Page 8 of A French Inheritance

‘I promise I won’t make a habit of leaving Luna with you,’ Elliot said as Lucy handed him a bacon sandwich.

‘It’s just this first day I’m supposed to be shadowing Julian and I’m not sure where exactly this shadowing is going to take me.

Might be all day in the clinic, might be out and about, and I don’t want to have to leave Luna in the car for hours. ’

‘It’s not a problem,’ Lucy said. ‘You forget this kitchen was her home before you turned up, and Django loves having her here. Jeannie and Briony are coming for coffee this morning and I know Jeannie at least will love seeing Luna. I haven’t met Briony yet.’

‘Luna has already greeted and been greeted by Briony with open arms down by the lake.’

‘What’s she like?’

‘She seems… nice. A sensible sort. But not too sensible.’

Lucy glanced at her brother-in-law sharply. ‘I take that “sensible” to mean she wasn’t tottering about on high heels down by the lake?’ Lucy had never forgotten the one and only time Robyn had visited the farm with Elliot, dressed like a fashion plate, right down to her Louboutin heels.

‘Blue wellington boots with rainbows on them.’ Elliot remembered, suppressing a smile. He’d seen the boots while Briony was petting and talking to Luna. Practical but fun.

Lucy looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Jeannie mentioned that her daughter had just gone through a bitter divorce and was depressed. Maybe you?—’

Elliot swiftly swallowed the last of the bacon sandwich and turned to leave. ‘Thanks again, I’ll see you later. Luna, be good.’

‘Good Luck,’ Lucy called out as he disappeared.

Elliot had known without the words being spoken where Lucy was going with her comment.

Lately, she seemed to be making it her mission in life to find him a new, better, wife than the one he’d divorced.

Useless to protest that, a) he didn’t want another wife, and b) he had no intention of ever getting close to a woman again.

Opening the door of his Toyota Outlander, he double-checked that his emergency medical kit that he routinely carried was in place before he turned the engine on.

At the same time, he switched the thoughts in his head off and his brain into work mode.

It was such a relief to be getting back to do the job he lived for.

When he was in work persona, he was the respected vet he’d worked so hard to become, a safe outward version of who he truly wanted to be.

Rather than the man who’d lost everything at the hands of a scheming woman.

* * *

Lucy stood leaning against the bar of the big cooking range, drinking from a large mug of tea and watching Adam devour the pile of toast that she’d made. Breakfast and supper were the two times of day when they could both be sure of having time to talk and discuss things.

‘Elliot get off all right?’ Adam asked between slices. ‘Big day for him.’

‘One he’s been looking forward to for some time,’ Lucy said.

‘His biggest worry was leaving Luna behind, but he knows she’s happy with us – and Django likes the company.

’ She laughed, looking across to where both dogs were curled up in the extra-large dog basket together.

She took her phone out of her pocket and took a couple of pictures of the dogs.

‘I need to start to put a new video together today and tomorrow – are you doing anything I can film today? Haven’t really got a lot of footage since the major renovations finished.

I thought I’d showcase the g?te cottage and possibly Bruno down in the vineyard, although I know he’s not keen. ’

Their YouTube channel had been a hit with viewers from almost day one and had become a useful source of income for them over the years and their subscribers had now reached almost half a million.

Lucy was afraid, though, that their viewers would drift away if she didn’t continue to put out interesting content.

‘How about a quick walk around our not-so-secret project now that it’s finally underway and there’s actually something to show?’ Adam suggested.

‘Good idea. We need to get the word out, even though we’re still a few years away before we have anything to sell.’ Lucy gave Adam a speculative look. ‘You happy to go on camera and explain what and why we’ve invested in this particular product? Rather than me doing a voiceover as I walk.’

Adam pulled a face. ‘You know how much I hate being on camera, but I suspect for this I need to explain our reasons. Can’t do today. Tomorrow morning?’

Lucy nodded.

‘The stables are looking good too now the renovations are complete. Going to need your magic touch on the decor – maybe do a couple of shots of the bare rooms before you start explaining the plans you have?’

‘I’ll do that,’ Lucy said. ‘But I think the videos are slowly becoming more about our lifestyle in France now all the banging and hammering is slowing down. Are you happy with that?’

‘Think so. Wouldn’t want them to be too invasive, though,’ Adam said. ‘I know people love to see behind the scenes, but we do need to keep some privacy. And don’t forget we’ve still got the cottages further down on the farm to renovate, so there will be more building work going on this summer.’

Lucy nodded. ‘It was easier when all the major rebuilding work was happening – there was so much of it to show people! Think I’ll cut back to a thirty-minute video once a week this summer, rather than two a week like I’ve been doing. I should be able to film enough interesting content for that.’

Adam stood up. ‘Right. Talking about those cottages, I need to get down there and assess what building materials we need and how much of everything to make a start on one of them. Be good to get it underway this summer.’

‘I’ll walk the dogs and then make a couple of cakes – one for the freezer and one for Jeannie and Briony this morning.’ Lucy reached up and gave Adam a kiss. ‘See you later.’

Her mobile pinged as Adam left.

‘Hi Debs. How’s things?’

‘Great. Mum, just checking if you want us to bring anything over Easter? I know it’s a few weeks away, but I’m trying to get organised.’

Lucy laughed. ‘Be a first if you manage that. But thanks, can’t think of anything. You’ve given Dad your flight details yet?’

‘Yeah. Think we land about four o’clock. See you soon. Love you. Bye.’

‘Bye,’ Lucy echoed, but the call had ended and she gave a small chuckle. Debs loved her phone for sending emails and texts and keeping up with social media, but she had a real phobia of actually making phone calls. She always raced through them at top speed.

