‘What are we waiting for?’ asked Matt getting to his feet, throwing a couple of twenty-euro notes on the table, which was more than enough to cover their coffees and food, before taking Darcie by the hand and off in the direction of their car.
‘How quickly can you get back to the château?’ asked Darcie, fastening her seat belt.
‘Legally, twenty minutes.’
‘Illegally?’
‘Fifteen. Hold on!’ He put the car into gear and broke every speed limit possible getting back to Ploërmel.
Chapter 28
Darcie
Waking up the next morning, not only in a strange bed, but also not on her own was something of a novelty for Darcie. She hadn’t spent the night with someone since her last relationship ended and that was three years ago. Since then she’d had a very brief fling with some guy she knew from the pub in Petworth but that was over a year ago. She hadn’t pegged herself as someone who could do relationships. Usually, once boyfriends realised she was committed to looking after Lena and putting her first and foremost, above everything else, their interest had waned.
Now, here she was, lying next to Matt, and for some reason, she didn’t want it to end. A bizarre train of thought seeing as they had only just begun and in just over a week, she’d being going back to England and it would all be over. She was used to living for the moment where her personal life was concerned; she hoped Matt realised this.
He stirred in his sleep and pulled Darcie closer to him, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
Darcie snuggled up, the hairs on his chest tickling the side of her face, but she didn’t mind. He smelt warm and the faint tones of his aftershave lingered on his skin.
He stirred again and rolled over to face her, his eyes opening. He smiled and kissed her.
‘Morning,’ he said. ‘Just making sure I wasn’t dreaming.’
‘Definitely didn’t dream yesterday afternoon or last night,’ said Darcie, returning the smile.
‘I think we need to cement it in our memories again,’ said Matt.
Darcie wasn’t going to argue with that idea.
Afterwards, they’d tested out the shower and, yes, it was big enough for two people, if a little snug.
Yvette greeted them when they finally went down for breakfast. ‘I wasn’t sure if you two were going to make it.’ She gave a raise of her eyebrows and Darcie felt her cheeks burn red with embarrassment, which seemed to amuse Yvette no end. ‘You will need a big breakfast now to regain your strength. Eat up!’
‘She’s terrible,’ Darcie said with a laugh after Yvette had left the room.
‘She does have a point though,’ said Matt. ‘I’m famished.’ His phone began to ring before he had time to even pour a coffee. Matt answered the call. He looked up at Darcie and gave her the thumbs-up sign. It must be Elaine ringing about seeing Odile again. Darcie listened eagerly to Matt’s side of the conversation and although he was speaking French, she was able to get the gist of it. Matt ended his call.
‘Was that Elaine? What did she say?’ asked Darcie, not giving Matt the chance to take a breath. ‘Can we see Odile again?’
‘Yes. We’re to be there at eleven this morning,’ said Matt, checking his watch. ‘That doesn’t give us much time. We have about ninety minutes.’
‘Did Elaine say if her mother was going to be there?’
‘That’s the best bit. Apparently, Paulette can’t make it this morning so Elaine is going to meet us on her own.’
‘I hope Odile is all right,’ said Darcie. ‘I don’t want to upset her by stirring up old memories but I’m desperate to know more about Nathalie Leroux.’
After finishing their breakfast, they checked out of the château, promising Yvette they would stay with her again if they were ever in the area.
‘And I want an invite to the wedding!’ she called, as they climbed into Matt’s car.
Darcie shook her head but was laughing at the same time. ‘She’s way ahead of herself,’ she said as Matt started the engine and pulled away, tooting his horn as he went.
‘Has there ever been anyone serious?’ asked Matt, not taking his eyes off the road.
Darcie was a little startled by the question, but she supposed it was going to come sooner or later now they’d taken their relationship to another level. She was actually quite curious about Matt’s past. ‘There was one. Kyle. We went out for about eighteen months. Didn’t live together or anything like that,’ said Darcie, keeping a light tone to her voice.
