Brilliance

by Rosalind Laker

  He shook his head dismissively. ‘Who wants to employ someone who cannot even arrive on time? I don’t! So what does that matter now? I know a strong character when I see one and you’re not going to pawn my silver or drink yourself senseless as some have done before you.’ He shifted in his chair and waved a hand towards the decanter. ‘Pour me a stiff cognac and then see if you can find enough food in the kitchen to make me a hot dinner. I’m tired of Gerard’s cold collations.’

  Lisette left the garden room almost in a daze that such good luck should have befallen her and found her way to the kitchen where Gerard was waiting for her. ‘Did all go well?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, I’m here to stay.’

  ‘I thought you would be. I’ve put your luggage in the housekeeper’s apartment. ‘It’s just along the passage.’ He led the way, speaking to her over his shoulder. ‘How did you get on with the judge?’

  ‘I stood my ground when the need arose.’

  ‘That’s the way to deal with him. He is used to browbeating everyone as he did in his days in court and if everything doesn’t go as he likes it he roars with temper like an old bull.’ He opened a door. ‘Here are your rooms.’

  The apartment consisted of a pleasantly furnished salon with a desk for her paperwork, a small dining alcove and a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom.

  ‘Everything is very clean and tidy,’ she commented, ‘seeing that the previous occupant left so abruptly.’

  ‘The daily woman who washes and polishes floors wasn’t here when the great bust-up took place and so she was not affected by it. So she put things to rights in here. Old Madeleine is an honest old soul and she’s been coming here for years. I’ll leave you now. You’ll find me in the kitchen.’

  ‘The judge has asked me to cook dinner for him this evening.’

  ‘Good! I shopped for a few items today. Make sure you cook enough for us too.’

  ‘I intend to do that.’

  When she went to the kitchen Gerard showed her where to find an apron.

  ‘Why did you say earlier that you were both valet and nurse sometimes?’ she asked, tying the apron strings at her back in a bow.

  Gerard perched on a stool in readiness to watch her at work. ‘The judge has an unsteady heart. He has suffered a couple of minor strokes and gets spells when he doesn’t feel well. Even though his son calls in the best of doctors and nurses at these times I’m the one he always wants in attendance. I’ve been with him for a long time and he trusts me.’

  She began glancing about. ‘What do we have in stock and where shall I find everything?’

  ‘The departing servants looted most of the foodstuffs from the store cupboards when they left.’

  ‘They must have been an extremely dishonest bunch! Did you know what was going on?’

  ‘Not for a while until I noticed that a couple of small antiques were missing from the judge’s dressing room and a Sèvres clock was not in its usual place. When I made inquiries none of these items could be found. I also began to suspect that somebody had made a duplicate of my key to the cellar.’

  ‘What did you do?’

  ‘I alerted the old man and he surprised them all by suddenly appearing in the kitchen quarters to check his fine old wines in the cellar. When he found what was missing he exploded with wrath, shouting and hitting out with his cane, and that’s when he swept out all the staff, guilty and innocent alike. I was afraid he would have a seizure afterwards, but I gave him the powder on his tongue that the doctor left for any emergency. Then I managed to persuade him to rest. Thankfully he suffered no serious ill effects.’

  ‘That must have been a relief to you.’

  ‘It was indeed. But I have noticed that he is sitting about more during the day than normal and he is going to bed earlier. I believe he hasn’t fully recovered from the upset of it all.’

  ‘I’m not surprised.’ Lisette shook her head sympathetically. ‘Now, let me see what you have bought today.’

  There was fresh fruit, a salad selection, mushrooms, some tired looking vegetables and a rather scrawny chicken, which she would not have chosen, but she had to make the best of what was there.

  ‘Get a bottle of champagne from the cellar,’ she said, beginning to cut up the chicken. ‘I’m going to make a dish with this bird that my father liked so much Poulet au champagne et aux champignons.’

