‘Would you be able to tell me how far away this is?’ Abi asked, handing Madame Bisset the address of Hugo’s grandparents when the woman returned to clear the dishes. She was keener than ever to see Hugo now and was even contemplating going there and then, despite the lateness of the hour.
‘Ah yes. It ees a good way but not so far that you cannot walk it,’ the woman told her. ‘First theeng in the morning I will draw you a leetle map, oui?’
Abi swallowed her disappointment and nodded before climbing the stairs to her room. It didn’t take long to undress and get into bed where she instantly fell into a deep sleep and didn’t stir until the morning.
Following a hearty breakfast, which Abi was unable to eat much of, she set off bright and early. She felt sick and poorly but there was a swing in her step at the thought of seeing Hugo again. From the map that her landlady had drawn for her she could see that the chateau was beyond the town and set on a hill. She passed the church and the town hall, peeping into the shop windows set in between them, and after a time the houses began to be more spaced apart and she began to climb through a wooded area. Eventually the noises of the town faded away and all she could hear was birdsong. She had felt much better for the first part of her journey, but now her steps slowed as the dreaded feeling of nausea came over her again and she stopped to sit on the grass at the side of the track until it had subsided a little. When she set off again the hill became steeper and glancing at the map again, she realised that she must be very close now.
Soon she rounded a bend in the lane and there were the gates to the chateau that Madame Bisset had described to her. They were very tall and grand and made of intricately shaped wrought iron but they opened easily enough. Once through, she shut them securely behind her and began to follow the gravelled drive that she assumed must lead to the chateau. When it came into view it quite took her breath away and she could understand why Jasper had enjoyed holidaying there so much. With its turreted roof and nestled into the hillside against a backdrop of trees, it reminded her of one of the small fairy-tale castles she had seen in the story books she had loved as a child.
Her heart began to beat faster as she realised that she might be only minutes away from seeing Hugo again and the thought made her quicken her steps.
Chapter Thirty-Two
‘What do you mean she’s gone to France? Whatever for?’ Imogen said when Emmy returned all of a fluster from the club.
‘Just what I say!’ Clearly agitated, Emmy began to pace the floor. She’d gone to see her sister on a whim as she was coming home from collecting a gown for her aunt from the dressmakers, only to be told by Lilly that Abi had gone home to visit her mother for a few days. She would have been quite happy with that but as she had left, she had met Maria in the alley leading to the house and she had informed her of where Abi had really gone. And now Emmy was seriously concerned. Admittedly she and Abi had travelled to France many times over the years when they’d holidayed with their parents, but neither of them had ever undertaken such a journey alone.
‘She’s gone to find Hugo. He’s there staying with his grandparents apparently and Abi clearly couldn’t stand being apart from him any longer.’
‘How romantic.’ Despite her harsh ways, Imogen was a great romantic at heart, especially when she thought back to how her Marcel had swept her off her feet.
Emmy glared at her. ‘But she’s only seventeen,’ she pointed out distractedly. ‘Don’t you think that’s rather young to be travelling all that way on her own? Why – anything could happen to her and how would we know?’
Imogen glared right back and flapped her hand. ‘Of course nothing will happen to her. The girl’s got her head screwed on, much as I had at her age,’ she added with a nod of her head.
‘Hm, well I’m not so sure,’ Emmy fretted. ‘And Maria seemed concerned too.’
Imogen snorted impatiently as she waved her hand towards the clothes Emmy had laid out for her. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, you must want something to worry about. Now help me get dressed and do what I pay you for.’
Thoroughly chastened Emmy did as she was told.
When Abi climbed the marble steps up to the broad oak door that was the entrance to the chateau, her heart was in her mouth. Lifting the heavy black knocker, she rapped on the door and soon it was opened by a pretty fair-haired maid in a starched mop cap trimmed with broderie anglaise and a matching pinafore over a plain navy dress.
‘Puis-je vous aider?’ the girl asked and Abi gulped. She had never been much good at French at school but she remembered just about enough to know that the maid was asking how she might help her.
‘Yes, I—Puis-je vous aider.?.?. Hugo?’ she stuttered, hoping the girl would understand it was him she wanted to see.
‘Ah.’ The girl smiled. ‘MaîtreHugo.’ She turned and disappeared inside and seconds later an older woman appeared dressed in a severe grey gown with a chatelaine about her waist who looked at her enquiringly. This, Abi thought, must be the housekeeper.
‘I wish to see Mr Hugo,’ Abi said again and was relieved when the woman nodded.
‘Unfortunately, you are too late,’ she said with a heavy French accent. ‘He already leave with heesgrand-pèrefor work.’ She inclined her head and made to shut the door but Abi stuck her hand out desperately.
‘Thenpleasecould you tell me when he will be back?’
The woman tutted with annoyance. ‘Theese evening. You wish to leave a message?’
‘No .?.?. no, thank you. I’ll come back later,’ Abi told her as disappointment ripped through her, and she turned and made her way back along the drive. There was no point in causing a scene. However, by the time the town came into sight again, Abi’s spirits had lifted considerably. The nausea had worn off and it wasn’t so very much longer to wait after all. It wasn’t as if Hugo could have known she was coming. And so she browsed the shops for a while to pass the time before strolling down to the harbour to look at the boats. It really was very busy and she was fascinated as she watched the sailors loading the cargoes.
Shortly before lunchtime she returned to Madame Bisset’s and asked if she might stay for another night and the woman was only too happy to oblige her.
‘But ’ave you eaten?’ she asked and Abi shook her head. ‘Then you should .?.?. for the sake of the child.’
Stunned, Abi stared at her as her hand instinctively dropped to her stomach. ‘But how did you—’
The woman sighed at her shocked expression as she tapped the side of her nose. ‘I can spot woman with child twenty yards away,’ she answered solemnly, staring pointedly at Abi’s bare fingers. ‘In the mornings they are oh-so pale and seeckly but by midday they ’ave a glow about them. But come, I have roasted chicken and vegetables.’
And so Abi shared a meal with the woman and as they were eating Madame Bissett asked, ‘You ask me the way to the Medvilles’ chateau. Do you know them?’
