Page 61 of The English Professor

‘How are you going to do that?’

‘First, you and I are going to go to Ambleside tonight to see what the crack is there.’

‘Alright,’ I said. ‘A bit of sleuthing and dining?’

The strained look on Jack’s face eases and he laughs. ‘Steady on, Miss Marple. But I like the attitude. We’re going to sleuth the hell out of that place.’

‘But they’ll know you. I’m probably a better sleuther—more incognito.’

Jack grins. ‘I knew I brought you here for a reason. I’m discovering new things about you every day.’

‘And what was the next thing you had to do?’

‘See what we find out and then I’m going to give Kenny a call.’

‘Who’s Kenny?’

‘My private investigator.’

I had never heard a more intriguing string of words and I nearly spit out my coffee. ‘Why on earth do you have your own private investigator?’

‘Long story.’

‘It always is.’

‘Let’s head back to the cottage.’

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JACK WAS RIGHT WHENhe said that we’d be on a schedule here. It’s exciting and exotic and I’m savouring every single minute of whatever sort of mid-week break we’re on. As we’re getting ready to drive to Ambleside, there is a knock at the door.

Jack answers and an older woman is standing there holding a bouquet of flowers. ‘Jacques!’ she exclaims. ‘I had to come say hello. We barely you see anymore.’ She embraces him and kisses him on each cheek.

‘Huguette!Entrez, entrez,’ Jack says in French.

‘And who is this, Jacques?’ She eyes him coyly but lovingly, clearly happy to meet a lady friend of his. She walks over to give me a big hug too and I love her immediately. She’s warm and friendly and smells like lavender. Her pale grey hair is piled into a messy chignon and soft, wispy tendrils that have escaped her up-do frame her round face and rosy cheeks. ‘Enchantez, mademoiselle,’ she says to me in her beautiful French accent.

‘Nice to meet you,’ I reply.

‘Huguette, this is Leyna. Leyna, Huguette owns the B&B a few doors down. She’s known me a very long time.’

‘I have known Jacques since he was a very young boy,’ Huguette agrees and hands me the lovely bouquet of flowers she’s brought over. ‘Did you get the bread we left you?’

‘Oui, merci, Huguette. That was very kind of you.’

‘It is my pleasure. It is so nice to see you. And to see you so happy again,mon coeur.’ She reaches up and grabs his cheeks as though Jack is still a little boy. It’s lovely to see that they clearly have a tender relationship.

‘Would you like to stay for a cup of tea,’ I ask.

‘I would love to, but I cannot just now. I have left Bernard with the chickens and,franchement, I hope the house is still standing when I get back. Last time it was the chickens that won and hours later I found one wandering around thesalon,et voila,’ she flings her arms up and into the air. ‘That’s just how it goes when you leave Bernard in charge of the B&B,’ she winks at Jack. ‘It was risky even coming here,’ she jokes.

I laugh with her despite not having a clue what or who she’s talking about. She’s a happy, boisterous woman and her infectious laughter spreads to us all.

‘Promise me you’ll say goodbye before you head back,mon cher,’ she says to Jack grabbing his hands once more.

‘I wouldn’t dare leave without saying goodbye.’

‘It was lovely to meet you,’ I chime in.

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