Lucy gave an inward sigh. She hadn’t even had a chance to ask how Hannah was. Never mind. Easter wasn’t that far away when they would both be home for a few days.

* * *

Briony and Jeannie decided to walk up to the farm via the track through the fields rather than drive round by road to have coffee with Lucy.

The walk up to and through into the Top Field proceeded in silence.

Opening and closing the various gates Briony could sense that Jeannie wanted to say something and deliberately kept walking a couple of metres in front of her.

As they opened the final gate into the farmyard, Briony glanced at her mum.

‘Can we please not mention the bombshell you dropped at breakfast? I’ve got to get my head around it before I start talking about it to strangers.’

‘Of course,’ Jeannie agreed. ‘You’ve got a lot to think about. We can talk about it again later.’

They saw Lucy waiting for them.

‘Jeannie, how lovely to see you again,’ Lucy said, hugging her.

‘I was so, so sorry to hear about Giselle.’ She turned to Briony.

‘Welcome, Briony, nice to finally meet you. Giselle talked about you so much, I feel I know you already. Come on into the kitchen. I’ve made a coffee and walnut cake to go with our coffee. ’

As the three of them walked into the kitchen, both Luna and Django got out of the basket and came to greet them, with Luna making a beeline for Briony before suddenly stopping, sniffing the air and charging quickly across to Jeannie.

‘Remember me as well, do you?’ Jeannie said, bending down to stroke her before straightening up. ‘Adam not joining us for coffee?’

‘He’ll probably pop in to say hello whilst you’re here,’ Lucy said, crossing over to the coffee machine and pressing buttons. ‘He’s down at the cottages working out what materials he needs to order first for the next rebuild he’s getting ready to start.’

‘He’s done wonders with this place, in such a short time,’ Jeannie said. ‘I know Giselle thought you’d both taken on too much, but I think she seriously underestimated Adam’s abilities.’

‘Most people thought we were crazy,’ Lucy laughed. ‘But we were determined and, thankfully, it seems to be working out. Elliot arriving unexpectedly a year ago and pitching in to help has been good too. He’s started his new job today though – that’s why Luna is here.’

‘What does he do?’ Briony asked.

‘He’s a vet. A brilliant one, actually. Was on course to have his own practice in the UK until things went wrong in his life – the story of which is not mine to tell,’ Lucy said, smiling at Briony.

‘Anyway, the French accepted his RCVS qualifications months ago with one proviso. He needed to be fluent in French to be allowed to practise here, so he’s spent the last three months doing an intensive French course, which he has now passed.

’ Lucy stopped talking and picked up a knife and started to cut the cake into generous slices.

‘So if you want help with your French while you’re here, Elliot’s your man. ’

‘Having grown up with a French father and grandmother, I’m a rather rusty bilinguist,’ Briony said, smiling.

‘Gosh, you’ve got a head-start. Right, coffee is ready, milk for everyone?’

‘Just black for me,’ Briony said. ‘No sugar. Thank you.’

‘Giselle said you were an auctioneer,’ Lucy said, looking at Briony. ‘That sounds a fun job.’

Briony shook her head. ‘I wasn’t strictly an auctioneer, I organised auctions for a large auction company. But yes, it was a fun job. Sadly I’ve just been made redundant.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, it’s always a blow.’

‘You never know, sometimes these things prove to be a blessing in disguise,’ Jeannie said quietly. ‘This cake is delicious. Giselle used to make a similar one.’

‘It’s Giselle’s recipe,’ Lucy said, smiling at her.

Briony tuned out as her mother and Lucy started to talk about Giselle, her recipes and how much she was missed in the village.

Her head was still buzzing from the earlier conversation with her mother, the almost casual way she had broken the news.

Giselle might have wanted her to move to France and live in the cottage, but it was a ridiculous idea.

Her life was in England. There was no way she could move here permanently or even keep the cottage as a holiday home, however much that idea might appeal.

She didn’t have the resources. And how could her mother possibly think redundancy could prove to be a blessing in disguise?

As for her mother wanting to sell up and move over – was that a ploy cooked up by her mother and grandmother to try to keep the cottage in the family in the hope that she, Briony, would one day realise she wanted to make her home in France?

The likelihood of that happening in the near future was remote, to say the least, despite the fact she could tell Jeannie was sincere when she said it was something she longed to do.

Briony sighed. She knew it would mark the end of an era, which was sad, but she couldn’t see any way around the problem other than selling the cottage.

People like her simply didn’t own cottages in France and, in reality, it would be nothing but a financial drain to own property in a country you didn’t reside in.

‘Briony,’ Jeannie’s soft voice broke into her thoughts. ‘Lucy was asking if you’d like to have a wander around and see the improvements they’ve made.’

‘Sorry, I was miles away. Thinking about Granny,’ Briony apologised with a smile. ‘Yes, that would be lovely,’ and she dragged her thoughts back to the present moment.

Ten minutes later, coffee and cake finished, the three of them made their way out into the farmyard and down towards the artisan workshops and the pépinière .

The stable door to the leather workshop was open and Lucy quickly introduced them to Calvin, who was busy stitching a saddle.

‘Holly, the potter, is usually here, but she’s a single mum and her little girl isn’t well at the moment,’ Lucy said, gesturing at the middle workshop.

‘We were hoping to have a local artist using the remaining one, but she rang yesterday to tell Adam that she’s had to go back to the UK for the foreseeable future.

I’m sure somebody will turn up wanting to use it this summer. ’

As they had a quick look at all the plants on offer in the pépinière , Jeannie wondered silently about buying an agapanthus or two.

The blue ones in terracotta pots would look stunning on the cottage terrace.

She hurriedly pushed the thought away. Far too soon to be having thoughts like that when everything was up in the air and Briony hadn’t had time to come to the decision she prayed she would.