Antoine and Alexandra stood on the steps of the chateau, holding hands. They were looking at the party still going on in the orangery, which had spilt out on to the lawn. They had left it a couple of hours ago to much cheering and bouquet-throwing (Meg had caught it and had swiftly thrown it back).
‘It was a wonderful wedding,’ said Alexandra. ‘Everyone I love was there. And a few people I didn’t know I was really quite fond of. My Swiss relations, for example.’
‘Yes! They really took their hair off – what?’
‘Let their hair down,’ said Alexandra, ‘but I like what you said.’
He shrugged. ‘Anyway, they are now close friends with my godmother, who is planning to visit them in Switzerland.’
‘And David …’–
‘Ah yes. David and Maxime. I didn’t see it, but it’s perfect. I think David will make a very good business selling antiques between the two countries.’
‘I’m so happy to think they’ll live here and so go on being part of our family,’ she said.
‘My children are having a very good time, I think.’
‘They behaved so well, didn’t they? I don’t think Lizzie had to hold Letty once, Stéphie enjoyed carrying her around so much. And the older two, they were a credit to you.’
‘They were a credit to their English nanny, I think,’ he said and kissed her again.
‘It’s not the family you start out with that’s important,’ said Alexandra, still feeling philosophical. ‘It’s the family you create, I think.’
‘Quite right. Which reminds me, there’s a little matter regarding that which we need to attend to …’
