Page 52 of A French Country Escape
‘A special place across the border in Côtes-d’Armor. Wear walking shoes if you have some. I pick you up at two o’clock.’
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The next afternoon, as Lucas drove them in the direction of Carnoët, just over the border from Finistère into Côtes-d’Armor, Penny said, ‘I’m looking forward to seeing this Valley of the Saints. Creating half a dozen monumental granite statues every year seems an amazingly ambitious project to me.’
‘You look it up then,’ an amused Lucas said.
‘Of course. I was intrigued. Have you often been?’
‘Once or twice a year since they open it to the public,’ Lucas said. ‘There’s something super special about the place. Not sure whether it’s the knowledge that it has played a part in Breton culture for hundred of years, or the fact that there is a feudal mound on the chosen site, or…’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t honestly know. But it’s a great spot for walking and thinking. There’s a lovely sixteen century chapel as well.’
After parking the car, the two of them set off to explore the area. With no official footpaths to follow, it was a case of meandering across the grass from one huge granite statue to another; they were all dotted about in the undulating open valley in any direction you looked.
Penny, catching her breath, looked around in amazement. ‘I’ve never been to Easter Island, but I imagine this could be called Brittany’s answer to it. I can’t believe how tall they are.’
‘Four metre,’ Lucas said.
‘There are so many of them,’ Penny remarked. ‘Each different and awe-inspiring, but all representing the founding saints of Brittany, according to the information I read last night.’
After Penny’s initial excitement at seeing the site for the first time died down, the two of them walked slowly and companionably, absorbing the atmosphere around them.
‘Thank you for bringing me here,’ Penny said. ‘I shall make sure every guest I cook breakfast for in the château knows to come and visit.’
‘You sound like you are decide to stay here in Brittany,’ Lucas said.
Penny turned to him. ‘I have. I am. Didn’t Alice tell you? I’m going to become a partner in the business, live inLa Maison du Jardinierand start my own cookery school. I haven’t decided exactly what that is going to entail yet, but I’m really excited. How about you? Have you made any plans yet?’
Lucas nodded slowly. ‘A bit. This enforced time off make me realise I don’t want to go back down to the Riviera.’
‘What did you do down south?’
‘I work for a private marine company with all sort of interests. My main job was oversee various boat-building projects, and also their small fleet of bulk carriers. Last year, I was going to be offered a bigger role in the company, but then there was a—’ Lucas hesitated, ‘—an environmental problem on another of their projects that I wasn’t involve with then, but I hear about it and I have to speak out. One of their bulk carriers en route from Africa plan to dump a load of toxic waste in the sea. Somehow the press hear about it, which I swear it wasn’t through me, although I would have tell the media if theyhadn’t told me they were abandoning the plan. But suddenly I waspersona non grata. I obviously didn’t get the promotion – anyway, I didn’t want it anymore – and the person who did suggest it would be a good idea for me to take a sabbatical, accept the redundancy package they propose and leave the industry.’
‘You did the right thing calling them out on their awful plans,’ Penny said. ‘I admire you for that. But what will you do now?’
‘Thank you. I have been thinking a lot about my future. Part of me want to work for me, but another part of me think I like to go back to college and do a degree in land management and conservation and stay in Brittany. I always loved it here.’
‘The degree course sounds interesting.’ Penny smiled.
‘It is – especially now you definitely staying in France,’ Lucas said. ‘We can really get to know each other.’
Penny nodded thoughtfully. ‘We can. We should take it slowly though, I think.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I’m not long out of a relationship, I’d like to take time and enjoy getting to know each other.’
‘Oh, we will, no doubt about that. Any other reason you think we should take it slowly?’ Lucas asked, a grin on his face.
‘Well, I’m going to be busy with catering and renovatingLa Maison du Jardinierand you’re going to be busy studying, so neither of us will have much time.’
‘I’m excellent at renovating houses, so I can help you with that in between studying.’
Penny burst out laughing. ‘How many houses have you renovated?’
‘I admit I haven’t actually renovate any house, but I’m a quick learner. I’m sure I can help you.’ The smile he gave her made Penny’s pulse race.
‘I might let you paint a wall or two then. Come on, let’s look at some more statues.’
