Page 19 of Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure
“I am seventeen, madame. I come from a farm. There was little opportunity to go to school when I had to help with the farm chores. My father was a strict man.”
“Well, Yvette, you are safely with three English ladies, and we are driving to the Côte d’Azur, so you can ride with us. And when we arrive, you can decide what you want to do.”
“You are too good, madame,” Yvette said. “You are angels of mercy. God will reward you.”
“Here,” Mavis said, having sat silent as the conversation in French went on around her. “Will someone explain to me what the devil’s going on?”
Chapter 8
Soon after, they came to another small settlement, but Ellie was loath to stop, even though she was now aware that she had not visited the lavatory like the other women. She’d just have to hold it.
“What if the man spots our car and comes to check on us again? Maybe somebody saw me helping Yvette.” She stared straight ahead. “We must drive on until we come to a big enough place where we cannot be traced.”
That proved to be the town of Valence, on the bank of the river. From what they could see in the darkness, it was a city of parks and elegant buildings.
“Ah, this looks more like it,” Dora said, sitting up in her seat. “There’s bound to be a decent hotel here. And a decent meal, too, one hopes.”
Ellie left the riverbank, and they followed a wide boulevard towards the city centre.
“There.” Dora pointed. “Hotel Bristol. That should do.”
“It looks as if it’s quite expensive.” Ellie examined the grand edifice, brightly lit, with a courtyard and flags flying. “There are four of us.”
“I’m sure they must have maids’ rooms for Mavis and the girl,” Dora said dismissively.
“Thanks a lot,” Mavis muttered.
“Oh no, madame,” Yvette exclaimed from the back seat. “I cannot stay here with you. I have no money for such luxury. I will sleep in your motor car and guard it for you until the morning.”
“Certainly not,” Ellie said. A small warning voice whispered that they should not be too trusting, however grateful the girl seemed. It would be too easy to rob them of their belongings or even drive away in their car. “You can stay in a small room beside mine for the night, unless you would prefer to leave us now. But tomorrow we will be on the Riviera if you have patience.”
“Madame is an angel once again,” Yvette said. “I will kiss your hand, madame.”
“Not while I’m driving.” Ellie had to laugh.
She suddenly felt overcome with exhaustion, not wanting to seek further, and the hotel did look inviting. They left the motor car outside and went into the foyer.
“But of course,” the receptionist said, noting the Bentley parked outside. “I can arrange a room for mesdames with a small chamber off to the side for the maids.”
“Thank you. Most satisfactory,” Dora said before Ellie could reply.
She turned to Mavis. “I hope you don’t mind for one night. It will take a while before she stops thinking of you as a servant, but she’ll come around when we reach the South.”
Mavis gave a shrug. “I don’t mind kipping in her maid’s room, but I ain’t shining her shoes. Not the way she talks to me.”
And so it was arranged. Ellie would sleep with Yvette in her maid’s quarters, and Dora would take a grand room overlooking the garden with Mavis. The car was driven into the garage. A bellboy carried up their overnight bags. The servant’s room was quite adequate with a bed and washbasin. Ellie’s room had a bathroom with an enormous clawfoot tub.
“Quite delightful,” Dora said as they met downstairs. “French doors opening on to a balcony, and I can hear a fountain playing down below. I shall sleep well tonight.”
“Mine ain’t no worse than where I’ve lived most of me life,” Mavis said. She moved closer to Ellie. “As long as she don’t snore.” She gave Dora a frown.
They did not feel like facing the grand dining room at the hotel, where guests were in evening attire. Instead they asked the clerk for a recommendation and ventured into the town. On a narrow backstreet they found the bistro and were warmly greeted. The set-price menu was consommé followed by duck breast and crème brûlée. A carafe of red wine was brought to the table, and they all ate heartily.
“What would my doctor say if he could see this?” Dora chuckled as she poured herself a second glass of wine. “I’m supposed to be on a bland diet of milk puddings and fish. Stupid man. I told him it’s not my stomach that’s going to give out, it’s my heart, and my heart needs good, solid nourishment.”
Ellie examined her. She had forgotten for a moment that the reason Dora was coming to France was that she did not have long to live. Ellie noticed now that her skin was quite transparent, the veins standing up blue on the backs of her hands, and that she had a frail look about her. She had always been so formidable that this realization came as a shock.
Yvette had sat silent through the meal, not daring to make eye contact with the others. Now she looked up and thanked Ellie again.
