It now appeared nearly a blessing, what had occurred to her when she’d stopped to assist Madame Rémy. It had been dreadful, in fact, as she’d instructed Beatrice. Even horrifying, particularly when she’d regained consciousness to seek out every little thing gone, together with her cash and passport.

But now, this view and considering how shut she’d grown to the Rémy household, maybe it was additionally one of the best factor that had ever occurred to her?

Her life in England had grown slender, uninteresting and samey, she needed to admit. She may not think about returning to it after this journey, or not with a lot enthusiasm. Particularly now she knew her mom and grandmother have been each nonetheless alive and in Paris. Her mom had made it clear she was not a clingy girl and wouldn’t be urgent for a better relationship now they’d been reunited. However maybe she may go to Paris once more subsequent summer season, to test in on her household… and maybe see Leo too, if he was more likely to nonetheless be inquisitive about then? Or was that mere wishful considering on her half?

Making an attempt to stay within the second, quite than dwell on what would possibly occur within the unforeseeable future, she took a bathe after which soaked her scorching, aching ft in chilly water. Her physique being unused to such intense warmth, it felt like her ft had nearly doubled in measurement through the lengthy prepare journey. She had visions of needing clown footwear…

Afterwards, as soon as her ft had returned to a daintier measurement, Maeve lay down on her mattress within the stultifying summer season warmth to relaxation, only for a couple of minutes.

Solely she started to dream of tall, darkish Leo, standing earlier than his easel, paintbrush in hand, the most important paintbrush she had ever seen, and it was rising larger and larger the more durable he painted…

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Shocked by a loud crash, Maeve sat up groggily and realised she should have dozed off. Both that or she was nonetheless asleep and not dreaming of Leo and his monumental paintbrush, however of some imperial palace in China, the place some dignity in rustling silks had simply been introduced and everybody was bowing right down to them. As a result of she may have sworn {that a} gong had simply been struck someplace beneath her in the home.

A gong…

Hadn’t Beatrice talked about one thing a few gong?

She blinked, confused. How lengthy had she been asleep? It was nonetheless sunny exterior her window and she or he may hear birdsong. But there was a golden-orange glow to the sunshine now that instructed her the time have to be effectively into night.

The gong sounded three extra occasions, every resounding GONG louder and extra insistent. She obtained the impression somebody was standing there with a big gong mallet, enthusiastically whipping a big, gold-foil-wrapped after-dinner mint for all they have been price…

Come right down to the terrace when the gong sounds. Wasn’t that what Beatrice had mentioned, or phrases to that impact?

Leaping up guiltily, Maeve splashed her face with cool water, utilizing the helpful nook sink in her room. Then she dragged a cool summer season gown over her head and mounted a barely unfastened pair of sandals borrowed but once more from Bernadette, earlier than descending to the terrace as shortly as she may in flapping sandals with out falling downstairs. Speak about clown footwear…

Embarrassingly, she discovered the entire household already assembled beneath burgeoning vines supported by a lattice construction of wood slats and wire cables, comfortable purplish grapes dangling right here and there, thick foliage offering light shade as everybody sat having fun with pre-dinner aperitifs on the terrace. There, a glass of some milky substance referred to as ‘pastis’ was pressed into her hand, and she or he was launched to Henri and Beatrice’s different grown-up kids, a number of of whom nonetheless lived at house and labored within the winery.

After a lot handshaking and cheek-kissing, adopted by a gulp of the aniseed-flavoured pastis that left her gasping and spluttering, she was directed to a seat reverse Leo.

He grinned at her. ‘Glad you possibly can make it. I used to be practically dispatched to seek out out if you happen to’d obtained misplaced in your method downstairs.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she hissed throughout at him, ‘I fell asleep. I used to be drained.’ She frowned at him, attempting to not be resentful of the truth that he nonetheless regarded recent and clear-eyed. ‘Why aren’t you drained?’

‘I used to be, however I had an influence nap,’ he instructed her calmly, rising to shake palms with a late arrival, yet one more of Henri and Beatrice’s kids, this one referred to as Francois, a shambolic younger man whom Leo launched to Maeve in such a flurry of dialect that she was left with no clue what was being mentioned.

The lengthy dinner desk was set with a cheerful, red-striped tablecloth and matching purple linen napkins, with glassware glowing by the sunshine of many fats candles flickering inside glass containers. Bowls and dishes piled excessive with vibrant salads, greens and succulent-looking meats had been organized all the best way down the center, interspersed by water bottles and stoppered pichets of purple wine.

Having carried out the final dish, which regarded like trout sprinkled with almonds, Beatrice sat down, shaking out her serviette with a flourish and a snug smile. ‘Bon appetit, tout le monde!’

Following the others’ instance, Maeve started to assist herself to salad and roast rooster, deeply conscious of Leo’s gaze on her face.

Okay, what was he ?

Paranoia started to work on her, aided and abetted by the milky pastis, which tasted much less fierce after a couple of mouthfuls. Possibly her hair regarded like a haystack. Or perhaps she had purple marks on her cheek from having slept so lengthy and so deeply in a single place…

Leo was trying unusually presentable in a crisp, short-sleeved white shirt opened on the neck to disclose a broad chest with a couple of manly hairs curling simply inside view. His shoulder-length modern black hair had been just lately washed, she suspected, and combed right into a John Wick lookalike fashion. He had not shaved once more although, so there was a faint darkish shadow about his chin and jaw that gave him a broodingly attractive air…

An influence nap, eh?

‘I, um, hope the fireplace harm wasn’t as intensive as you feared,’ she mentioned eventually, addressing Leo in English whereas the others have been chatting round them.

He broke aside a crusty baguette and dipped a fraction right into a spicy bean combine dripping with olive oil. ‘No, it wasn’t full devastation, you’re proper. And it’s nearly sorted now. They’re simply ready on an inspector to test and log off on the rewiring. Then the showroom will probably be again in enterprise.’ He ate for a second, then poured each her and himself a big glass of water. ‘The timing couldn’t have been worse although. Henri depends closely on coachloads of vacationers stopping right here to style the wine. Nonetheless, the place has solely been out of fee a short while.’ He grimaced. ‘The insurance coverage premium will probably be by means of the roof once we renew, sadly. However that may’t be helped.’

Clearly having caught a few of their dialog, Henri muttered one thing in settlement, and gestured her to strive one of many pichets of purple wine. ‘Let me know what you suppose,’ he instructed Maeve. ‘It’s drawn from a cask of our personal Rémy label. Wealthy and earthy, with intense notes of raspberry and a lingering plum aftertaste.’ He grinned as his son Pierre guffawed at this, and clapped him on the again. ‘In keeping with a current assessment, that’s,’ he added with a wink. ‘However I’d welcome your opinion.’

Feeling all eyes upon her, Maeve gingerly poured herself half a glass of the aromatic purple wine, and took a cautious sip.

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