Page 44 of Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure
“If we did want to do this, are there any men around here who would be willing to do the heavy work, do you think?”
“The fishermen are always glad to pick up extra work during the stormy winter months,” Monsieur Danton said. “And of course Louis. He is the man who can mend anything. He will help you, I’m sure. And Madame Gauchet’s son, Bruno. He is, how do you say it ... simple. He has the mentality of a small child. But he is strong and willing and eager to please. If you show him how to do something and speak to him patiently, then he will work most diligently at any task. And the extra money would certainly help his mother, who is a widow.”
They continued down the next flight of steps. “So tell me,” Ellie said. “Have you lived in this place all your life?”
“For most of it,” he said. “I had to do military service in the Great War, and of course I went away to study law. I thought I might live in the big city, but in the end my mother was frail and alone, and I came home.”
“So did you ever know the opera singer? The one who owned the villa?”
“Jeannette Hétreau? I believe I spotted her once when I was a young boy, passing in her big motor car. But she was very private. You can see how the villa is built. Completely cut off from the rest of us. She could enter up that driveway without anyone seeing her, and she brought her own servants. She did have produce and groceries delivered, but the servants took care of that. So no, she never mixed with ordinary people like us. Although sometimes ...” He paused, considering. “Sometimes we would hear the music. Someone would play the piano, and she would sing. That sound, floating out over the waters ... it was enchanting. Magical.”
“And you have no idea why she abandoned this place?”
“No idea at all. We never knew when she came and went. But apparently one day she just didn’t come any more. I was a small child in the early days of the century when I heard she had not returned. But it was much later when we read that she had died. During the Great War, I believe, although I’m not sure how and why she died.”
“But then you were contacted by her next of kin?”
“Their lawyers, of course, and we were asked to take care of taxes for the building.”
“But not to keep it up? That’s strange, isn’t it?”
“I thought so. But the new owner expressed no interest in ever wanting to use it. There may have been a clause in the will that he couldn’t sell it. I don’t know.”
They reached the bottom of the steps and came out into the alleyway. Monsieur Danton gave a nodding bow. “I shall take my leave of you, dear mesdames, and relay your request at the earliest moment.”
“Thank you so much,” Ellie said. “And thank you for taking the time to visit the villa with us. You have made us very excited. You will tell the owners that, won’t you? That we are keen to restore the villa to its former glory. Villa Gloriosa can live again.”
“I will tell them,” Monsieur Danton said. He turned and walked away, leaving them standing with bougainvillea spilling over the wall around them.
Chapter 17
“Well, that was an adventure.” Dora paused, still catching her breath. “We did say we wanted adventures, didn’t we? At least it won’t be boring or humdrum.”
Yvette took Ellie’s arm. “What about me, madame? Do I understand that you plan to stay in this place? You want to rent this villa?”
“That’s right,” Ellie said.
“Where am I to go? What am I to do?”
Ellie had almost forgotten about Yvette. She always made herself so inconspicuous, hanging back in the shadows. She had not even come into the villa to look at it, Ellie realized. She had been so captivated with her own excitement that she hadn’t realized its implications.
“Oh Yvette,” she said. “Yes, of course. Of course we’ll have to make arrangements for you. What would you want to do? When my motor car is mended, I can take you back to Marseille and maybe you could find a job there, or maybe I could drive you to one of the Riviera resorts.” She saw the panic in Yvette’s eyes. “Or ...” She paused, glancing at Dora and Mavis before she went on. “You could stay here with us until the baby comes. Help us fix up the villa and make it beautiful again?” She stopped, hesitated, realizing that she hadn’t consulted the other two about this. “If the other ladies are inagreement, of course?” she added. She repeated what had been said in English for Mavis.
“Where else would the girl go at this stage?” Dora said. “And a pair of strong arms might be helpful, although in her condition she shouldn’t do too much. But she can help with the garden and the kitchen. We can train her to be a maid so that she has job prospects for after the child is born.”
“Right.” Ellie beamed, glad that Dora was willing to consider this. “And what about you, Mavis? What do you feel about all this?”
“I suppose the poor girl’s got to go somewhere,” Mavis said. “It probably ain’t her fault that she’s in the family way. I can show her how to do housework properly and maybe even teach her some cooking.”
“Wonderful. So it’s all settled.” She turned back to Yvette, who had been standing, her eyes moving from one speaker to the next, not understanding a word. “Yvette,” she said. “If you wish, you may stay here with us. We will provide for you. Your food and a place to live. You will help us as much as you are able until the baby comes. What do you think of this idea?”
She saw relief on the girl’s face. “I am happy to hear this,” she said. “I was worried about where I could find a job until the baby comes. So I thank you. I am most grateful to you. You have been my angel, madame.”
“That’s good,” Ellie said. “And we will help you, too. We will try and contact the army to learn where your sweetheart is posted, and we can write to him for you. Maybe he’ll be happy to learn he is to be a father, and all will be well for you.”
Yvette did not look as relieved as Ellie thought she should. “Maybe,” she said. “But I can try to get in touch with him myself, madame.”
“You said you couldn’t read and write,” Dora said, frowning.
