he tried to insist I had it, but I didn’t want to go anywhere.’ She paused. ‘Although I’ll have to go when the children go to school, obviously.’
‘Has it been decided when that should be?’
‘I’m not sure. I think money is involved. Lucinda is prepared to pay for the older two to go to boarding school in England, but Antoine wants the three of them to stay together here in France. And if that happens, then he’ll have to pay.’
‘It really would make life easier if you and Antoine got married!’ David was teasing and Alexandra didn’t take offence.
‘I know!’ said Alexandra. ‘But Antoine is never going to ask me, is he?’
David nodded. ‘Unlikely. Pity, really. Now, you must promise me you’ll fry the leftover Christmas pudding in butter tomorrow?’
‘All right.’
‘And you’ll be OK doing all the meals without me?’
Alexandra smiled. ‘I managed when I first arrived; now I’ve got all these leftovers: turkey, ham, pâté, cheese, all sorts of delicious things. We won’t starve even if I don’t cook a thing!’
‘I’m still annoyed I couldn’t get us any Stilton. The French are very narrow-minded when it comes to cheese.’
Alexandra giggled. ‘I know! They resolutely stick to their own hundreds of kinds and never open their minds to anything different.’
‘It’s the same with the bread,’ said David. ‘They insist on their long pointy loaves, or round crusty ones, and seem to ignore proper square white slices!’
‘Which are what you want for real turkey sandwiches,’ said Alexandra.
‘It certainly saves all that slicing!’ Then David stopped laughing, obviously still concerned. ‘You really will be all right?’
‘Of course! I’m not a bad cook even if I’m not nearly as good as you are and my speciality is meals made from leftovers.’
‘You talk a good game, Lexi,’ said David. ‘But I’m still worried.’
At that moment, Antoine came in with a tray full of glasses. ‘What are you worried about, David?’
‘He’s worried about me doing the cooking again. Quite unnecessarily. I cook perfectly well.’
‘I will be cooking while you are away, David,’ said Antoine, suddenly every inch the Comte. ‘Alexandra can’t have the time off she is entitled to, but at least I can take over her duties.’
Alexandra looked at him, open-mouthed. He put down his tray and then closed her mouth by lifting her chin with his finger. ‘Don’t be so astonished. I’m a very good cook.’
‘I’m sure—’ Alexandra began.
‘In France, we doubt that the English can cook,’ Antoine went on. ‘It seems you doubt that Frenchmen can.’
Alexandra had had time to recover her aplomb. ‘I’ve just had no evidence of it so far,’ she said.
Antoine’s eyes narrowed. ‘You have a way of being insolent without being rude. Is it an English thing? Or one of your special skills, Alexandra?’
‘Oh, it’s special to her, believe me,’ said David.
Aware suddenly of how intently Antoine was looking at her, Alexandra took the opportunity to fetch another trayful of dirty dishes.
Chapter Twenty-eight
David left the chateau very early on Boxing Day. Alexandra was awake so got up to say goodbye. He hugged her hard and told her to take care of herself. Surprisingly, she felt a little tearful as she returned his hug. They’d been in a happy bubble, cooking together, looking after Félicité, Henri and Stéphie, enjoying living in France. He promised to be back for Twelfth Night, but him going home for a break reminded Alexandra that her time here might be nearly at an end. If her charges went away to school in the New Year, she would have to go and live in Switzerland.
By the time Véronique came downstairs the kitchen was spotless. She refused breakfast beyond a bowl of coffee, which she drank standing up. Antoine was already in the hall, waiting to drive her to the station. Alexandra said her goodbyes in the kitchen. She and Véronique were very polite and formal with each other.
An hour or so later, the household was sitting round the kitchen range, feeling a little flat. Even the kittens had settled on Milou, who was stretched out in front of the fire. No one had eaten much breakfast and Alexandra was trying to think of something to do to restore a bit of Christmas spirit when Antoine strode in having returned from the station.
