It was probably just as well that Luc’s car was an open-top model, thought Hattie, as they drove back from Reims. An ordinary car wouldn’t have contained the charged atmosphere. They kept sneaking looks at each other and then catching each other at it and smiling. Luc’s hand held hers nearly all the way, apart from when it was imperative that he changed gear. The feelings were new and wonderful and a thousand butterflies careered around Hattie’s stomach the whole way home. She thought she might just take flight herself.
It was a relief when the château came into view and Luc turned off the main road. They looked at each other. Hattie knew the minute they stopped the car, they would burst through the front doors and race up the stairs. As they drove at quite a pace up the drive, they passed the same crowd of women they’d seen earlier, laughing and chattering among themselves.
Luc slammed on the brakes and they both leapt out of the car, grinning at each other. The same intent in their minds. Luc took the stairs to the front door two at a time and then waited at the top to grab Hattie’s hand. They were two strides across the foyer when Solange came scurrying into view with an unfamiliar urgency.
‘Luc! Hattie! You’re just in time.’ She clapped her hands together in delight and Fliss appeared behind her.
Their hands fell away from each other, although, judging from the excited looks that Solange and Fliss were sharing, neither had noticed.
‘Come, see,’ said Solange, bustling forwards with uncharacteristic bossiness to grab Hattie’s arm. She led her down the hallway and along the corridor to the ballroom and threw open the doors.
The room shone. Everything seemed to have been dialled up several notches. The faded curtains had been replaced, the chaise had been reupholstered, the paintwork gleamed and light sparkled from the immaculate, fully lit chandeliers.
‘Oh my goodness,’ said Hattie drinking it all in, from the doorway. ‘It looks beautiful.’
Solange nodded and then lifted her chin. ‘I apologise, it should have been done before.’ Tears glistened in her eyes. ‘I… I lost my way since Georges died, thinking the house didn’t matter anymore, especially with Marthe gone, but Luc coming home and having you here has given me back my purpose. And it’s wonderful to be able to share the treasures of the house.’
Fliss put her arm around her shoulders. ‘That’s a lovely thing to say.’
Hattie stepped forward into the ballroom and gasped.
‘Solange!C’est magnifique!’ She hoped her pidgin French would convey her delight. ‘Did you do all this today?’ she asked, slightly overcome by the scale of what had been achieved as she wandered around the room, touching the plush new velvet upholstery. Even the gilt paint had been touched up to hide any knocks and bumps. Dozens of silk cushions had also appeared and there were filmy cream-coloured drapes at the windows. It was quite the transformation.
‘Non. We had a team of cleaners in yesterday and today. And I know someone in the village who does upholstery. She and her father also came for two days.’
‘It looks…’ Hattie’s face crinkled into a big smile. ‘Just amazing. I can’t believe you’ve done all this. Thank you.’
Solange shook her head. ‘You don’t need to thank me. It was long overdue.’
‘And it all looks fabulous,’ interjected Fliss as if sensing there was about to be a lot of recrimination and self-reproach. ‘I think you should have a rest this evening. Why don’t I cook dinner for everyone? I’m starting to feel a bit like a spare part.’
‘That sounds an excellent plan,’ said Luc.
‘I’m supposed to be cooking dinner for my children tonight,’ said Solange looking rather regretful.
Fliss took her arm and put her own through it. ‘Well, we’ve all got to eat tonight, why don’t we combine forces?’
Confusion crossed Solange’s face.
‘Cook together,’ said Fliss before lapsing into French.
Solange brightened and the two of them held a quick conversation before Fliss turned to Hattie. ‘All sorted. Potluck supper tonight and then I’m going to cook something special later in the week when we’ve been to the market.’ She rubbed her palms together. ‘That’s a much better plan because I can really go to town.’ She nudged Hattie. ‘And show off a bit.’
‘You’re so kind, Fliss,’ said Solange, looking at her grubby sleeves. She’d clearly played her part within the cleaning team. ‘I’ll come back later and bring theboudin blancand we will cook together.’ There was almost a skip in her step as she headed off to her own home.
‘Excellent,’ said Fliss, clearly pleased with herself.
‘I think I’ll just go upstairs and—’
‘Oh no you don’t, Hattie, you’ve been skiving today. I want to talk to you about my ideas. I’m really excited and I think you’re going to love them.’
‘But—’ Hattie cast a look at Luc.
‘What else are you going to do?’ asked Fliss. ‘The cleaning is all done. Don’t tell me you’ve got any plans.’
This time Hattie didn’t dare look at Luc as she said, inwardly cursing, ‘Of course I can.’
‘I think I’ll pop down to the vineyard to see Alphonse and persuade him to release a bottle of champagne for us this evening,’ said Luc.
