‘Meg,’ he said, ‘Louise tells me you really do want to leave to go to France.’ He paused. ‘Is there anything I can do to change your mind? You’ve done so much for Nightingale Woods – I really don’t want you to go.’
Meg was very touched and realised she felt tearful again, although she thought she’d wept all the tears in the world the previous night. ‘Justin is a brilliant chef. It’ll be fine. And Laura – I’m sure her desserts will be amazing.’
Andrew frowned. ‘Laura – hmm. Do you know how close she and Justin are?’
Meg took a breath. ‘They’re practically engaged. Laura told me.’
‘Ah,’ said Andrew after a few moments. ‘So perhaps it is best for everyone if you do go.’
‘I’m going for the sake of my career!’ Meg insisted. ‘No other reason.’
Andrew smiled and shook his head. ‘That may be why you’re going, of course, but I wonder if that’s the only reason that Justin was so keen for you to go to France.’
Meg longed to ask him what he meant but didn’t feel she knew him well enough.
It was extremely hard telling Susan, Cherry and the others that she was leaving Nightingale Woods. They’d been through so much together and were such a good team.
‘So that little madam is going to be in here making fancy desserts, is she?’ said Susan, her mouth in a hard line and her eyes narrowed. ‘And how will the guests feel about that, I’d like to know!’
‘They may like it a lot,’ said Meg, trying to placate her. ‘She’s professionally trained, so—’
‘Professionally trained she may be,’ said Susan, still bristling with indignation, ‘but she doesn’t know how to treat people, not like you do, Meggy.’
Susan didn’t often call Meg by her pet name and she realised Susan was really upset. ‘I’m so sorry, but I can’t stay. Laura would only have let me bake cakesand make scones and learning to cook in France will be very good experience.’
‘Then perhaps when you’ve done that, you can come back to Nightingale Woods!’ said Susan, cheered by this thought.
Meg smiled and shook her head. As long as Justin was there, she would never be able to come back to Nightingale Woods and the thought made her desperately sad.
Later, when Meg had escaped with a cup of tea to her favourite spot in the garden, Ambrosine found her. She was also holding a mug of something and sat down next to Meg.
‘So, darling, you’re leaving us, I gather,’ Ambrosine said.
Meg gave a long sigh. ‘I really don’t want to, but I don’t have any alternative. Justin is going to cook and Laura is going to do desserts. She’s professionally trained and they are practically engaged, and so there wouldn’t be room in the kitchen for both of us.’
‘Louise told me Laura wanted you to stay and make cakes.’
Meg made a dismissive noise. ‘That’s all I’m capable of, it seems.’
‘It’s possible that Laura doesn’t feel confident making them,’ Ambrosine suggested.
‘I still can’t stay! And working in a French restaurant will be amazingly good for my cooking.’ She paused as a flash of anxiety about what she was about to undertake hit her. ‘Although it will be very difficult.’
‘You’re very good at “difficult”, if I may say so,’ said Ambrosine. ‘But Nightingale Woods is going to miss you.’
‘Not nearly as much as I’m going to miss Nightingale Woods, Ambrosine! I’ve loved being here so much. And yes, some of it has been difficult, but so rewarding! It’s been a privilege to work in such a beautiful place, with such wonderful people around me.’ Meg gave Ambrosine a shy smile. ‘Like you.’
Ambrosine laughed. ‘Silly girl! And remember, what’sforyou won’t gobyyou, so cheer up!’
Meg managed a laugh in reply. ‘I’ll do my best.’
Later that day she rang Alexandra and told her about her rapid need to vacate Nightingale Woods.
Alexandra was reassuringly quick on the uptake and didn’t need details of Meg’s feelings.
‘Don’t worry. David is in London selling hisbrocanteto the English. I’ll get in touch and ask him to ring you. You can travel here with him. He’s got a big old Peugeot now and it’ll be fun.’ She paused. ‘It’s going to be so lovely to have you here. I can’t wait!’
Chapter Twenty-Six
