Page 58 of Summer at the Château
As everyone drifted out onto the terrace for an aperitif before lunch, Gwen was relieved to sense a friendly atmosphere. After talking to Pixie earlier, she’d decided that she wasn’t going to probe too hard or too deep into Brigitte’s childhood or family in case it caused more problems between Pixie and her new family.
William and Ferdie were the last to arrive, having walked both Buddy and the puppy down to the lake.
‘Have you decided on a name for your puppy yet?’ Gwen asked. ‘We’ve decided to call the kittens Milly and Molly, so how about Mandy as they all grew up together?’ She smiled, knowing the grown-ups would know why she was suggesting that name.
Ferdie screwed up his face. ‘I think Mandy is a bit silly. Gramps says the name will come as we get to know her. She slept on my bed last night. Mummy said she had to stay on the floor, but she crept up.’
‘Barbecue meat is ready,’ Charlie called and within minutes everyone was sat around the table happily tucking in.
‘Eating with friends and family is definitely one of the pleasures of life,’ Brigitte said. ‘I never really appreciated it growing up, it wasn’t until my family unit began to disperse to all corners of Europe and family gatherings became a rare treat that I realised ‘ow much I missed them.’
‘Where did you grow up?’ Gwen asked.
‘Paris. And every year we’d decamp to Roscoff for the whole of the summer to the family holiday cottage. I was lucky, I had a wonderful childhood, well, the three of us did.’ She glanced at Pixie. ‘Did you know my father had a son with his first wife? So, technically, there were four of us, but my half-brother was considerably older than us. He’s just moved back into our cottage in Roscoff.’ She turned to Justine. ‘I know he’s hoping to see more of you and Ferdie now he’s living closer.’
‘I was an au pair when I was twenty for a French family,’ Gwen said quietly. ‘They were lovely, treated me like family from the day I arrived to…’ her voice faltered, ‘to the day I left. They also had a holiday home in Brittany, inherited from their grandparents, I understood.’ Gwen picked up her glass of water and took a sip. ‘I looked after three children very close in age. Their father also had an older son from a previous marriage.’
Brigitte put her knife and fork down on her plate and looked at Gwen who returned her gaze as she continued.
‘The children were sweet – Odette, eight, Thomas, five and little three-year-old Brigitte.’ Gwen paused. ’Your big brother’s name wasn’t Augustus Dubois by any chance, was it?’
Brigitte nodded slowly. ‘Yes. And I know who you are now. You’re English Gwen. The love of my brother’s life. All these years, he’s never stopped talking about you or wondering where you were.’
There was a sudden silence as everyone looked at Gwen, who simply sat there looking at Brigitte. ‘I’ve never forgotten him either.’
‘Grandma, are you all right?’ Charlie asked, getting up and going to her. ‘You’ve gone deathly white.’
Gwen stood up, shaking. ‘If you’ll all excuse me, I think I’ll go for a lie-down.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Charlie said, putting his arm around her shoulders and leading her indoors.
‘Please you ’ave to excuse me.’ Brigitte stood up and left the table and made for the cottage with an anxious William following her.
‘I have an uncle called Augustus. You have a brother called Gus – an unusual name in this day and age,’ Justine said as they sat looking at each other. ‘I hope Gwen is okay. It must have been a shock for her,’ she added.
Pixie shook her head. ‘Somehow, I don’t think it was as big a shock for her as it was for the rest of us. I think she suspected that Brigitte was “her” Brigitte from long ago and wanted confirmation. Charlie will make sure she’s all right.’ She shook her head. ‘Such a small world and it just got a lot smaller.’
Pixie gestured in the direction of the cottage. Brigitte and William were getting into their car and driving off.
Justine felt Ferdie tug on her leg from under the table, where he’d disappeared earlier to play with the puppy.
‘Mummy, I think I’m going to call my puppy Trouble. She’s just peed over my shoes.’
38
Pixie was in the process of clearing the lunch things away when Charlie came downstairs. ‘How is she?’
‘She’s stopped shaking. I gave her a small medicinal brandy and tucked her up in bed.’
‘Good. I think she’s going to need all her strength in the next few hours.’
Charlie raised his eyebrows. ‘Why?’
‘Brigitte and William have disappeared off somewhere in the car. I suspect they’re on their way to Roscoff with the intention of bringing Augustus back with them.’
‘Where are Justine and Ferdie?’
‘They’ll be back in a moment. Ferdie needed to change his shoes because the puppy peed over them. By the way, she’s now got a name: Trouble. I don’t doubt for one moment that she’s going to live up to it.’
