Louise was very fed up about all this, obviously. ‘Does she try to boss Susan about?’
‘She did. Got short shrift, as you can imagine. Then, when she couldn’t get Susan to do what she wanted, she tried to get her sacked! I spoke to Andrew about it before Laura could say anything to him. I told him what a nightmare it was without Susan when he first went to France.’ She took a breath. ‘So how are you really, Meggy darling?’
‘Oh, I’m fine,’ said Meg. ‘I’m doing really well at the restaurant. Considering I’m English, the lowest of the low, and very young, everyone is extremely kind to me.’ She hurried on, before her mother could comment. ‘What are Laura’s puddings like?’
‘They’re fine except she’s soslow. She can’t keep the dessert trolley filled. I’ve had to do my family trifle recipe a few times.’
‘With no jelly and fresh raspberries?’ Meg loved this version of the traditional English pudding herself.
‘That’s the one. It’s so quick! I don’t even always use custard. I just slather whipped cream on to the sponges and mushed-up jam and fruit. The flaked almonds always make it look OK.’
‘I love that!’
‘But the worst thing is, Laura managed to persuade everyone it’s a bad idea to have the play, so it’s been cancelled.’
‘What? But who cancelled it? Russell or Laura?’
‘Laura gave us the impression it was her.’
Meg flinched. This really felt like a blow. ‘That is so sad. And think how much business it was generating! I can’t believe it was allowed to happen.’
‘I know. But Laura nagged everyone so much about it, it seemed easier to just give in.’ Louise sighed deeply. ‘And we are really quite busy without it since the review and the guide coming out, which was Laura’s argument.’
Just then, there was a knock on the door. It was Stéphie. ‘Lexi says, although it’s early, it’s not too early to have a glass of champagne. We’re having it in the garden.’
‘Oh, thank you, Stéphie,’ said Louise. ‘I think champagne is a brilliant idea. And it is nearly eleven o’clock, after all!’
They found Alexandra, Antoine and Andrew in the garden, sipping champagne and nibbling olives.
‘Well, Meg,’ said Andrew. ‘What are your plans for when you’ve finished your time at the restaurant?’
Meg hesitated.
‘There’d always be a place for you at Nightingale Woods,’ Andrew went on.
‘Yes,’ said Louise. ‘Guests are still asking for you, and Susan, Cherry and Ambrosine miss you terribly. Although, of course, Justin is a very good chef.’
‘I don’t really know,’ Meg began. She didn’t really have any plans. Work in the kitchen had been so demanding she just thought about getting to the end of each day without there being a disaster.
Antoine said, ‘I have to tell you here that my old friend Pierre, who took Meg on as a favour to me—’
‘So kind of him,’ Meg interrupted.
‘—is now thanking me from the bottom of his heart,’ Antoine went on. ‘She has made a great difference to his kitchen. I think he may be about to offer her a job.’
‘Goodness!’ said Meg. ‘It never occurred to me that would happen.’
‘How exciting!’ said Alexandra, clapping her hands in delight. ‘You could stay with us here – or have one of the gîtes when they’re no longer booked.’
‘Or I could find a little apartment in the town,’ said Meg. ‘I could have half an hour longer in bed in the morning.’
‘You’d settle in France?’ asked Louise, sounding surprised.
‘That would be all right, wouldn’t it?’ asked Meg.
She said this more to herself than to her mother.
‘Of course, darling! You must do whatever you need to do in your life.’ Louise smiled and squeezed Andrew’s hand. ‘I’ll have my wonderful husband by my side now.’
