Page 46 of A French Inheritance
Yann turned and saw her. ‘Jeannie, what a lovely surprise.’ He hurried to her side.
‘You didn’t say you were moving away?’ Jeannie said, looking at the board.
‘I’m not. Well, I am hoping to move, but not far. Come on in and let me explain. Let’s sit out in the garden,’ Yann said.
As Yann ushered her through the house and out into the secluded back garden, Jeannie felt a strange shiver of apprehension. She’d realised the night she’d spent in the house after Yann had picked her up from the airport that this was still Evette’s house. Her handiwork, her taste, was still in evidence. The wallpaper, the paintings, even the lampshade hanging over the hallway, had all been chosen by Evette. The tiles in the bathroom she remembered Evette asking her advice on and she’d been so proud of her modern bathroom. Yann had changed nothing. The last time Jeannie had been here when Evette was still alive, she’d welcomed her with a huge smile and thrown her arms around her. Now it was Yann drawing her close and kissing her cheeks.
‘To what do I owe this surprise visit?’ he asked with a smile.
‘You’re invited for lunch tomorrow,’ Jeannie said. ‘If you’re free of course?’
‘Thank you, of course I’m free to have lunch with you.’
‘There is one thing we’d like to do Sunday morning. We’ve decided to scatter Giselle’s ashes in the garden near the trees at the bottom. I know you were very fond of Giselle and we wondered whether you’d like to join the two of us?’
Yann’s arms around her tightened. ‘I’d be honoured. Thank you.’
‘I’ve also told Briony about us becoming closer and she is happy for both of us.’
A relieved smile passed over Yann’s face.
‘I have to warn you, though, that at lunch tomorrow she may tease you with questions about your intentions.’ Jeannie paused. ‘Having seen that sign outside, I must admit I have a few questions of my own.’
‘That’s what I want to talk to you about.’ Yann looked at her. ‘Evette has been gone for eighteen months now. Like you will never forget Jeromé, I will never forget Evette and the life we had together, mainly in this house.’ He paused. ‘I need to move on. Everywhere I turn, there are memories – mostly good, I admit – but I want to make some new memories with you. I hope one day that we will be living together, maybe even married,’ he shrugged. ‘I don’t know if that will happen, but I do know that I can’t ask you to stay in a house that is still full of Evette. I want somewhere that the two of us can be happy together, making our own memories. Do you understand?’
Jeannie nodded. ‘Yes, of course I do. Are you going to buy in the village or somewhere else?’
‘I thought we could take that decision together. Sometimes I quite fancy a complete change from village life – an apartment on the Croisette in Cannes,peut-être. But you’ve only just begun your village life, so it is something we need to discuss, yes?’
Jeannie nodded. ‘Yes, it’s definitely something we need to talk about.’
* * *
The French guests staying in the Cider House arrived at midday as expected and Briony welcomed them, gave them the guided tour and left them to settle in. She was walking back across the yard to the farmhouse, when an Audi sports car drove into the yard and stopped. An attractive woman slid gracefully out, her slim white jeans with pale blue-white designer polo shirt tucked in accentuating her figure. She closed the car door and stood looking around. Briony walked towards her.
‘Can I help you?’
The woman moved her sunglasses down so that she was looking over the top of them at Briony. ‘Perhaps. I’m visiting a friend.’
‘Which gîte are they staying in?’ Briony asked.
‘I forget the name. Maybe something like the Hen House, the Corn Store or even maybe the Pig Sty.’
Briony stiffened. Calling one of the gîtes the Pig Sty was not nice – and the Corn Store was Elliot’s cottage. She had a sudden feeling she might know who this woman was. Elliot’s 4x4 had been parked outside his cottage earlier, but whether he was indoors or over at the farm with Adam, she had no way of knowing. What she did know, though, was that both Elliot and Adam needed to be told about this woman.
‘You’re looking for Elliot?’
‘Yes. Don’t worry. I am happy to wander around until I find him.’
‘I’m not sure he’s at home at the moment. I hope you don’t have to wait too long,’ Briony said as she turned away and casually made for the farmhouse. Opening the door, she was relieved to see both Elliot and Adam looking at some data on Adam’s laptop.
Adam looked up with a frown. ‘Hi. You look a bit flustered. Do you want Lucy’s help with one of the guests?’
‘No. All the bona fide guests are fine, but there is a woman wandering around looking for her “friend”. She mentioned the Corn House, although she inferred that maybe it had changed its name to the Pig Sty. I think it’s your ex-wife,’ she said, looking at Elliot.
Elliot clenched his fists and turned to leave.
Adam put a hand on his arm. ‘Calm down, bro. We don’t want a scene in front of any of the guests. I can come with you and ask her to leave and threaten her with the police for trespassing if she doesn’t go.’
