Page 41 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
‘Non.’ Theo turned to look at her. ‘D’you know how much Oscar’s boat turns out to be worth?’
‘No idea,’ Agnes said. ‘I’ve never had much interest in boats.’
‘Somewhere in the region of forty-five thousand euros, possibly more. Which, with a little bit of luck, should be in your bank account some time in the near future when the boat is sold.’
Agnes stopped dead. ‘How much? Shouldn’t it be included as part of Oscar’s estate and be divided between Francine and Serge?’
‘It’s not listed amongst Oscar’s assets. The notaire knows nothing about a boat. Once it’s sold the proceeds will go some way to repaying you the money Oscar swindled you out of – and probably used to buy the boat in the first place.’
‘And the notaire is happy with you doing this?’
‘Like he said, we’ve never had a conversation about it!’
Agnes smiled at him, before leaning in and kissing his cheek. ‘Thank you.’
* * *
Edwin and Francine joined them that evening, bringing boxes of takeaway pizzas for supper, after spending the day clearing, cleaning and tidying things up at Oscar’s.
‘This morning at the notaire’s we put the house on the market with him and he’s sending someone round to take photographs and measurements soon,’ Agnes said. ‘He seems to think it will sell quite quickly. He’s talking about holding an “open viewing” morning if there is enough interest, probably during the last week of the festival.’
‘That sounds like a good idea,’ Edwin said. ‘That kind of thing often results in a quick sale.’
‘We’ve decided to treat ourselves to a day out tomorrow,’ Francine said. ‘Take the train along the coast and explore Monaco. Would you two like to come with us? We asked Zazz if she wanted to come but she’s going shopping with Mel to buy a dress to wear for her red-carpet adventure with Dominic.’
‘Cannes was heaving as we walked down,’ Edwin said. ‘A real buzz about the place. There’s a fair few super yachts moored out in the bay too. I guess now the festival has kicked off the town will be even busier.’
After exchanging a quick look with Theo, when he gave her a small shrug, Agnes said. ‘Thank you for the offer to go to Monaco but I think Theo and I will have a quiet day here. I know Theo is waiting for a phone call and may have to go to Antibes Juan-les-Pins.’
Theo’s phone buzzed at one point in the evening and Agnes held her breath as he stood up, murmuring, ‘Excuse me, I need to answer this,’ before he disappeared indoors. When he returned to the courtyard two or three minutes later he looked at Agnes and gave a slight shake of his head. Not Denice then as she’d hoped.
After Francine and Edwin left, Agnes and Theo had a nightcap of Saint Honorat liqueur out in the courtyard. ‘I wish Denice would hurry up and return your call,’ Agnes said. ‘I worry that she’s not going to ring you back.’
‘I expect she’s just busy and returning a phone call from a stranger isn’t high on her list of priorities.’
‘Maybe she associates the name Agistini with Oscar and doesn’t want to contact you,’ Agnes said.
‘We have the address so we can always go and knock on the door until she opens it,’ Theo said, smiling.
Agnes finished her drink and stood up. ‘I think I’ll have an early night. See you in the morning.’
Getting ready for bed, Agnes’s glance was drawn to the envelope Theo had brought down from Oscar’s. With all the excitement of knowing Denice was back in the Riviera she’d taken it upstairs with her and thrown it unopened onto the dressing table next to hergrandmère’s newly polished table mirror that Theo had also brought down for her. Perhaps now would be a good time to open it? Of course, what she’d really like to do with it was to throw it away unopened but she wasn’t brave enough to do that in case it did contain something of importance. Although what on earth Oscar could have to say to her after all these years she dreaded to think. Sighing, she reached out a hand to pick it up, when there was a knock on the door and Theo’s voice called out.
‘Denice has phoned.’
‘Come in,’ Agnes said, jumping up quickly, the envelope forgotten again. ‘What did she say?’
‘She apologised for the late call. Apparently, she’s been away and only returned this evening. I’ve arranged to meet her tomorrow afternoon.’
‘You didn’t tell her about me?’
‘No.’ Theo shook his head. ‘She was a little bristly at first, asked if I was related to Oscar Agistini. I told her he was my brother and that he had recently died. She asked me what I wanted to talk to her about. I told her it was a highly personal matter and I’d rather explain face to face. She then suggested three o’clock tomorrow afternoon and I agreed.’
Agnes sank down on her bed. ‘I can’t believe that tomorrow I’m going to meet up with my sister after all these years.’
36
Knowing that neither of them would be able to settle to doing anything before they left for the meeting with Denice, Theo suggested they drove to Juan-les-Pins and explored a little before having a leisurely lunch. ‘There are several good restaurants there. Could even treat ourselves to lunch at the Hotel Belle Rives.’
