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Luca ignored the activity around him as the starters were cleared and Xavier served the steaks. This was his world: where Charlie drove him around, and Liv made his bed, and Xavier cooked his food, and I poured his wine. How would he cope if he had to do everything for himself like the rest of us? But that would never happen.
‘I’ve made a selection of fresh sauces to accompany your steaks,’ Xavier said, putting three gravy boats on the table, ‘Béarnaise, peppercorn and blue cheese. And of course, yourfrites.’ A platter of hand-cooked chips was laid out in front of the three of us. It was the dinner to end all dinners.
Henri’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he reached for it apologetically.
‘It is my wife,’ he said, looking at the screen, ‘I should take it.’ He walked through to the reception area, leaving Luca and I alone.
‘Is it going well?’ I asked, anxiously.
Luca smiled. ‘Very well. I’m thinking of partnering Henri’s vineyard with one of my restaurants, so it is more of a social meal than anything else. Having a third person takes the pressure off the conversation, so thank you for eating with us.’
Henri came rushing back into the dining room in a fluster.
‘Je suis désolé,Luca, I am going to have to go,’ he said, panicked, ‘my wife has locked herself in the garage and I need to get back to her.’
‘Not at all, please go, do what you need to do,’ Luca said.
‘You are very generous to understand. I am so disappointed not to get to the main course with you both. My apologies to you too, Holly; it was lovely to meet you. Perhaps I’ll see you again and the four of us can go out for dinner?’ he said, double kissing me goodbye.
‘Er… yes, that would be lovely,’ I said, unsure what elseI couldsay. Did he mean a double date? Luca saw him out, then came back through to eat his meal.
‘His poor wife!’ I said, ‘I hope he gets back to her quickly.’
‘He lives half an hour away, so she’ll be stuck in there for a while.’
All this distraction was making me hungry. The steak was cooked to perfection, pink and tender and delicious. I piled together a piece of steak with a chip and dipped it in some peppercorn sauce and had just shoved the whole thing in my mouth when the double doors to the dining room opened and Genevieve stood staring at us, with her jewellery clients Mimi and Frank in tow.
‘Bonsoir,Luca and, er… Holly.Ça va?’
Luca jumped up from the table and double kissed his sister, then Mimi and Frank in turn, just as I was getting a taste for the steak. FFS. This was hands down the best steak I’devereaten, and I wasn’t going to miss out. I quickly cut myself another piece and popped it in my mouth as Genevieve eyeballed me furiously. I slow-chewed, smiling at her to say hi. I looked over at Liv, who was on tenterhooks, her eyes flicking from Genevieve to Luca, unsure what to do.
‘Ah!Salut,Gigi,’ Luca said, scratching his neck, bright red, ‘I didn’t realise you were here this evening?’
‘Clearly not. I am sorry if I’ve interrupted your… private dinner?’ Genevieve replied, but she didn’t seem sorry at all, clocking the near-empty bottle of Pomerol, ‘I messaged Liv to expect us, but not for food. I thought you were in Paris with Fern?’
Luca cleared his throat. ‘Change of plan. Henri came over for dinner and I asked Holly to join us, as part of her… learning.’
‘I see,’ Genevieve said, taking it all in, ‘Well, we should let you finish. Mimi, Frank, darlings, let me show you to your room and perhaps we can meet down here in twenty minutes for a drink?’ The question was directed at Luca.
‘Of course,’ he said.
The three of them gave a final snooty look around and left us to it. I realised I’d been holding my breath and let out a huge sigh. Liv had scarpered and rightly so, the sneaky minx.
‘That was awkward. I thought Genevieve liked me, but she looked really annoyed – we were only having dinner?’ I said. Luca looked anxious and nauseous all at once and pushed his plate away.
‘Genevieve doesn’t like us to blur boundaries with the staff,’ he said, pointing between us.
‘Really? Are we the staff? She’s never called us that before.’
Luca looked distinctly uncomfortable.
‘Who is Fern?’ I asked.
‘Our aunt. She’s not well and I was supposed to visit her this weekend.’
‘Oh, I see. I’m so sorry to hear that,’ I said, as Liv re-appeared.
‘Liv, did you know Genevieve was due this evening?’ Luca asked sharply.
