‘Fern tells me that you’d like to talk to me about your French family?’ She raised her eyebrows as she looked at Belinda, who managed a surprised shaky nod. ‘Scott is taking Fern out for dinner Saturday night, so why don’t you come and spend the evening with me? We can talk then and I can tell you what I know about the Belrose scandal.’

‘Thank you. I’ll see you then.’ A stunned Belinda followed Alain out to the car. Anouk did know about the past. Saturday evening she would finally, hopefully, learn the truth about what had really torn her family apart. Why had the locals back then dubbed it the Belrose scandal? Why did those three words strike fear into her heart?

32

Fern took extra time and care getting ready for her dinner date with Scott. It wasn’t that she wanted to impress him, simply that she wanted him to remember her looking as good as possible on what could turn out to be their last date. A last date that in reality was their first one. Yes, they’d spent a lot of time in each other’s company since Easter. Walking Lady, gardening, preparing meals together. None of which constituted a date, like going out for dinner did. Her hand trembled as she started to apply her favourite lipstick. Fern wanted him to remember her tonight as someone he would like to date again when he was a thousand miles away across the Atlantic Ocean. Someone he would return to when he’d dealt with the problems that had called him back.

She took one last look in the mirror and decided that she looked good. Not sure where Scott planned on taking her, she’d opted for her favourite red dress with a scooped neckline, long sleeves and a flared skirt. Because the evenings could still be chilly, she teamed it with a cream jacket with pale silk raised embroidery.

Anouk was in the conservatory when she got downstairs. ‘You’re looking very glamorous tonight. Scott is going to have a ’ard time getting on that plane,’ she said with a twinkle in her eye.

‘But we both know that get on it he will,’ Fern said quietly.

Anouk nodded. ‘You do like him, don’t you?’

Fern nodded. ‘I do.’ There, she’d finally admitted it out loud.

‘So you must enjoy this evening, make ’appy memories to tide you over until he returns. Because he will, I know.’ Anouk smiled.

‘Belinda will be here soon to keep you company,’ Fern said. ‘I hope she’s ready for anything you might have to tell her. I’ve left a small supper tray out in the kitchen and a bottle of wine. Ah, I can hear Scott coming. I’ll see you later.’

As the two of them were getting into Scott’s car, Belinda drove in.

‘Anouk’s waiting for you in the conservatory,’ Fern called out.