With a sigh, she told herself that this was what she’d chosen and dipped her sponge into the bucket of warm soapy water to wash one of the many panes of grimy glass in the first of the ballrooms’ twelve floor-to-ceiling windows. It was going to take her all day just to clean the windows. Yesterday she’d hauled all the rugs, along with a huge roll of carpet which seemed to be surplus to requirements, outside to try and beat them before attempting to go over them with an antique version of a hoover, which she wasn’t convinced had made any difference.
She’d hoped making a start on the windows would brighten up the room but now she wasn’t convinced. Instead it sharpened the focus on the faded upholstery and the shattered silk of the drapes around the windows. But she’d started now and she was determined to keep going.
‘What are you doing?’ asked a sharp voice, a little while later. Hattie jumped and almost toppled off the chair she was perched on. Yvette stood in the doorway with a sulky expression on her face, which was a shame because it marred her classically beautiful features. Dressed in a smart navy shift dress that finished just above the knee, showcasing spectacular legs, further enhanced by fuchsia pink suede heels, she looked as if she probably worked as some swish executive in the heart of Paris. She made a striking contrast to her mother, who lurked in the background just behind her in her usual loose-fitting black dress.
Hattie wondered if Yvette had ever cleaned a window in her life and how good the other woman’s English was and how well sarcasm would translate.
‘Cleaning windows, believe it or not.’
Yvette’s eyes sharpened. ‘Why?’
Hattie stared at her.
‘I heard that the caterer had double-booked.’
‘News travels fast,’ observed Hattie coolly.
‘It’s a small place.’ Yvette squinted up at Hattie and then slowly perused the long line of windows. ‘You have a lot to do. It’s going to take a long time.’ She tilted her head consideringly. ‘You know, it would be much better if you went to a hotel. Perhaps one in Reims. I could help you find one, you know. It would be much easier for you.’
‘It would,’ agreed Hattie. ‘But them’s the breaks.’
‘Pardon.’ Yvette frowned. ‘There are some beautiful hotels in Reims – or maybe one of the champagne houses. I could contact some of them for you. I would be happy to help.’
‘That’s very kind.’ Hattie dredged up a smile. This was a bit of an about-turn after the other evening. Why would this young woman be ‘happy to help’?
‘Excellent. How many people are coming to the wedding? I can start to make some calls right away. There’s very little time.’
‘Thank you but I have found an alternative caterer.’
‘You have! Who?’ Yvette didn’t sound very pleased.
‘I have someone coming from England who will be doing the catering.’
‘England but … there is a lot to do for one person.’
‘Oh, she’s top-notch,’ said Hattie with airy confidence and couldn’t resist adding, ‘She’s flying in by helicopter.’
‘Helicopter?’ Yvette’s brow furrowed in disbelief. ‘Where? There is nowhere.’
‘Luc’s going to mark out the paddock. It will land there.’
Yvette pursed her mouth, clearly not very happy, but Hattie couldn’t see how it affected her. With that she stalked off on her killer heels with staccato steps that would stab anything in her way and very nearly tripped over the roll of carpet that Hattie couldn’t decide what to do with.
Hattie turned back to her windows, feeling the ache across her shoulders. She’d been at this all morning and still was only a quarter of the way through. Just as she soaked the sponge, a shrill scream rent the air. She whirled round.
‘Did you see that?’ cried Yvette, holding her hands up in horror, her eyes darting around studying the floor.
‘See what?’
‘Une souris. A mouse. It ran right across my foot.’ She shook her shoe, giving Hattie an intense stare. ‘Mamanwas worried there was another mouses infestation. Like last summer.’
‘Mouse infestation.’
‘Yes. They were everywhere. You could even see them running up the walls.’
‘What, here in the château?’ Hattie glanced back at the building, unable to believe it. She’d not seen anything since she’d been here.
‘Oh, yes.Mamanhad a cat which helped to get rid of them but the cat died a couple of weeks ago, didn’t it,Maman?’
