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Luc looked self-conscious at the praise. “You’re welcome.”
“Wecan’t thankyouenough,” Julia said. “I don’t know what we would have done...”
“Think nothing of it.” Sylvie swatted her hand through the air in a motion that reminded Julia of Gabi. “Now, the two of you sleep well, and we will see you for breakfast.”
Julia glanced at Luc. He was gathering the pillows and blankets.
She picked up the lantern, and the two bid the Deschamps good night and walked into the cool night, following the path toward the barn.
Chapter Fourteen
Luc tucked the pillows andblankets under his arms, freeing his hands to push open one of the large barn doors. He stepped aside, motioning with a tip of his head for Julia to enter.
The inside of the building was dark. Julia held up the lantern and stepped inside, illuminating a vast, open space. She could smell the horses but couldn’t see the animals in the shadows.
“Pierre told me they plan to establish their own winery one day,” Luc said. His voice echoed off the rock floors and high ceiling.
“I hope they do.” Julia glanced upward, as if she might see the loft.
“Until then, they’ve an enormous empty barn for just one horse. This way.” Luc started toward the far end of the building. “Above the horse stalls.” They crossed the room. The Deschamps’ horse and Luc’s nickered in the shadows as they neared. They came to a ladder near the wall, and Luc motioned upward with his chin. “Up there.”
Julia nodded. She raised the lantern, trying to see what was at the top of the ladder, but above her was only darkness. She put a hand on a ladder rung, and then a foot. But she stepped back, hesitating. She wasn’t certain she could climb up while she was holding the lantern, not if she was to keep the long skirt out of the way. And what would she find when she reached the top? “Will you go first, Luc?”
He bundled the blankets and pillows into one arm and climbed up quickly using the other hand. He left the bedding, and then he returned part of the way back down, holding out his hand for the lantern.
Julia gave it to him, and he held it above her so she could see as she climbed. The wood of the rungs was rough, and her boots slipped a few times. She climbed slowly, making certain to step carefully and not to catch the skirts under her boots. When she reached the top, Luc took her hand, and she stepped onto the floor of the loft.
“Watch your head,” Luc said.
Julia ducked down, noticing the thick beams that ran along the ceiling. She imagined it would be quite easy to smack one’s head, especially in the darkness.
He led her to the center of the loft, where the sloping roof was higher.
The space was larger than she’d assumed, stretching back to the wall at least fifteen feet. When she took stock of her surroundings, Julia froze. “Oh. I didn’t realize...” The loft was not a guest room at all. There were no beds, not even a mattress. Piles of hay covered most of the floor, and a pitchfork stuck out of one. “Surely we’re not meant to...” Her words died when she saw Luc’s grimace.
“I apologize, Juliette.” He set the lantern down on the floor and removed his hat, looking around the space. The uncomfortable expression returned, pulling his brows together and making his eyes tight. “I didn’t intend for... I know a fine lady is not used to...” He let out a sigh, rubbing his hands over his face. “You have probably never even been in a barn, let alone slept in one.”
Julia tried to remember whether or not she’d in fact had reason to go inside such a place. She felt a tinge of disappointment that she could not come up with an instance to prove him wrong. “Have you?”
“Eh, oui. Now and then.” He shrugged. “We do not have roadside inns or towns every few miles in Provence.”
Perhaps his unease over the situation was not for the reasons she’d assumed. She glanced around for somewhere to sit, but with no options in sight, she remained standing, clasping her hands in front of her. “This seems a particularly nice barn. Though, you’re right. I haven’t many examples with which to compare it.”
Luc looked to the side, and she again suspected the discomfort she’d seen earlier may not be directed at her after all. A bit of her heaviness lifted.
“Is this what’s been bothering you?” she asked. “That the amenities here would not meet with my approval?” Seeing his grimace, she knew she’d hit upon it exactly. In spite of the hay-covered floor and the smell of horses, she felt an enormous relief.
“Oui.” His voice was low. He folded his arms and shook his head. “I am to blame for all of this. If I’d controlled the wagon... And I shouldn’t have insisted we misrepresent our relationship. You should not have to sleep in such a place, Juliette.” He looked toward the ladder. “If I confess the truth to the Deschamps, ask if you might sleep inside, perhaps on the sofa—”
Julia touched his arm, and his words stopped. “The wagon was not your fault. You let the reins go to catch me. The goats were everywhere, the rain and mud... You cannot blame yourself for any of that. Besides, we wouldn’t have been in this circumstance in the first place had I not tied poor Fleur to that tree.” She leaned her head to the side to catch his gaze. “As for the deception, your reasoning for it was sound.” She nodded to hopefully reassure him, then stepped back, looking around the space with a changed attitude.
She was determined not to let him see her apprehension about the sleeping quarters. “Anyway, it is just one night. I am not made of glass, Luc Paquet. This loft is entirely suitable.” She picked up a blanket and shook out the folds. “Now...” She looked around, trying to decide where to put it. She was not certain of how to go about preparing a bed on the hay piles. Did she just make a nest and curl up inside?
Luc’s worries seemed to ease. He tossed his hat onto the hay. He took the blanket from her and held it over his arm while he bunched up one of the piles and then laid the blanket over it, making the hay into a sort of mattress. He handed her a pillow and another of the blankets, keeping the last for himself.
“I’ll stay on that side of the loft,” he said, pointing toward the shadows near the ladder.
“Merci,” Julia said. She sat on the makeshift bed but wasn’t ready to sleep yet. Outside of the circle of light made by the lantern, the loft was dark, and talking to Luc kept her mind from wandering into the realm of imaginary fears. She pulled the other blanket around her shoulders and yawned. “I forgot to check on the goats. I hope they are all right sleeping in a new place. I don’t want them to be frightened. It is very dark out there. And they aren’t familiar with this place.”
