‘Hmm,’ said Fliss, wiping her hands on a tea towel.
‘He’s been trying to summon up the courage to invite you out for a date.’
‘He has?’ Fliss did seem faintly interested.
‘Yes, even suggested a double date with me and Hattie. We’re going to Marc’s, one of the village bars, tomorrow night. Of course, I didn’t want to upset his feelings and say that someone like you wouldn’t find him attractive.’
‘Why wouldn’t I?’ snapped Fliss.
Luc had no answer for this, so just raised his hands, palms up.
‘Maybe I will go with you.’ She shrugged. ‘Make him feel better.’
Luc nodded, feeling that his plan had backfired and all he’d done was confirm that Fliss wasn’t interested at all in Alphonse. Maybe, in this case, his friend was destined for unrequited love.
‘In the meantime, some of us are busy. I need to go and pick some herbs.’ As she left the kitchen by the patio doors, Solange walked in carrying two large platters which he immediately relieved her of. ‘Where did you find these?’ he asked. ‘I haven’t seen them since I was a kid.’
‘I saw Marthe this morning and she reminded me where to find some of the china we used to use when we were entertaining. These were on the top shelf at the back of the cupboard in the dining room. They will be perfect for both weddings.’ She paused and levelled a look at him.
‘Hattie is very nice. She suits you.’ Clearly she’d overheard his conversation with Fliss.
‘She is,’ agreed Luc, smiling to himself, deliberately not giving Solange the information she wanted.
‘You could do a lot worse.’ Solange studied him and he wanted to turn away from her motherly scrutiny.
‘I could,’ he agreed again, knowing she had something she wanted to say.
Solange huffed and began plucking at the leaves on a plant on the sill with a little more force than was needed. ‘Don’t get too tied up in the vineyard, Luc. I know you want to prove something to your father but there is more to life than making wine. Marthe will tell you that. After Henri died, she could have married again but instead she chose to dedicate her life to the vines until she finally relinquished control to your father. I know that she regrets it.’
‘Does she?’ Luc couldn’t believe that. ‘She’s never said.’
‘She’s proud of what she achieved and wants to set a good example. Don’t get me wrong, she still wants Brémont champagne to be made, but not at the expense of happiness. Contrary to what Yvette thinks, Marthe is very happy to have shed the burden of this place. It is a lot for one person to bear and she bore it for a very long time.’
Luc remembered past summers. Marthe up been up at dawn most days and out in the vineyard until dusk. Solange had been as much of a mother to him during those summer days.
‘Ah, Fliss, you found the basil,’ said Solange, as the other woman returned with a fistful of greenery.
‘That herb garden is heaven. I’m so jealous.’
As the little garden beyond the patio was Solange’s pride and joy, Fliss had said exactly the right thing.
Luc left them weighing up the benefits of basil over tarragon and popped into see Hattie before he went down to the vineyard.
She was tapping away at her laptop and he very nearly left her to it, but the curve of her neck under her high ponytail was too enticing.
‘I know you’re standing there,’ said Hattie without lifting her fingers from the keys or looking at him.
‘Just admiring the view,’ he said.
She laughed. ‘Are all Frenchmen this smooth?’
‘No, just me. I came to tell you that I sowed the seed with Fliss. About Alphonse.’ Well, he’d tried. He wasn’t sure that the ground was that fertile. ‘I’m pretty sure she’ll come with us to the bar in the village, once she knows. But it would be helpful if you came down to the cellar tomorrow at lunchtime and invited Alphonse.’
He perched on the little table next to her.
‘Okay,’ said Hattie. ‘I can do that. Tell him Fliss fancies him, which is sort of the truth. She does find him attractive.’ Hattie giggled. ‘More than you, apparently.’
‘More than me? What?’
