Fran grinned. Stopped herself from making a joke about every inch being very important when she realised the strong likelihood of it coming out sounding inappropriate.
‘You’re sure your hand is OK?’ she said, confused by her need to keep their chance interaction going.
‘It’s fine, I promise.’ His gaze stayed fixed on her, the gentle crease deepening between his eyes. A beat of time passed in which neither of them spoke, and Fran was only vaguely aware of people passing them on the staircase. Then Johnny drew in a long breath. ‘Perhaps I should be double-checking you’re OK– after all, it wasn’t only the cat who ended up squashed. Any bruising? Cracked ribs?’
She grinned. ‘No.’
‘Well, that’s good.’
Fran expected Johnny to break away from the conversation, to continue on his trajectory up the staircase. Instead, he remained on the step, his uninjured hand bouncing gently on the banister.
Fran didn’t much want to move, either. It was as though they both had more to say but didn’t know what it was. In the end Johnny broke the silence.
‘Can I ask you something?’ he said.
‘Sure.’
‘Have you got any time off in the next couple of days?’
‘Why?’
‘Random thought, but the thing is, I want to do a bit of a road trip, visit a few of the chateaux in the area while I’m here. The rest of my group are happy lounging around by the pool. I don’t blame them, it’s just I wanted to see a bit of the heritage, the scenery. And I wondered if you’d like to …’ He shook his head. ‘Forget it. You’ve probably got a million things you’d rather be doing.’
‘I am quite busy,’ she said, genuinely surprised by his invitation, if it was an invitation – he hadn’t completed the sentence. ‘But I should have some free shifts coming up. Are you asking me if I’d like to come with you?’
‘I guess I am. After we bonded so well over the ladder incident, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather tour the area with.’
The smile was back, and Fran had to grin, too. ‘Well, that’s probably the weirdest qualifying factor for being invited on a trip I’ve ever heard. Which ones are you planning on seeing? I’d love to see the one Walt Disney visited. Supposedly he based his magical kingdom castle on it.’
‘I know the one you mean. It’s called Chateau d’Ussé, I think. Although they all look like Disney castles, if you ask me.’
‘I agree. But Chateau d’Ussé is meant to be utterly spectacular. I did ask Penny if she fancied a visit – she works here too, but she didn’t seem all that keen. More interested in Harry Potter than history, I think. And I’m not sure we have the same days off, anyway. I think I’m free tomorrow, once we’ve serviced the rooms – but I’d need to double-check.’
‘Tomorrow works for me.’
‘That’s great. I was planning to hire a taxi to get to a few chateaux, but that would have cost a fortune. This works out much better.’ As she said it, Fran realised how it sounded.
‘I can put on a beret and smoke a few Gauloises on the journey if you like?’
She grimaced. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. Sorry. Speaking without filtering first is one of my specialities.’
‘Being honest, you mean?’
Fran wasn’t sure they were exactly the same thing, but she nodded anyway. ‘I suppose so.’
With a promise to confirm timings once she’d spoken to Penny, Johnny continued upstairs, and Fran headed for the kitchens, suddenly keen to confide in her new friend.
Even though Fran wasn’t interested in betting, she still knew the odds for predicting the following day’s weather wouldn’t have been worth putting money on. It dawned hot and bright … again … the air almost brittle in the dry heat and working through their jobs that morning had furnished Penny with plenty of time to rib Fran about her upcoming trip with Johnny.
‘I don’t think I should go,’ Fran said for the millionth time, exasperated when Penny arched her eyebrows and pursed her lips.
‘Why on earth not? You keep telling me it’s just a road trip, a convenient way to go see one of the biggest chateaux in the region. That Johnny is just doing you a favour. So, what’s the problem?’
‘No, that’s all true. It’s just that …’
‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’ve got a bit of a thing for the guy.’
‘No. I haven’t.’ Fran pressed the back of her fingers against one of the cheeks she imagined had turned an unflattering shade of crimson.