  While the chicken cooked she prepared the vegetables and made a tasty soup, dressed up the salad and soon had ready a dessert of fresh fruits. While Gerard had been in sole charge he had served the judge’s meals on a tray, but Lisette insisted that a place be laid in the dining room. At the right moment Gerard announced to the judge that dinner was served and then proceeded to wait on him.

  The judge enjoyed the meal and ate heartily before sending his compliments to Lisette. After she and Gerard had eaten they shared the clearing and the washing-up. Then, when Gerard was about to help the judge upstairs to bed, Lisette went out into the hall to bid the old man goodnight, a custom she was to adopt on a regular basis.

  ‘You did well, madame,’ the judge replied courteously. ‘Make sure you hire a chef that can match you.’

  Later, when she had finished unpacking, Gerard took her on a tour of the house in order for her to become familiar with it before she hired staff the next day. Everything was of the best quality, with elegant antique furniture, fine tapestries, gilded clocks, an abundance of beautiful silver and much delicate Sèvres porcelain. That night she enjoyed the luxury of having a room to herself again and slept well.

  Next morning after breakfast and wearing her green silk coat, which would no longer button up comfortably, and her fashionable hat, which had suffered a little from its packing, Lisette set out to visit the domestic agencies that Gerard had listed for her. At each one she arranged for suitable candidates to be interviewed that afternoon and also the following morning. By the time she returned Gerard had shopped for everything from the list she had given him and placed her orders for other foodstuffs that would be delivered.

  Removing her hat and coat in her own rooms she thought how fortunate it was that she had come to this mansion. Now at last she could begin to save for her baby and face the future with well-founded optimism. Her thoughts went to Daniel.

  ‘I’m going to be all right, Daniel,’ she said softly. ‘All is well.’

  During the afternoon and the following morning Lisette appointed a full staff and so it was a footman who opened the door to the Judge Oinville’s only son, Alain, a prosperous architect.

  ‘You’re new,’ he commented to the footman, handing over his hat and gloves.

  Lisette, coming from the judge’s presence, had been told by Gerard that Alain Oinville often called in at this time and she went across the hall to him. ‘Yes, monsieur. We are all new on the staff now.’ Then she introduced herself.

  He was tall and stern looking, dark-eyed and with a straight stance, but he had a smile of considerable charm and Lisette received the full benefit of it. She gained the impression that he was quite a womanizer as she had come to believe the judge had been until his health had begun to fail.

  ‘So you’re the new housekeeper,’ Alain said dryly, his gaze sweeping over her. ‘Prepare for a visit from my wife tomorrow when she hears of the changes here. Is my father in the salon?’

  ‘Yes. Did you wish to dine with him?’ she asked, thinking that a second place could be laid.

  ‘Not this evening, madame.’ He went striding off to the salon and before he closed the door completely she heard him say, ‘You’ve gained the best-looking housekeeper I’ve ever seen.’

  He stayed about half an hour, but she did not see him go.

  Lisette was with the judge next morning when his daughter-in-law arrived. He had told her to sit down with him in the library and tell him something about herself. She had spoken about living in Lyon and was telling him about Joanna and their schooldays with no mention of the grandeur of her background when Stephanie Oinville swept into
the room. Exquisitely clothed, slender and beautiful in her mid-thirties, she descended on the judge to kiss him effusively on both cheeks.

  ‘How are you, Beau-père? I think you look well. I’ve come to see that everything is all right here.’

  He did not look at all pleased to see her. ‘Of course it is,’ he answered irritably. ‘Why shouldn’t it be?’ He indicated Lisette, who had risen from her chair at Stephanie’s entry and drawn back. ‘This is my new housekeeper, Madame Decourt. She was just telling me about how she owes her cooking skills to her schooldays.’

  Stephanie flashed her a piercing, assessing glance from under the brim of her large hat. ‘Indeed? Yes, we all know that girls at charity schools are trained for domestic service.’ She moved gracefully into the chair that Lisette had vacated, dismissing her with a sweep of her hand. ‘I do not require any refreshment.’

