Page 40 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
Had she really changed that much since Piers had known her all those years ago? Why hadn’t she noticed that she’d become this uptight person? When had she lost her Frenchla joie de vivreas Piers had put it so succinctly? “An uptight English woman” he’d called her. It couldn’t just be to do with the fact that after the age of seven she’d grown up in England. She and Agnes talked French all the time and Agnes had made sure she knew all about her hometown Cannes, the place of her birth, as well as the history of France. True, there hadn’t been talk of any family relations, no visits from grandparents or aunts, just Uncle Theo. But there had been those six teenage fortnights of annual holiday spent here in this very house. Holidays that had shown her a whole different way of living, one that she had assumed she would always have access to.
Memories of the way that last holiday had suddenly ended flashed into her mind. Arriving back in Devon with Uncle Theo, determined not to let her maman know how upset she was about the opportunity she’d had to refuse. She remembered too, being equally determined to be in control of her own life when she turned eighteen a week or two later. Her father had had his last opportunity to be involved in her life. From then on she was going to apply careful thought to which direction would be the best for her to go in.
Was that the beginning of her losing her spontaneity? Of becoming uptight? Edwin said he didn’t remember her being spontaneous but she had been fun to be with when they first met. Clearly she wasn’t fun these days.
Thoughtfully, Francine stretched out a leg and turned the hot tap on with her foot. Things were so different these days. So many different opportunities where anything seemed to be attainable to Zazz’s generation. Zazz. Francine sighed. She loved Zazz so much but would have to admit she hadn’t been the best mother to her in recent months. Zazz, asserting her independence by deciding to stay in Bath and not move with them when Francine and Edwin left for Dartmouth, had been something of a shock.
In a lightbulb moment as she reached for the soap, Francine realised it had been empty nest syndrome in reverse. The child staying and the mother leaving. So, when they were together, she’d tried too hard to convince herself that Zazz still needed her in her life but had only succeeded in driving a wedge between them. At least now she realised the problem she could start to mend their relationship.
Now all she had to do was find her inner ‘Frankie’. Maybe she could start tonight. ‘Edwin,’ she called. ‘I think maybe I do need you to scrub my back.’
35
Theo rang Denice in the morning before leaving for the notaire’s office as he’d promised but was connected to a messaging service. He left his name and telephone number and asked Denice to ring him as soon as possible. There was no reply before they had to leave for the notaire’s.
‘Bonjour,’ Monsieur Caumont said as he ushered Agnes and Theo into his office. ‘You have brought me some papers?’ he asked, looking at the file Theo was holding.
‘Something we feel you should know about but in reality we think it’s too late to rectify,’ Theo said.
‘But first,’ Agnes said, ‘I have decided about the DNA tests. I do not think they are necessary. Rachel Cortez has signed a legal document knowing the consequences if she lies. I have now met both Rachel and Serge and also Serge’s son and accept that Serge is the illegitimate son of Oscar.’
The notaire sighed. ‘It is irregular but I can only advise in this case.’
‘You have met him, surely you recognise the family likeness,’ Agnes said.
Monsieur Caumont nodded. ‘Oui.D’accord. We will proceed on the basis of the legal quarter for you and a two-way split of the remainder between the children of Oscar Agistini – Madame Mansell and Monsieur Cortez. Do you, Madame Agistini, intend to live in the house?’
‘Definitely not,’ Agnes said.
‘The house will need to be sold then. Would you like my property manager to deal with that?’
‘Please.’
‘It would be good if we could get it on the market whilst the film festival is running,’ the notaire said thoughtfully. ‘It is not a Belle Epoque villa but its situation in Le Suquet makes it a desirable property and there will be a lot of creative people in town who would love to get their hands on such a house.Bon. I will ask my property manager, Suzette, to call you urgently and make arrangements for a visit and to take photographs. Perhaps we can even hold an “Open Viewing” morning.’ He looked at the file in Theo’s hands.
Theo took a deep breath and handed it to him. ‘I found it going through Oscar’s papers. It would appear that he swindled Agnes out of her parents’ inheritance.’
‘Oh, come Monsieur Agistini, that is extremely unlikely,’ the notaire protested. ‘There are regulations in place to prevent such a happening. I think perhaps you misunderstand. I will have a quick look and set your mind at rest. Would you like a coffee while I read through?’ When Agnes and Theo both said please, he pressed a button on his desk. ‘Trois cafés,s’il vous plaît.’
Drinking her coffee, Agnes tried to read the notaire’s expression but apart from the occasional twitch of his mouth he remained poker faced. Ten long minutes passed with Agnes and Theo watching and waiting. Finally Monsieur Caumont closed the file with a deep sigh.
‘My apologies, Monsieur Agistini, you were right. Your brother did indeed swindle his wife out of her inheritance.’ He looked Agnes. ‘The notaire he used in Marseille was struck off ten years ago for seriously dishonest conduct and has since died. I can report it and have this case added to his record but…’ He shook his head.
‘There’s little point, is there?’ Agnes said quietly. ‘The money has gone.’
The notaire shook his head. ‘Yes. I am so sorry.’
‘Apropos of absolutely nothing,’ Theo asked quietly. ‘Are you aware that my brother had a fifty-foot motor yacht?’
‘I know nothing about any boat.’ The notaire looked at Theo, surprised. ‘It’s not mentioned in his papers.’
‘That’s good, because my brother verbally promised it to me in the event of his death.’ Theo held Monsieur Caumont’s gaze. ‘I intend to sell it.’
The notaire gave Theo a slow enigmatic smile and nodded, before shaking Theo’s hand. ‘I think that is a good way to proceed. But we’ve never had this conversation.’
‘Thank you,’ Theo said, returning his smile and picking up the folder.
Walking back to Theo’s cottage Agnes said, ‘Did Oscar really promise to leave the boat to you?’
