They took off down a tree-lined path and Michelle fell into step with the two boys, who were talking a mile a minute in a mixture of French and English that Michelle was having trouble following.
“Tante Michelle’s French isn’t so good,” she said. “You need to slow down so I can understand.”
The boys started to speak slower as they walked and Michelle caught most of what they were saying. They enjoyed school, but were glad that they were currently on break, and would be able to spend more time with her. There was a brook not far that they wanted to take her to tomorrow. It was just a short walk.
“Michelle is here to work,” Luc said. “She won’t be able to play all the time.”
“A little bit,” Michelle replied. “Taking a walk to the brook sounds like fun.”
They topped a hill and Michelle came to a dead stop, her mouth open.
“Wow.”
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Bea came to stand next to her while Luc and the children continued down the path. “I remember the first time I saw it. I did the same thing you’re doing. Staring.”
“It’s amazing. How many rooms?”
“Who knows? One whole wing is shut down, because there’s no need for it. You’ll be impressed by the furnishings, too. So beautiful.”
Both women started to walk when Luc turned and told them to hurry. They came up in the back part of the house, in what was a beautiful garden, complete with a large fountain. A large, stone staircase led to a stone deck. The deck opened onto the massive house.
As the approached, they could hear a baby crying. They stepped onto the deck where a man sat at a table, drinking a glass of wine and frowning at the bassinet which sat on the table, holding the bawling child.
“Alliot,” Luc said. “Désolé si nous sommes en retard.”
“Qu'importe-t-il? Il ne fermera pas vers le haut.”
Michelle tried to follow the conversation, then Georges pulled on her hand. “Papa said he’s sorry we’re late, and Mr. Bauchet said it didn’t matter, and that the baby won’t shut up.”
“Thank you, Georges.” The boy beamed and nodded.
Bea picked up the howling child, whose cries subsided somewhat before picking up again.
“Where’s the nanny?” Michelle was grateful she’d spoken in English.
“No au pair,” the man said. Then he noticed Michelle for the first time. He stood and inclined his head toward her, putting out his hand in greeting. “Alliot Bauchet.”
“Michelle Rawlins.” She searched her mind for her French phrases from high school. “Je suis, and um, I’m, um, happy to be here. And, je suis excité hmm, about, well, de travailler avec vous.”
“My English is perfect,” he said, a grin tugging at his lips before disappearing. “Unlike your French. But I’m happy to be working with you, also. Beatrice has touted your skills. I hope she’s right.”
“I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since high school.” Again, she saw a smile try, and fail, to take over his lips. “And yes, I think I’m very good at what I do.”
“Forgive me,” Luc said, raising his voice to be heard over the baby, who continued to cry. “I should have introduced you when we came up.”
Alliot gave a curt nod, then turned to Bea. “I think he might be hungry. The cook can feed him.”
“I can do it,” Bea said. “I’ll go in and fix a bottle. Michelle, will you hold him for me?”
Michelle nodded and held out her arms. She wasn’t exactly the maternal type, but she figured she could hold a child for a few minutes, even if he was screaming his lungs out.
She took the baby and pulled him close as Bea admonished her own children to play quietly in the gardens until she returned. Then, she turned to Michelle, her eyes wide.
“He stopped crying.”
Michelle looked down at the baby who was nestled in her arms. His cheeks were tear-stained, and he was sucking his thumb, his chest heaving with the exertion he’d put forth from his crying fit.
“So he is,” Alliot said. “That’s the first time since the last au pair left that he’s been quiet. You’re a genius.”
“No. I’m sure he’s just tired. His eyes look like they’re about to shut.”
Alliot studied her, and for the first time she noticed how handsome he was. Dark hair and eyes that were intelligent, but distant.
“Give him to me,” he said. He held out his arms and Michelle gave him Alex, who immediately started to cry again. The baby flailed out his arms, his screams mighty and loud.
“A little experiment,” Alliot said, handing the baby to Bea. His cries diminished somewhat, but he was still unhappy. “Now, give him back to Ms. Rawlins.”
“It’s Michelle,” she said, taking the baby who immediately stopped crying.
“I think he likes you,” Alliot said. “And I think I’ve found a new au pair.”
“Oh no. I’m not a nanny, not even for a few minutes. I’m a paralegal.”
Bea laughed and clapped her hands together. “I’ll go and get that bottle.” She ran in the house, but not before Michelle could frown and shake her head.
“Mr. Bauchet, I—”
“If you’re Michelle, I’m Alliot.”
“Alliot, I’m not here to be a nanny. That’s not what we agreed on.”
