Page 50 of Sisters Making Mischief
Eugénie sat down at the table and gave a gracious nod.
‘You always look so elegant,’ I said, trying to persuade her out of her evidently bad mood. In fact, I didn’t think I had ever seen her wear the same outfit twice.
She looked at me with a meaningful expression and tapped the side of her aquiline nose.
‘I have – how would you say…? – contacts. Now then, the reason for my visit. That wooden box of pralines I gave you. I would like them returned. Charles wishes to see them and perhaps try one.’
Isabel and I pulled the same agonised expression, which said that this would not, and could not happen.
‘I’m not sure where they have got to,’ Isabel said.
At the same moment I blurted out, ‘We’ve eaten them all, I’m afraid. Ages ago. They were very good though.’
Having given the unacceptable answer, Eugénie focused her gaze on me. ‘You have eaten them? All of them?’
I nodded. ‘But… that was quite a long time ago,’ I added, ‘and it wasn’t just me.’
She took a sip of her coffee and stared at the far horizon, while behind her Isabel rolled her eyes and pretended to hang herself.
‘I’ve never known such greed,’ Eugénie said at last.
‘Well, you did give them to us,’ Isabel said.
‘Tohave. Not toeat,’ Eugénie said, ‘do you know that gift was over one hundred euros? I looked them up. You have mademe feel very unwell. I need some medication. There is some seriously wrong with me, my heart is fluttering.’
‘Sorry,’ we said in unison.
‘I still have the box,’ I said, knowing somehow that I was treading on dangerous territory but unable to stop myself, ‘it was too nice to throw out. I was going to do something clever with it.’
My voice faded at the look in Eugénie’s eyes. I think I knew how the dogs felt.
‘Ah yes,’ Eugénie said, her voice silky and slightly dangerous, ‘I know how this will go. I will set my table with my best china, which was left to me by a dear friend in her will. It isSèvresin case you wanted to know.Chateau de Fontain Bleupattern. Charles will arrive at six becauseil est toujours en avance, he is always prompt. He and I will have a Dubonnetfrappéand he will admire my hair. He notices such things. Then we will eat our supper by candlelight, I am going to make pasta. He has new teeth that will not cope with anything challenging. Afterwards we will perhaps talk about the old days, and he will pay me some extravagant compliments, which I will enjoy. Then I will make coffee, pour a small glass of cognac for each of us and say, “Look Charles. Look at this empty box. Joy assures me you can do something clever with it.”’
I slumped a little, feeling very foolish.
‘Perhaps you’d like a biscuit?’ Isabel suggested, with a weak smile.
‘I will tell Charles what has happened to his wonderful gift. My evening is in ruins. Instead of discussing his chocolates I suppose I will have to listen to him singing.’
‘Can he play the accordion?’ I blurted out, trying not to laugh at the memory of Felix the previous evening.
Isabel widened her eyes at me.
Eugénie sniffed. ‘I don’t know, and I have no wish to find out. I will take one biscuit now if it is offered.’
Later that day, we made our way to the barn and began making it look beautiful. At least that was the intention.
I pulled out the table, which newly polished with several coats of beeswax, looked wonderfully rustic. Then Isabel began bringing out all her treasures while I set the scene with the garlands of blue and cream bunting, several strings of fairy lights and the old, enamelled petrol signs which – having done some research – I was sure were worth more than the twenty-euro price tags Isabel had stuck on them.
I put out a few of the little milk bottles with red and white paper straws stuck into them, a couple of decorated tin plates, some faience pottery dishes, embroidered tablecloths and napkins and a slightly battered wicker hamper made a charming pretence of a school picnic on a side table.
‘It’s awfully good,’ Isabel said when we stopped for a drink of water, ‘I’d buy it all, I swear I would.’
‘Daft thing, you already did,’ I laughed.
‘Yes, but do I really want to sell these things? Couldn’t I just keep a few?’
‘And put them where?’ I said, ‘all your cupboards are full. And that’s not what you are trying to do here. You’re trying to make a profit.’
