Page 33 of Summer at the Château
‘Pixie, it’s no trouble, I’m happy to help.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I’ll tell the vendor the plan and I’ll see you later then,’ and Jean-Yves turned away.
‘Thank you for the chairs, but I am so cross with you for involving Jean-Yves,’ Pixie said to Gwen when he was out of earshot.
‘He didn’t appear to mind in the slightest,’ an unrepentant Gwen replied. ‘Anyway, he offered.’
‘You manipulated him shamelessly,’ Pixie said before laughing at the wide-eyed innocent look Gwen gave her.
* * *
Once back at the château, Pixie decided to skip lunch as she was still full after the large slice of apple cake she’d eaten earlier and went straight into the sitting room to do a few hours’ writing, telling Gwen she’d like to finish the edits completely and send them to her editor before the family arrived.
It was gone seven o’clock when an immaculate dark green 4x4 pulled up outside and Jean-Yves got out. Pixie smiled as she went to greet him.
‘Somebody’s been busy in the garden. It’s all looking a lot better than it did,’ Jean-Yves said as he opened the back door of the car and lifted one of the chairs out, placing it on the ground before reaching in for the next one.
‘That’s down to Marcel and my mum, she loves gardening and I’ve been busy writing.’ Pixie picked up the chair and moved it out the way as Jean-Yves stood the second one on the ground before slamming the door closed.
‘Right, where do you want them?’ he asked.
‘Oh, don’t worry about that. We’ll leave them in the hall for now and I’ll carry them upstairs later.’
Jean-Yves gave her a look and an exaggerated sigh. ‘The new room is on the top floor, isn’t it?’ And he picked up one of the chairs and was off. ‘I’ll come back for the other one.’
‘No, I can manage one, it’s not heavy.’ Pixie picked up the remaining one. Not heavy but definitely awkward to carry and she’d barely reached the first landing before Jean-Yves came back down the second flight of stairs and relieved her of the chair, carrying it effortlessly up the final flight.
‘Jerome has done you a good job here,’ Jean-Yves said as they stood together in the room. ‘The room looks good. D’you want the chairs put in any particular place?’
‘Maybe by the far window and the shelves. It’s not as if there is going to be any more furniture up here.’
‘Not even a desk or a table?’
Pixie shook her head. ‘There isn’t a suitable one in the château. I’m quite happy using the dining table downstairs, although I might bring my laptop up here occasionally now I’ve got a chair. Especially when the family arrive in a few days.’
‘Family?’
‘My brother and his wife, with their adult children and a granddaughter, are coming for a few weeks. Now, may I offer you a coffee or a glass of wine?’
‘Coffee would be good, thank you.’
Gwen was sitting out on the terrace when they got downstairs and Pixie left Jean-Yves chatting to her while she organised coffee. Gwen had the coffee primed ready to go, plus a plate of sweet biscuits, together with a plate of savoury cheese and olive crackers placed on the kitchen table. Pixie smiled to herself, Gwen had clearly taken to Jean-Yves.
When she carried out the tray with everything on it, the two of them had wandered off to look at the dilapidated orangery. Pixie placed the tray on the table and went to join them.
‘So sad to see it like this. I remember when it was a sight to behold with oranges, lemons and grapefruits in large boxed containers – like those at Versailles. There was even a peach tree espaliered along the back wall. Marcel and his father always made sure it was well protected in winter.’
‘Did you know Monsieur and Madame Quiltu well?’ Pixie asked.
‘My parents did. The Quiltus socialised a lot before they got old and ill. There were some great parties here. I think your husband, he had plans to renovate the orangery?’
Pixie nodded. ‘It was going to be his retirement project. I’m afraid it will be down to the next owner to save it now. Coffee’s on the table, it will be getting cold.’
As they returned to the terrace, Justine drove in with Ferdie and parked by the cottage. Getting out of the car and unlocking the cottage door, she waved in acknowledgement before hurrying Ferdie inside.
‘Have you told Mademoiselle Martin that she has to vacate the cottage?’ Jean-Yves asked.