  Lisette would have left the room, but the judge, with a glower at his daughter-in-law, called after her. ‘Wait a minute, Lisette. I’d like a glass of wine.’

  Lisette smiled to herself. The judge had seen how his daughter-in-law had snubbed her and had not liked it. Until this moment he had not called her by her Christian name and probably would not again unless Stephanie was present. Leaving the room, she sent a footman into the library with the wine and went to the desk in her study where she did some bookkeeping. She was not surprised when Stephanie sent for her before leaving.

  Stephanie was waiting in the crimson salon and she turned from the window as Lisette entered.

  ‘I just want to have a few words with you for your own good, Madame Decourt,’ the woman said, taking a few steps forward. ‘You’re young and attractive and – as you have probably discovered already – your employer is susceptible to a pretty face and figure, although in your case – as I can see – the latter attribute does not apply at the present time. He is a generous man, often foolishly so, and I just want you to understand that under no circumstances are you to play up to him with flattery and other nonsense for gain. It will not be tolerated.’

  Lisette was consumed by anger and her voice shook with it. ‘You insult me, madame! I’m here to work and to run this house in a smooth and orderly fashion. Nothing more! But I shall never refuse to sit and talk to Judge Oinville whenever he asks me, because I know that often elderly people are lonely, even when they live with every comfort and have a family that cares about them. Put your fears away, madame. I am not an adventuress!’

  Stephanie narrowed her chill, inflexible eyes. In that second Lisette saw that this woman would seize the first opportunity to get her removed.

  ‘You’re very outspoken, Madame Decourt.’ Stephanie’s voice was creamy. ‘But at least now we understand each other. Good day to you.’

  After the woman’s departure Lisette remained in the salon for a few minutes to let her anger subside. She felt drained and exhausted by the unpleasant exchange, but realized that Stephanie probably thrived on emotional upheavals.

  As she turned for the open door Gerard appeared and rested his hand on the knob. ‘So you’ve met the dragon.’

  ‘She seemed to think I would try to get money out of the judge!’ Lisette’s voice rang with renewed outrage.

  ‘I told you that the only reason she comes here is to make trouble. She can’t forgive him for not letting her have his late wife’s diamonds, which he gave to a niece, and there’s a sable cloak upstairs that was never worn, because Madame Oinville was taken ill before she could wear it. So Madame Stephanie has her heart set on that too and has been seen trying it on, but the old man won’t let her have it. She’s afraid that because you’re young and pretty he’ll be too generous with you.’

  ‘But her husband is a successful architect and can surely give her anything she wants.’

  ‘But she wants so much! There’s no satisfying her. So he’s landed with an extravagant wife and also a loving but demanding mistress with two children that are his, which means he has their education to pay for and all else too.’

  She was astonished. ‘But the judge told me that he has no grandchildren!’

  ‘He does not know that they exist! It’s a great disappointment to him that Madame Stephanie has never wanted children, and it’s another bone of contention between them.’

  ‘Yet he has two grandchildren fathered by his son that he doesn’t know about! Since you have been his faithful servant for such a long time couldn’t you let him know about them in a tactful way?’

  ‘Oh, no!’ Gerard shook his head fiercely. ‘Surely you can imagine the trouble that would ensue! The old man wouldn’t object to his son having a mistress, because he has had some of his own in the past, but he would be wild with rage that he had been kept in the dark about the children for over seven years. It could estrange him from his son and also Madame Stephanie would find out about her husband’s infidelity, because the judge would want to see the children and have them come here.’ He gave his head a shake again. ‘So I couldn’t take on that responsibility. It could destroy the family and, as I’ve told you before, the judge’s heart is only ticking over.’

  Lisette gave a long sigh. ‘What a sad state of affairs.’

  ‘I agree, but there’s nothing you or I can do about it.’

  She nodded, full of pity for the old judge.

