Faye came across to the chateau a few minutes before the agreed time of half past seven, still digesting her surprise that Gavin had agreed to come out for dinner. Miss Beech’s powers of persuasion were truly impressive but, then, very few people of either sex would be likely to turn down an invitation to dinner with a Hollywood star of Miss Beech’s stature. Faye came in through the kitchen, where Claudette glanced up from what she was doing long enough to say hello before returning all her attention to her cooking. Faye stopped to greet Marlon and he followed her through to the lounge, tail wagging contentedly.
Miss Beech was already in her usual seat by the fireplace. She was wearing a charming, and no doubt expensive, evening gown. Her hair was pinned up and there were long, pendant diamond earrings glittering at the sides of her face. She had evidently been at the make-up box and she genuinely looked twenty, maybe thirty years younger. At least from this distance.
‘Miss Beech, you look absolutely amazing. I’ve not seen that dress before. Is it new?’
Miss Beech smiled and shook her head. ‘Thank you, my dear. No, it’s not new. I don’t very often buy new clothes these days. I’ve got so, so many upstairs. Remind me to show you one of these days. There are two rooms just full of clothes … and, believe me, they’re big rooms. Ball gowns, cocktail dresses – you name it, I’ve got it. In fact, I’ve been thinking of giving a load of them to one of those charity auctions for a good cause.’
She took a closer look at Faye, who had chosen a light summery dress she hadn’t worn before. ‘And you, my dear, you look breathtaking. What a lovely dress, and the yellow shows off your tan so well. Eddie, look, isn’t she gorgeous?’
Eddie, too, was looking very smart in a white shirt and freshly laundered jeans. In fact, Faye had never seen him in any other type of trousers. His hair was freshly washed and his ponytail combed. Instead of espadrilles, tonight he was wearing soft leather deck shoes. He wasn’t using the wheelchair, but he was standing awkwardly and Faye reflected that his hip operation would be coming up in only a few days’ time. No doubt he would be delighted to get it done. In spite of his evident discomfort, he gave Faye a big smile.
‘She could be you at the same age, Anabelle. Quite stunning. Faye, how about I fix you that Manhattan I’ve been promising?’
Faye didn’t know what the ingredients of a Manhattan were, but he was obviously keen to show off his cocktail-making talents, so she nodded, while Miss Beech picked up on what Eddie had said. ‘He’s right, you know, Faye. So similar in build, height, everything. I know, how would you like to try a few of my old gowns some time?’ She glanced down at Faye’s sandals. ‘Your feet even look about the same size. I bet we could get you looking better than a lot of these new actresses you see on the screen these days. Would you like that?’
Would she like that? Faye was absolutely blown away at the idea of being able to try on some of the stunning dresses she had seen in the old photos of Miss Beech that lined the wall. ‘I would love that, Miss Beech. I really would.’
Just then, they heard the bell ring and Marlon transformed from amiable companion to ravening guard dog, leaping to his feet and charging out into the hall making a terrible racket.
‘Faye, dear, would you go and let them in. I’m sure Claudette’s got a million things to do in the kitchen.’
‘Of course.’ Faye followed the dog out into the hall and pressed the button to open the gates. She patted Marlon on the head and, mercifully, he stopped barking, but Faye knew it would only be a temporary lull. A minute later, she heard footsteps crunching through the gravel on the drive and the dog erupted once again. Faye was trying to calm him down when, suddenly, Marlon must have worked out who was on the other side of the door as he lapsed into silence and started wagging his tail. ‘Marlon, you really are a noisy blighter; you know that?’ Faye pushed him out of the way with her knee and opened the door.
‘Good evening. Thanks for coming. Sorry about the noisy welcome.’ She stepped to one side, holding Marlon by the collar for fear that he might leap all over the guests, and she let Dominique and Gavin into the house, closing the door behind them.
‘You can let Marlon go, Faye. We’ll be fine.’ Dominique was wearing a very smart red dress that complemented her dark hair beautifully. Beside her, Gavin looked every bit the image of many a Hollywood idol Miss Beech would have known in her time. He, like Eddie, was wearing a crisp white shirt, but with dark trousers, rather than jeans. His hair was immaculately styled and somehow he looked even taller and his shoulders even broader.
As Faye released her hold on the dog’s collar she reflected that they did, indeed, make a great couple. She kissed Dominique on both cheeks and then, rather primly, held out her hand towards Gavin. He took it and shook it.
‘Good evening, Faye.’ He sounded a bit formal and she could see it was costing him some effort to appear comfortable in a social environment, when he clearly wasn’t.
‘Faye, you look lovely.’ Dominique, on the other hand, looked delighted to have been invited. ‘That colour really suits you.’ She glanced down at her hands. She was holding a big bunch of roses. ‘Shall I give these to you or to Miss Beech?’
