Page 47 of A French Country Escape
Five minutes later, they were sitting in Sasha’s garden with mugs of tea and a packet of digestive biscuits on the table.
‘Have you seen Jean-Paul recently?’ Freddie asked.
‘Not for a few days. Have you?’
Freddie nodded. ‘Yep. I’m glad you told me to talk to him. He’s a good bloke. Fond of you, I think.’ He gave her a cheeky grin.
Sasha was not about to let the conversation be diverted to her. ‘What did he tell you about Maddie?’
‘Enough to make me realise that I was being foolish to even think about selling up and returning to the UK with her. I love it here, you’re here, and I want to settle here, not throw in the towel after a few months.’
‘Have you told Maddie you’re definitely not leaving France with her?’
Freddie took a sip of his tea. ‘Yes. I’ve also told her if she and Jade want to keep in touch, to come for a visit.’ He glanced at Sasha. ‘Ninety-nine percent certain that’s not going to happen, for all her talk about how we clicked and how we could be happy together in England.’
‘I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way you hoped,’ Sasha said quietly.
‘Me too,’ Freddie sighed. ‘Anyway, I’ve stepped right back from her and Jade. It’s for the best.’
35
‘You know, I think this is rapidly becoming my favourite place in the château to sit in summer,’ Ingrid said as she and Peter drank their morning coffee in the orangery. ‘I think we could do with a few rattan chairs though, strategically placed.’
Peter nodded as he looked around. All three of the French doors were open, the muslin curtains were moving in the gentle breeze that was rustling the leaves of the plants, and the air was filled with the soft perfume of the three scented white rose bushes Penny had placed by each door. ‘It’s a delightful space, that’s for sure. Thosetrompe l’œilsof Sasha’s are stunning; the citrus trees and the bamboo and the white rose bushes have all settled in their pots and look happy.’
‘I’ve had several enquiries for wedding receptions since Stella’s,’ Ingrid said. ‘The problem is that they’re all for much larger weddings – one hundred guests is the smallest. The orangery isn’t big enough for that number. And I’m not at all sure I could cope with such large numbers anyway. If I knew for sure that Penny was staying and would be in charge of the catering, I’d think about advertising it as an intimate, romantic venue but—’ she shrugged.
‘Alice has roped her in to help with the fete,’ Peter said. ‘So she’ll be here for a couple more weeks at least. I was wondering whether tempting her withLa Maisondu Jardinierwould be an incentive for her to stay?’
‘It might. What might also work is if I step back from doing any catering here, other than breakfasts, and give her a sort of franchise to supply dinners for guests, and to be fully in charge of any wedding receptions in the orangery and in the château itself.’
Peter nodded thoughtfully. ‘We could make her a partner in the business.’
‘Of course, a certain Lucas might also play a part in convincing her to stay,’ Ingrid said.
‘Alice’s brother?’ Peter gave her a quizzical look. ‘Have I missed something?’
‘How many Lucases do you know? Yes, Alice’s brother.’
‘Talking of Alice,’ Peter picked up the fete organising file that was on the small table beside him. ‘You were right, we’d never have managed to organise this fete without her help. Far more complicated than I would ever have thought. Some of the forms made my eyes water and my brain close down. Alice took them in her stride. And she’s an expert at getting people to donate prizes for the tombola and the lucky dip for the children.’
‘Did she tell you that she’s given me a list of events she thinks we could arrange?’ Ingrid said. ‘She reckons we could create a real hub in the community here in the château. Writers’ and artists’ retreats, antique fairs, day cookery courses, photography, even a local gymkhana is on the list. Maybe we should think about employing her as Events Manager for the château – if we can afford her. The fete is for the village and she’s happy to volunteer her expertise to help organise that, but for anything commercial, she’d need a salary.’
‘Perhaps we should try to work out a package that would include both Penny and Alice,’ Peter said thoughtfully. ‘We certainly can’t do those kinds of events without help.’
‘I was wondering where you two were,’ Penny said, appearing from the terrace and walking into the orangery. ‘May I join you?’
‘Of course,’ Peter said. ‘We were just saying how much we both love the way this orangery has evolved into something special, thanks to everyone’s hard work.’
‘Yes, I think once word gets out, people will be clamouring to come and stay here, simply to be able to sit in this special place,’ Penny said.
‘Bookings for thechambres d’hôtesare coming in and some are asking about evening meals,’ Ingrid said. ‘I know you said you’d stay until after the wedding, but how soon are you planning on leaving? We’re not putting any pressure on you to either stay or leave. Obviously we’d love you to stay and help us to build up the business, but if you want to return to the UK, that’s fine by us too. We’d just like to know so we can start to make our own plans.’
‘There is one other thing,’ Peter said. ‘We were wondering how you’d feel, if you do decide to stay and make a life for yourself here in France, about moving into the oldMaison du Jardinier? It would give you some independence and a place of your own.’
‘Alice has asked me to help with organising the fete, so I’ll be here for another few weeks. I haven’t decided what to do after that, although I have to admit I’ve been thinking about staying here and working for you.’
Peter shook his head. ‘We’d have to look into it, but we’d probably give you a franchise or make you a partner, so that you would be your own boss and responsible for all the catering business at the château.’
