Page 10 of The Granddaughter's Irish Secret
‘So exciting. All the new rooms here are so lovely,’ Rose said as they walked to the French doors. ‘But can you leave the baby here all alone?’
‘I’ll make sure she’s sleeping deeply, then Dom can wheel her into the living room while we have dinner.’
Rose nodded. ‘Sounds good. How are the plans for the garden centre coming along?’
Lily sighed. ‘Very slowly. But we’re getting there. Could be ready in a month or so.’ She stopped walking and looked at Rose. ‘I have another plan for the walled garden, and I need your support. As you and Henri are working together, and he holds the purse strings, so to speak, I was hoping you’d put in a good word about it. At least vote for it if it comes to that.’
‘He holds the purse strings?’ Rose replied, surprised.
‘Yes. I don’t think Arnaud wants to be too involved, so he’s shifted all of the responsibility for his investment to Henri,’ Lily said.
‘Great,’ Rose replied sarcastically. ‘Well, of course you have my support. And I have another little idea I’d like to put forward. Something I think Granny will love. I’ll talk about it while we have dinner.’
‘We’ll support each other,’ Lily said, putting her arm through Rose’s. ‘Just like in the old days.’
‘But this time it’s harder,’ Rose declared. ‘We’re up against a stuck-up Frenchman who is in charge of the funds.’
Lily laughed. ‘Yeah, but there are other investors,’ she argued. ‘They have to approve at the board meetings and they’re all people we know. Henri will have his job cut out for him with Granny’s feisty Kerry women.’
Rose laughed too. ‘Yeah, I can just picture him at the next board meeting. He’ll be less full of himself after that.’
They entered the new kitchen that was just off the hall. Rose stopped in the door and looked around in delight. The old country kitchen had been transformed into a bright room with tall windows, through which the evening sun shone on the polished floor tiles. There was a large round table in the alcove that had been created to separate it from the kitchen part, making it into a kind of dining room that overlooked what had once been the orchard, now overgrown. But the gnarled old apple trees were in full bloom – the canopy of white apple blossom cast a bright light into the room. There was a delicious smell of something cooking in wine and herbs.
‘This is beautiful,’ Rose exclaimed. ‘What a transformation from the dark old kitchen that was here before.’
‘Yes, isn’t it lovely?’ Sylvia said, beaming, as she sat down at the table laid with the best china, crystal and silver cutlery. ‘And I have my very own chef,’ she added, looking at Arnaud, who stood beside the large electric cooker.
‘You are a lucky duck,’ Lily said. ‘What are you cooking for us tonight, Arnaud?’
‘Coq au vin,’ Arnaud replied as he ladled the food onto a large platter. ‘Please sit down, all of you, then I’ll bring it to the table. There is bread and wine, if you could help me out with that, Henri.’
‘Of course, Papa,’ Henri said. He had tidied himself up and changed into dark trousers and a light blue shirt, which made him look less a beach bum and more like a successful executive.
‘He’s making an effort,’ Lily whispered in Rose’s ear as they sat down.
‘Maybe, but I’m not impressed,’ Rose whispered back as she felt Henri’s eyes on her. She met his gaze and smiled innocently as he approached her with a bottle of wine.
‘St Emilion, grand cru 2005,’ he mumbled in her ear.
‘And the same to you,’ Rose quipped, making Lily giggle.
‘Very funny.’ Henri looked less than amused.
‘He was being polite,’ Sylvia told Rose. ‘The waiter always tells guests what wine they are drinking at posh dinner parties in France.’
‘Well, we’re in Kerry now and Henri is not a waiter at a posh party.’ Rose raised her glass. ‘Cheers, everyone, whatever the name of the wine.’ With that, she took a huge swig, which went the wrong way, making her cough and splutter until Henri slapped her on the back.
‘That’s not the way to drink a good wine,’ he chided. ‘Especially one that costs fifty euros a bottle.’
‘What?’ Rose exclaimed. ‘Fifty euros? That seems like a huge rip-off.’
‘If you sip it slowly, you’ll see why it’s so expensive.’ Arnaud came to the table carrying a huge platter with coq au vin and potatoes. He handed the platter to Lily. ‘Please pass this around and save some for Dominic when he comes back. Where did he go?’
‘He went to wheel the baby into the living room,’ Lily said. ‘If she didn’t wake up, he’ll be here in a few minutes. Fingers crossed and prayers, please.’
‘I’m sure she’ll stay asleep,’ Sylvia said. ‘Can you all sit down and enjoy this meal? Henri, please stop walking around muttering the name of the wine into our ears. We know what it is and we’d prefer to read the label ourselves.’
‘Okay, Sylvia.’ Henri put the bottle on the table. ‘I just wanted to educate Rose a little.’