‘Definitely to Miss Beech. She and Eddie Marshal are in the lounge, through that door there. Do, please, go in.’ She stood to one side as Dominique and Gavin followed the direction of her outstretched hand and went inside.
By this time, Miss Beech had got to her feet and she looked even more striking, just like one of the photos lining the wall, apart from the minor detail of sixty years having passed. She received Dominique and Gavin effusively, kissing them both and giving Dominique a hug.
‘No little girl?’ Miss Beech sounded disappointed.
Dominique shook her head. ‘No, I managed to get Chantal from the village to come and babysit. She’s done it before and Elise knows her.’ She glanced across at Faye. ‘She tells me she’s doing your English course and they all think you’re marvellous.’
Miss Beech smiled. ‘I’m sure Faye’s wonderful. She’s such a clever girl. But promise me you’ll bring Elise up here for tea one day. I’d love to see her.’ Then, ignoring Faye’s blushes, she turned to Gavin. ‘Eddie’s dying to mix some cocktails. Would you like one?’
‘I’m making a Manhattan for Faye. How does one of those sound?’
‘That sounds terrific for me, thank you.’ Gavin glanced across at Dominique. ‘Dominique, what about you?’ His voice was a bit strained, but Faye was pleased to see him looking a bit more relaxed.
Dominique and Miss Beech opted for glasses of white wine and Faye rather wished she had done the same. What, she wondered to herself, was in a Manhattan anyway? But, by now it was too late. Seconds later, Eddie presented them with their drinks.
‘Here are your Manhattans. I make them fairly strong, so probably best not to gulp them down in one.’ Faye took the tall cocktail glass from Eddie and was then pleased to hear Gavin gallantly propose a toast to Miss Beech.
As Faye held up her glass, she studied it. Lying at the bottom was what looked like a Maraschino cherry, covered by a chestnut brown liquid, with a couple of ice cubes bobbing at the top. When the time came to taste it, her immediate reaction was to heartily agree with Eddie’s assessment that he had made it strong. Whatever else was in there, there was a healthy, or more probably unhealthy, shot of some kind of powerful spirit, and it almost burned her lips. She mustered a smile and set the glass down, determined to make this one last.
In deference to Eddie’s hip and Miss Beech’s age, they all sat down on the sofas and Miss Beech expertly got them talking. It was mostly in English for Miss Beech’s sake, but she clearly understood a good deal of what Dominique said in French and the conversation flowed. In particular, she managed to draw Gavin into the conversation by asking him about this year’s lavender crop.
As he answered her questions, Faye could see him visibly start to relax a bit more and she felt sure this social outing would be very good for helping him to overcome the depression that had been plaguing him. She had, by now, worked out that what she had initially interpreted as grumpiness was the sadness brought about by the deaths of first his father, and then his brother in the accident. Hopefully this meant that he was starting to get back to normal at long last.
Faye joined in the lavender conversation herself at one point. ‘I’ve got a lady called Désirée Desherbes in my English class. I gather her father’s firm are big in lavender. Do you work with them?’
Gavin nodded. ‘Yes, they buy all our lavender and roses. I’ve known Oscar Desherbes since I was a little boy. My father and he were good friends.’
‘She tells me they have a holiday home here and they used to come every summer.’
‘Yes. Gavin knows Désirée all right,’ Dominique chimed in with a grin on her face. ‘She and he used to have a bit of a thing when we were all youngsters. Isn’t that right, Gavin?’
He actually blushed. ‘That was a heck of a long time ago, Dominique. We were both still at school.’ He glanced across at Faye. ‘A bit of a holiday romance. It didn’t last. I think you’ll find she’s quite good at English. She spends a lot of time travelling round on business for the company, as far as I know.’
‘Yes, well, she’s definitely one of the best in the top class.’
Faye sat next to Gavin at dinner, opposite Dominique, and they chatted about all manner of things from farming to Miss Beech’s biography and to Faye’s English lessons. A bit later on, taking advantage of the relaxed environment, Faye deemed the time right to ask him for a favour.
‘In our English course, we’re role-playing conversations between foreign tourists and local winemakers. In a few weeks’ time, once they’ve got their confidence up, would you maybe be prepared to come along one evening to play the part of a particularly demanding customer? I’d really like them to see what it’s like when they’re faced with a native speaker. Would you be prepared to do that? Please …’
As she had intended, in the present company, he couldn’t really say no and she was delighted to hear him agree. ‘Of course I’ll do it, but I’ve got a favour to ask of you in return.’ He gave her a smile. ‘Although it’s already started, please could you squeeze Dominique into your course? She really needs to do some English too.’ He looked across the table. ‘Right, Dominique?’
Dominique nodded. ‘Right. I’ve been putting it off and putting it off, but I really need to do something about my English.’
Faye was delighted. ‘Terrific! And of course I can find a place for Dominique.’
