Page 23 of A French Inheritance
‘This is great news,’ Adam said. ‘When are you planning to move over?’
‘We’re going to go back as planned Tuesday morning. Then, once back in the UK, we’ll start to close down things over there. I’m hoping to be back in about a week, to make a determined start on going through Granny’s things, which is sad but a necessary thing we will have to do,’ Briony said.
‘I shall have to stay longer as I have to sell my house, which means sorting it out first and getting it on the market,’ Jeannie added. ‘But as soon as it’s organised I’m coming back. Easter is so late this year that, with luck, I’ll be back around then, but possibly it will be early in May.’
‘I’d be very happy to be your Girl Friday, general dogsbody, whatever you want to call it, for the next few months,’ Briony said, looking at Lucy. ‘It doesn’t have to be regular hours – just when you need help.’
Lucy smiled happily. ‘Consider yourself my Girl Friday when you get back. And thank you both. I can already feel the pressure coming off.’
‘And, as well as Briony, I’ll always be willing to help you out,’ Jeannie said. ‘Actually, Adam, I was going to ask you about thepépinière. There never seems to be anyone there to help. Maybe we could have a talk when I get back?’
‘Look forward to it,’ Adam said, smiling.
* * *
It was late afternoon before Briony and Jeannie said their goodbyes and made their way back home.
‘What a feast of a Sunday lunch,’ Jeannie said. ‘I don’t think I want anything else to eat today. Just a nice cup of tea out in the garden and maybe a walk to the lake this evening.’
‘Sounds a perfect end to the day,’ Briony said. ‘Especially if I get to see your kingfisher.’
16
Briony and Jeannie spent Monday morning pottering around both the cottage and the garden. Knowing that Jeannie had a house full of furniture in the UK, they also tried to work out a plan of what would go where, which pieces Jeannie would sell in the UK and which she would bring with her. With very little success.
Sitting out on the terrace mid-morning with a coffee, Jeannie gave a sigh and looked at Briony. ‘Tell me something – do you like Granny Giselle’s furniture?’
‘Yes,’ Briony looked at her puzzled. ‘Why?’
‘It is your new home and you should be the one choosing how it is furnished.’
‘But it’s going to be your home too,’ Briony protested.
‘The thing is…’ Jeannie paused. ‘I don’t think my furniture is going to suit the cottage – the things that are here now are so right for the place.’
‘Shall we leave it until we get back to England and then decide?’ Briony suggested.
‘I think that is the best idea,’ Jeannie smiled, relieved. ‘A couple of things I do want to bring over are the cane garden chairs for this terrace and the wrought-iron table.’
‘What about gardening tools?’ Briony asked. ‘Yours are in much better condition than the ones here.’
‘Definitely bringing the tools. I’m looking forward to pulling this garden back into shape.’
‘Have you had a look at the boxes I took out of the attic?’ Briony asked, finishing her coffee. ‘I left them on the dining-room table.’
Jeannie shook her head. ‘No. What’s in them?’
‘One, which I’m really looking forward to going through when we get back, has lots of photos, letters, old birthday cards, some old-fashioned sheet music, a few tatty newspaper cuttings, and a locked five-year diary with a key. The other one is full of paintings, sketches, a couple of small, framed pictures, like the picture in the hall. I think they’re all the work of Great-granny.’
‘Intriguing,’ Jeannie said. ‘Have you opened the diary?’
‘No. Diaries are such personal things, it doesn’t feel right reading someone else’s private thoughts, even after all this time. But I will once I’m living here.’
‘I know a little about Dad’s grandparents but not much. His grandfather was quite a stern, hard man, not a lot of time for other people. Jeromé adored his grandmother though. Said she was one of the gentlest, sweetest people he’d ever met, as well as being a talented artist when she was young.’
‘Once I’m down here full-time, I’ll try to do some family history research,’ Briony said. ‘Neither Granny nor Dad seem to have inherited her artistic talent, though, do they? I know Dad could draw a caricature with just a few strokes of the pen, but he never painted actual pictures, did he?’
‘No. He wasn’t interested in art at all.’
