‘Certainly not,’ responded Rocher. ‘The room is yours for as long as you wish to honour us with your presence. The suite on the first floor, with a room across the landing for your man.’

‘Have there been any messages for me?’ Rupert asked.

‘No, sir, I fear not.’

‘Well, I’m expecting one in the next day or two, so please let me know as soon as it arrives.’

In her letter Annette had begged him not to go anywhere near Belair, where he might be recognised, and for the moment he was happy enough to accept this, but he knew that should there be no message in the next couple of days he would go to St Etienne and announce his intention there, and said as much in his reply.

Reading this, Pierre was extremely worried. It would be disastrous if Rupert Chalfont turned up at Belair before he had met and talked with Hélène. He took his worry to Agathe, who agreed with him that Rupert must not appear in St Etienne until everything had been resolved.

‘If he met with Monsieur Barnier…’ Her voice trailed off at the thought of such an awkward encounter.

‘We must write to Annette and let her know that he’s on his way and where he will be staying,’ said Pierre. ‘She can go to the hotel and meet him, and between them they can decide the best way forward.’

‘A letter may take too long,’ Agathe said. ‘One of us needs to go.’

‘I can’t,’ said Pierre flatly. ‘Monsieur St Clair has told me he needs me to drive him to Versailles tomorrow to visit Captain Georges. I believe he plans to stay overnight.’

‘Perhaps I might go,’ Agathe said thoughtfully. ‘I have not taken my day off yet this month, so perhaps I can ask Madame if I might take it tomorrow.’

Pierre agreed that it was worth a try and Agathe went to see Rosalie in her parlour.

‘I’m afraid it is not that convenient, Madame Sauze,’ she said. ‘My husband is going to Versailles to see our son and is planning to bring the whole family back here for an extended stay. I shall need you to oversee the preparations for their arrival.’

‘I quite understand, madame,’ Agathe said, ‘but I would only need one day. I hope to attend a funeral in Paris tomorrow, and would be back by tomorrow evening.’

‘I see.’ Rosalie didn’t look best pleased. ‘Is it someone close to you?’

‘My cousin,’ improvised Agathe, ‘but we were brought up together as children and so are… were very close.’

‘Well, I suppose you must go, but I do expect you to be back tomorrow night.’

‘Certainly, madame, that will be no problem. The funeral is at midday. I shall take an early train and be there in plenty of time.’

‘Fair enough,’ Rosalie agreed. ‘I don’t think Captain Georges and his family will be arriving until the evening of the day after, but I rely on you to leave instructions before you go and oversee everything when you get back.’