It was a very pleasant evening and a predictably excellent meal. Claudette’s starter was a serving of foie gras, presented on a bed of caramelized pears, accompanied by warm toast in a basket. Also on the plate were quails’ eggs and a selection of green and black olives. The dish was served with a glass of ice-cold Sauternes wine: rich, sweet, and golden. The lamb that followed was as good as ever, and the accompanying Meursault excellent. By the time they reached the tarte tatin, Faye was feeling absolutely full, but awed to have been on the receiving end of such a feast.
Finally, as the clock struck eleven, an hour later than her norm, Miss Beech rose to her feet and bade them all goodnight. Gavin and Dominique stood up, thanked Miss Beech profusely, and took their leave at the same time. Faye stood at the top of the steps and watched the pair of them head off along the drive and reflected, once again, upon what a good couple they made. She returned to the dining room where Eddie was now left on his own.
He stood up gingerly and came across to her side.
‘Feel like joining me in a nightcap?’
Mainly as a result of having barely sipped at her hurricane-strength Manhattan, Faye hadn’t actually drunk very much, so, when she saw the label on the bottle he was holding, she agreed. ‘Yes, please, but not a big one.’ Together they walked across to the fireplace and settled down, Eddie opting for the wheelchair.
He produced two huge balloon glasses and slopped a good shot of the very old cognac into them. As he did so, he pointed out the significance of the date on the bottle. ‘1934: the year Anabelle was born. I bought her this a couple of years ago.’ He gave Faye a grin. ‘It wasn’t cheap and I thought she might like to keep it as a souvenir or an investment, but she cracked it open there and then and insisted we both have some. But now, with these new pills she’s on, she no longer drinks the hard stuff, so she’s told me to bring it out on high days and holidays.’
Faye took a sip and sighed appreciatively. Yes, she thought to herself, you can keep all the Manhattans in the world. This stuff is pure nectar. She pushed her nose into the glass and breathed deeply.
‘Like it?’
‘Eddie, it’s amazing. Thank you so much.’
‘You’re very welcome.’ Eddie stretched back in the wheelchair, cradling the glass in his cupped hands.
Faye took another mouthful of cognac and let it trickle slowly down her throat. ‘Eddie, could I ask you a personal question?’ She was quick to qualify what she had said. ‘Not for the book, I promise. Just for me.’ He nodded so she took her courage in both hands. ‘Did you ever marry, Eddie?’
‘No, never. I’ve had a number of relationships over the years, but none really serious that lasted.’
‘So, you’ve never fallen in love?’
He looked up at her, the pale blue eyes twinkling. ‘Oh, I’ve fallen in love all right, Faye.’
She hesitated once more, sensing that her next question was the big one. ‘And would I be right in thinking that the person you fell in love with is somebody who lives here in this chateau?’ There was silence and she waited a few seconds before daring to look up from her glass. He was looking straight at her with a wry smile on his lips.
‘You would be right, Faye. Almost exactly fifty-two years ago. I can remember what she was wearing, what I was doing, and I can even remember the pair of blue jays sitting on the roof of her house at the time.’
‘And it’s lasted all these years?’
He shuffled uncomfortably in the wheelchair before taking another drop of cognac. ‘It hasn’t been easy, Faye.’ His voice was little more than a whisper and Faye had to lean forward to catch his words. ‘Without realizing it, she’s broken my heart more times than I can tell you, but the heart’s a resilient muscle. It never stopped me from loving her.’
‘Even when she married, what, three times?’
‘Even so. Your Mr Shakespeare knew a thing or two about love. He hit the nail on the head when he wrote, “The course of true love never did run smooth”. No fool, Shakespeare.’ He was staring into the depths of the empty fireplace, as if unaware of Faye’s presence. She kept her voice as low as his.
‘And what about her, Eddie? Does she know how you feel? Do you know how she feels?’ She had to wait a long time for an answer.
‘Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? But it doesn’t matter. It won’t change the way I feel about her.’ He turned towards Faye until their eyes met. His expression was more serious now. ‘Not for the book, okay? You promised.’
Faye nodded. ‘It’s a promise. Definitely not for the book. Thanks, Eddie, I sort of thought I knew the answer already.’
Just then, the door was pushed open and Marlon came trotting into the room, closely followed by Claudette. The dog made a beeline for Faye and, before she could stop him, had put his front paws on her lap and was standing up, trying to lick her face. She leant away, swallowed the last of the cognac in her glass, and set it down on a little table before pushing him back down again. Then she stood up and subjected him to what was intended to be a stern look. ‘You don’t do that to a girl wearing her best frock, Marlon. You should be ashamed of yourself.’
He didn’t look in the least bit ashamed, but he did look as if he would like a walk. Faye turned to Eddie. ‘I think I’ll take our friend here out for a walk. Thanks so much for a wonderful evening and a lovely chat.’
‘Any time, Faye. Any time.’