  Nine

  The days settled down into weeks. An ancient cot was brought down from the attic at the judge’s suggestion and it was placed in her bedroom in readiness. Lisette had also added gradually to her baby’s layette, all the small garments neatly folded into a drawer. She was not feeling well at times in her pregnancy, often tired almost to exhaustion, and although the doctor was reassuring, saying only that she needed rest, which was impossible anyway, she hoped desperately that all was well with her child.

  Apart from that worry, she would have been almost happy if she had not feared Stephanie’s hostility, knowing that her dismissal was high on the woman’s list of priorities if ever the opportunity presented itself. During Stephanie’s visits fault was found with everything, even to the menus of the dishes that Lisette discussed with the chef and supervised whenever the judge held dinner parties for old friends, which she had encouraged him to resume after a lapse before she became housekeeper.

  As yet Stephanie was not aware that Lisette would keep her baby after the birth, but assumed that the child would be fostered. Judge Oinville did not enlighten her. He did not consider it to be anything to do with her, thinking she caused enough disruption in his household with her unwanted visits without giving her further cause for argument. He supposed she had heard by now that he sometimes took Lisette to a concert or a play, but had chosen not to mention it, knowing he would not listen to her anyway. Lisette’s company was a pleasure to him, for he found no enjoyment in going out alone and without her sharing an evening with him he would not have stirred from his chair. Her beauty pleased his eye and he liked her intelligent conversation and comments, for she kept up with world affairs and they were able to have lively discussions.

  One morning Lisette was in town on a shopping trip for herself when she noticed with a casual glance that a large poster had come away from a hoarding, probably through the recent heavy rains, and several old scraps of posters were revealed underneath. Then she halted abruptly, catching her breath. One was for Daniel’s magic lantern show, but the dates showed that it was not this year that it had been pasted there.

  When she walked on she wondered how he was progressing with his moving picture camera and hoped that all was going well. Whenever there was a mention in the newspaper of some hopeful inventor’s latest step in this great competition to be first with animated pictures she cut it out and saved it, hoping that she was also keeping pace with Daniel’s advance. The process had been mastered to a degree, but was still far from being the final perfect product. Only the other day she had read somebody was using a fixed plate camera to take pictures of figures in motion and last month a man named Hughes had patented an improved choreutoscop
e, which was being regarded with interest in the field, although what it did she had no idea. She knew by general conversation that few people believed that an invention to make pictures move naturally was possible. Most declared themselves to be perfectly satisfied with photographs in a frame or a book or through a hand-held gadget into which views of everything from sporting activities to foreign places were slotted and was then held up to the eyes against the light.

  The new year of 1884 brought snow and wind well into March and the bitter weather did not ease until the days of the month ran out. Lisette was eight months pregnant and feeling far from well. Whenever she had a little time to spare she would rest by the fire in her apartment and put her feet with their swelling ankles up on a tapestry footstool. Therefore when Judge Oinville invited her to a gala evening at the theatre she felt reluctant to go, even though she did not want to disappoint him.

  ‘I have the tickets for tonight,’ he announced cheerfully, waving them in his hand as he stood leaning on his cane. ‘Gerard managed to get them for us and it’s a performance not to be missed. Get ready now and we’ll go and enjoy ourselves.’

  Her heart sank. ‘It’s a very cold night.’

  ‘We’ll be all right in the carriage with warm rugs. Don’t you worry about that.’

  As she went from the room he saw her shiver as she hugged her arms briefly and he frowned with concern, thinking to himself that she had been looking tired and pale recently. He supposed that was why she was feeling the cold at this time. Immediately he made a decision and, with his cane thumping the carpet as it supported him, he crossed the room and tugged the bell-pull. A maidservant came almost at once.

  ‘Tell Gerard to go upstairs and fetch that sable coat from my late wife’s boudoir. I want Madame Decourt to wear it this evening. She has need of it.’

  Lisette was astonished when Gerard brought the coat to her door. ‘I can’t wear it!’