Page 59 of A French Inheritance
‘About two o’clock,’ Lucy said.
‘I’ll do the necessary in the Cider House, and then go and have a quick check on Mum in the brocante and then do the Stables. Is that okay with you?’ Briony asked.
‘Yep, sounds good.’
There were three or four people browsing in the brocante when Briony went down before eleven o’clock. ‘Everything all right, Mum?’
Jeannie nodded. ‘Yann’s gone to thepèpiniérewith a customer, he’ll be back in a moment.’
‘I’m on my way to the Stables, so if you need help urgently, maybe give a toot on Yann’s car and I’ll come straight over.’
As she made her way over to the stables, another car drew up outside the brocante.
Letting herself into the Stables, Briony began to wonder if Saturdays were going to be a problem when all three gîtes were busy. Fingers crossed that she hadn’t made a mistake believing that she could open a brocante as well as be Lucy’s Girl Friday for the summer.
45
Jeannie’s first reaction when Yann told her he’d booked a table at the five-star restaurant in the Carlton Hotel, Cannes, for Sunday lunch was to say no.
‘Can’t we go on a weekday instead? I worry about leaving Briony on her own in the brocante for the last afternoon of the first weekend.’
‘I checked with Elliot and he’s not on call so will be around to help. I want us both to have a special memory of the beginning of this special time in our lives,’ Yann said, giving her a hug. ‘I promise we’ll spend the rest of the summer helping Briony whenever she needs it.’
Briony was equally adamant that she should go. ‘Ideal opportunity to wear one of Giselle’s posh frocks we kept. You haven’t had the chance to dress up for ages. Let Yann spoil you and don’t worry about me. I doubt that Sunday afternoon will be busy.’
In the end, Jeannie stopped protesting and took the smart black Ralph Lauren frock out of its protective cover. Tying the Hermès scarf around her neck, she was pleased with the result.
‘You look beautiful,’ Yann said when he arrived to collect her.
‘The pair of you make a great-looking couple,’ Briony said, agreeing with Yann about her mum and thinking that he looked incredibly smart in his navy suit. ‘Enjoy lunch.’
Walking into the Carlton on Yann’s arm, Jeannie felt a little apprehensive. It was years since she’d been anywhere half as posh as this place, but Yann was clearly quite at home. Shown to a table out on the terrace, Jeannie slowly relaxed. ‘This place is something else, isn’t it,’ she said quietly, looking around. They were alone for the moment, but Jeannie knew the place would be humming in no time.
‘It will be our place for celebrations from now on,’ Yann said. ‘Jeannie darling, there is something I need to tell you and when I’ve done that, there is something I want to ask.’ He glanced up as a waiter approached. ‘S’il vous plaît– ten minutes?’
The waiter nodded and walked away.
‘The other evening on the jetty when I told you I loved you, there was something I forgot to say. I want you to know that I’ve always wished I’d met you before Jeromé did. Because from the day you and I met, I’ve loved you from a distance. But…’ he shrugged. ‘My best friend had already told me you and he were engaged and that you were getting married soon. The unwritten code of our friendship meant that I had to step back. Even though at times I suspected you had feelings for me.’
Jeannie gave a rueful smile. ‘I did. And you know now I still do.’
‘Do you remember the joke I made about being Jeromé’s “best man”?’
‘Never forgotten it,’ Jeannie said quietly.
‘I know you’d hate me to make a fuss and embarrass you here,’ Yann said softly. ‘Would you give me your left hand, please?’
Jeannie stared at him wide-eyed as she held out her hand.
‘Jeannie, will you marry me?’
‘Yes,’ she answered instantly, with no need to think about it.
Yann slipped a vintage aquamarine and diamond ring onto her finger. ‘This belonged to my maman. I was instructed to give it to the woman I truly loved. It was never Evette’s. You are the only woman I could ever give it to.’ He gave a deep sigh of relief. ‘So, it all comes good in the end. This “best man” is finally the one you will marry. And he plans on being at your side for the rest of our lives.’
46
Briony ate her salade niçoise sitting out at the table on the terrace before making her way up with Meg to the brocante ready to open for the first Sunday afternoon. Once there, she left the door ajar and got busy straightening out items and filling gaps where things had sold with replacement items from the box under the table. She wrote reminders in the notebook about sourcing some similar stock of the more popular pieces. Whilst she was busy, Meg made herself at home under the table as usual.
