Chapter 21

When they arrived back at Belair, Pierre handed each of them down from the carriage. If he held Annette’s hand a moment longer than was necessary, she was not aware of it. All she wanted to do was get into the house and lie down. The exertions of the day were beginning to catch up with her. Agathe insisted that she go straight up to their room, and having helped her up the stairs, she came down again and went in search of Madame St Clair. She found her in her private parlour.

‘We have brought Annette home again, madame,’ she said. ‘She is much better and would like to return to work, if that is agreeable to you.’

‘Is she fit to work?’ asked Rosalie. ‘I understood that she was very weak after such a difficult birth.’

She remembered that when each of her children had been born, she had been expected to remain in bed for at least two weeks to recover her strength, and had been glad to do so. She knew the servant classes, being less gently brought up, were up and about more quickly, but even so, the five days since Annette’s baby had been born seemed a very short time to recuperate before coming back to work.

‘She’s not quite herself yet,’ admitted Agathe, ‘but Madame Leclerc and I both feel it is better for her to return to her normal life as soon as possible.’

In truth Estelle Leclerc had not thought Annette fit to return to Belair and had suggested at least another week of recuperation before she considered taking up her household duties again, but Agathe had a sneaking suspicion this opinion had something to do with the generous payment Madame St Clair was making for her services as a nurse.

‘I thought perhaps, with your consent, madame, that we could put Annette on light duties for a few days… ease her back into the household.’

Rosalie nodded. She was more than happy to have Annette back among the servants. Madame Choux had left that very morning, going to live in retirement with her sister in Orléans, and Rosalie was relieved that she had already had Madame Sauze waiting as her replacement.

‘You must do as you think fit, Madame Sauze,’ she said. ‘As soon as the rooms have been cleaned, you must move into those previously occupied by Madame Choux. As my housekeeper you’re entitled to your own bedroom and parlour.’

‘Thank you, madame.’ Agathe knew that Madame Choux had left, but she had not been at all sure if her own place as housekeeper had been confirmed, and it was with pleasurable anticipation that she looked forward to her new responsibilities.

‘But I have decided to keep Ella on as extra help in the kitchen,’ Rosalie continued. ‘She’ll be coming in daily from the village and can take care of some of the rough work. How do you find Lizette?’

‘Hard working, madame, but in need of guidance.’