“Can you not do them both?”
“No. I can’t take care of a baby and go through papers at the same time. I don’t know how I’d manage it.”
He studied her, then took a sip of his wine. “You’ll be staying here, so there is no problem there. And I will continue to interview au pairs. The ones I’ve found have been less than suitable. And, Alex likes you. He hasn’t been this quiet since his parents died.”
“That’s so unfair,” Michelle said. “Don’t make me feel guilty about this.”
“No?” This time Alliot did smile, a wicked smile that made Michelle’s toes curl. “I get what I want, Michelle. And right now, I want you to take care of Alex. I believe the amount we agreed upon for your work was a thousand dollars a month, American. Is that correct?
“Yes.” She didn’t like where this conversation was heading.
“Then shall we say two thousand until I find another au pair?”
The baby wiggled in her arms. She looked down and he actually seemed to smile at her.
“I know nothing about taking care of a child 24/7. I’m a thirty-year-old woman who’s never had a child. And I never, ever, babysat.”
“You have Bea to help,” Luc said. “She’s perfect with children, and it will give her an excuse to come up to the house more often.”
“Then it’s done,” Alliot said.
“No, it’s not done,” Michelle said. “I didn’t hire on for this.”
A cry from the garden sent Luc rushing down the stairs toward his children.
Alliot took a step closer to Michelle. He looked down at the baby, who cooed happily in her arms, then looked back at her face.
“One thing you will learn, is that I’m used to being in charge. My orders are followed, and I always get what I want. The negotiations are closed.”
“Hardly been a negotiation, with you just telling me how it will be.” She sighed heavily, then thought of her dwindling savings, and the fact that she still didn’t have a proper job. Two thousand dollars a month would go a long way. “Promise me you’ll keep looking for a real au pair.”
“You have my word.”
Bea came out and handed her a bottle. She turned it up and Alex happily took it, eating as if there were no tomorrow.
“Cool,” Bea said. “This is terrific.”
“Yeah,” Michelle said with less enthusiasm. “Just terrific.”
Chapter Two
“Let’s go inside, and I’ll take you on an impromptu tour before we sit down for dinner.” Alliot motioned Michelle toward the house. Alex still lay in her arms, happily munching away on his dinner.
When she didn’t move immediately, Alliot raised his eyebrows at her. She loo
ked down at the baby in her arms, and Bea immediately held out her arms.
“I’ll take him. You two go and we’ll wait out here for you.” Michelle handed over Alex and hurried to follow Alliot. Once inside she stopped. And stared.
“Oh my.”
“Yes, it’s been in the family for generations,” he said, as if bored. “As have the vineyards. There are two separate sides of the house, one of which has been shut down for some time. We live on the south side, with the bedrooms on the second floor, and the offices on the third floor. I had originally planned for your room to be near your work, but now that the work has changed, you’ll be sleeping near Alex and myself.”
He had started up the huge stone staircase. She stood at the bottom and stared after him. “Excuse me? You and Alex share a room?”
“Of course not, but my room is next to Alex’s room. You’ll be next to his, in the room my brother and his wife occupied.”
She hurried after him now, trying to catch him before he took the staircase that turned to the right. She also tried not to think about living in a room that belonged to the former residents of the house. She didn’t believe in ghosts, but still, it would be a little creepy. Of course, something else held precedence over the idea of seeing ghosts.
“You realize, of course, that I have limited experience with children. I wasn’t even much of a babysitter.”
“Alex doesn’t seem to mind.”
“Yes, but, just because he stopped crying, doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing.”
“It means he feels a connection with you,” Alliot said, stopping to turn around. “He’s had a hard life recently, and I know that, although he can’t voice it, he misses his parents.”
“That could be, but – ”
“He needs someone to bond with, someone who will stay for awhile.”
“But, I’m not staying—” She stopped speaking when he held up his hand.
“I’m not expecting a miracle, but I do feel like his instant attraction to you is a good thing. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, I suppose so. I just would like to lay out all the cards, so to speak. What exactly do you expect from me in dealing with Alex?”
“We’ll talk about that after dinner, when we’re alone. I’d like to address both jobs at that time.”
When he turned and continued walking, she fell into step behind him. At the top of the stairs he turned left, and then stopped at the third door down on the right.
“This will be your room. The former au pair, who left a few days ago, had it, and it has already been prepared for her replacement. I’m surprised you didn’t bring your luggage, knowing you would be staying here even before the other position came about.
“Well, the airline lost my luggage.”
“I see. Shopping tomorrow, then.”
