Page 36 of A French Country Escape
‘Shall I take this into Eliza’s cottage for you to collect after? It’s over there,’ and he pointed to a terraced cottage on the other side of the road.
‘Brilliant. Thank you.’
‘Alice and Penny are down there,’ he said, pointing to another side street with yet morebrocantefor sale.
Sasha wandered on down through the village dodging the crowds, and met up with Alice and Penny by a table full ofcrockery. Penny was trying to contain her excitement. ‘Oh, I wish Mum had been up to coming. She’d have loved all this vintage stuff.’
Alice pointed out some white porcelain plates with a gold rim at the back of the stand. ‘Have you seen those?’
Sensing their interest, the female stallholder handed Penny one of the plates. ‘I havetrente-sixplates of the dinner size, and the same of smaller size. From a Quimper restaurant,’ she shrugged her shoulders. ‘It closes.’
Penny pointed at a box of beautiful art deco plates of various sizes. ‘I am also interested in that box. How much for the two lots all together?’
The woman named a price that Penny knew was a bargain but hesitated before agreeing. It was still a lot. ‘No chips or cracks in any of it?’
‘Non. Good condition.’
Penny smiled at her. ‘Okay. I’ll take the two lots please.’
While Penny and Alice waited for the crockery to be boxed up securely, Sasha wandered off to look at a table on the opposite side. Rolls of material, curtains of all sizes, remnants of material in a jumble in a box, and tablecloths. A pile of curtains caught her eye. Cream with a green toile de Jouy design. Opening one out, she saw that it was very faded in patches. The vendor opened another one out and held it up, just managing to keep it from dragging on the ground, to show the length. Again, it was faded in patches. Sasha counted the number of curtains there were – five.
Alice appeared at her side at that moment. ‘Penny and Lucas have taken the crockery to Eliza’s. Safer than carrying it around. It was a bit heavy too. What’s with the curtains?’
‘It’s not just these curtains. There’s a roll of lightweight muslin over there, perfect for the orangery,’ Sasha said. ‘But there’s enough material in these curtains with some carefulcutting out of the faded parts to make dozens of really lovely idiosyncratic serviettes – the design is a traditional countryside one with horses and châteaux. And the material is really good quality. I’m not sure I have the time to do them though.’
‘Grand-maman has. And she has a sewing machine,’ Alice said. ‘I remember her making lots of things in the past. She’s a bit down at the moment, missing Grand-papa. Making curtains and serviettes for the orangery would be a perfect occupation.’
Penny and Lucas joined them as Sasha was attempting to get a grip on the roll of muslin while Alice took the curtains. ‘Look like I am your personal errand boy today,’ Lucas said. ‘I take those over to Eliza as well, yes?’
‘You really are a star, thank you,’ Penny said. ‘Can you manage the curtains or shall I bring them?’
‘Good idea.’
Penny took the curtains from Alice with a smile and followed Lucas.
‘I think my little brother likes Penny,’ Alice said, smiling as she watched the two of them joking together. ‘Do you think she likes him? Or is it too soon after her break-up with Rory?’
‘I know she finds him attractive,’ Sasha said. ‘But I think probably it is a bit soon, although she seems happy and relaxed in his company.’
The four of them were joined by Freddie and Jean-Paul as they abandoned their hunt for bargains and headed for the catering van selling coffee, crêpes and galettes.
‘I can’t believe it’s only eleven o’clock and we’ve found so much stuff. It’s been brilliant,’ Sasha said, looking at her watch. ‘Not quite sure how we are going to get everything back to thecottage, though. Some of the furniture won’t go in the van, that’s for sure. Does anybody know somebody who can deliver?’
Lucas pointed at Jean-Paul. ‘He already offer. Late this afternoon when it quiet down, he come back with a tractor and trailer and pick up everything. Just have to tell him which stalls. I come with him too.’
Sasha gave Jean-Paul a relieved smile. ‘Merci beaucoup.’
‘I’ve bought a small settee and a fireside chair and a strimmer,’ Freddie said. ‘Please can you pick them up as well? I’m working this afternoon, but I’ll be at the cottage to help unload and get it all indoors.’
Lucas gave Jean-Paul a rapid translation and he nodded.
‘Thanks,’ Freddie said, finishing his coffee. ‘Sasha, have you got five minutes before I head off? There’s something I’d like your opin— I’d like to show you.’
‘Sure.’ Sasha stood up. ‘I’ll catch up with everyone in a bit.’
Sasha followed Freddie down the main street, wondering what he wanted her to see. He stopped at a stand selling a mixture of home-made sweets and jams, children’s toys and books, and a few clothes on a rail. There was a little girl sitting on a chair colouring a picture in a book, and a young woman standing behind the stall. The small girl’s face lit up with a smile when she saw Freddie. ‘Hi, Mister Freddie.’
‘Sasha, this is Maddie and her daughter Jade.’