“No, I bought a few things today. I just hadn’t expected to stay tonight, if you want the truth. I’d hoped to spend more time with Bea, and Luc and the kids.”
“Ah, well, you can set up visiting time for that. But I am anxious to get the paperwork taken care of.”
He opened a door that connected to Alex’s room and they stepped inside. It was brightly decorated, and held a great myriad of toys.
“My brother and his wife spoiled the child, even before he was born.”
“So it would seem.”
“My room is through that door.”
“And the bathroom?”
“Directly across the hall from Alex’s room.” He turned to the window, and then pointed to changing tables and a small refrigerator. “The refrigerator is for formula for nighttime feedings. There’s a microwave for warming the food. That way you don’t have to go hunting for the kitchen in the middle of the night.”
“Well, that’s a relief, otherwise I’d have to wake a tour guide.” She laughed, and then coughed when he just frowned. “It was a joke.”
“Of course. Do you have any other questions?”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something. It’s just a bit much to take in all at once.” She looked around at the rocking horse and the child-sized merry-go-round that dominated one corner. “Quite extravagant.”
“Yes, in more ways than one. I had hoped to discuss that with you before you started to go through papers. My brother spent money hand over fist, as you Americans would say. I can’t find traces of much of it, and I would like you to be looking for that when you are organizing the mess he left.”
“You mean receipts and things.”
“Exactly. I would think your legal training has given you the ability to examine objects, and recognize things that don’t belong.”
“Don’t belong? I’m not sure I—” Again, she stopped speaking when he held up his hand.
“I’m afraid we’ve strayed into a discussion I’d rather not get into while we have guests.”
The way he said it made her feel as if they were some sort of couple, and it left her more than a little uneasy. Besides, Bea wasn’t a guest. She was her best friend, and had been since she was ten years old. The look on his face though, made her frown.
“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
“We’ll discuss it after dinner.” He went back into her room, waited for her to follow him, and then shut the door.
“Before dinner, there is one thing I would like to discuss with you.”
“Yes?”
“Any discussions we have, over the papers, or Alex, are to remain confidential. I hope you understand that.”
“Of course.”
“Nothing is to be said. Not even in passing, not even as a joke.”
“I get it. I did work for a lawyer, you know. I know how to lock the vault.”
“I trust you’re right, Michelle. I’d hate to discover otherwise.”
*****
Michelle hadn’t been surprised by the formalness of dinner, which included different courses brought in by a man and woman who looked to be in their sixties. Michelle had been impressed by the children’s manners. Even Amelie seemed to know which fork to use. Alliot and Luc had sat at one end of the huge table, talking, and she and at Bea at another.
Now, the men were inside, discussing winery business while the ladies and the children sat out on the patio and watched the boys play hide and seek while the Amelie played with toys. Alex slept happily in his bassinet.
“Is he always so formal?” Michelle took a sip of her coffee as her eyes strayed to her young charge.
“When we’re around he is. I have no idea what he’s like when he’s alone with someone. You can tell me, though. I’d love to know.”
Michelle took another drink to hide her grin.
“Oh wait, he swore you to secrecy already, didn’t he? Is a double secret handshake needed to get information out of you, now?”
“Triple.” They both laughed, then Michelle cleared her throat. “Seriously, though, I’m not sure how I’m suppose to go through papers, and watch a baby who’s probably crawling all over the place now. This is not a good idea.”
“Alex needs someone like you. The nannies Alliot has hired are all stiff, not like Antoine and Luca at all.”
“That’s another thing. Have you noticed how he refers to his brother as just that, ‘my brother,’ not Antoine? I think it’s strange.” She winced as the words left her mouth, wondering if Alliot would consider something like that privileged information. She was going to have to remember that Alliot was her boss, and that, although she was talking to Bea, words had a way of getting back to people.
“I personally think Antoine’s death has affected him more than he lets on. Like I said, he’s a very disciplined man, and any sort of emotion probably throws him for a loop.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Bea stood and held out her hand. “Come on, let’s go and make up some formula for during the night. Then, we’ll take it upstairs. You won’t need any cereal or other solids until the daytime. Boys, we’re going inside. Behave until we get back.”
&nbs
p; They both yelled that they would, and Michelle took Alex and Bea picked up her sleeping daughter and carried her into the house with them, putting her on the sofa before they went into the kitchen, which was now empty.
“That couple that works here? Who are they?”
“The Thaxtons. English, not French. They’ve been here for ages. They’re really nice. You’ll like them.”
They made up two bottles, then started up the stairs. “So, if I call you in the middle of the night, you’ll come running, right?”
The Reluctant Au Pair Page 2
