‘Good, that’s as it should be. And how have the new servants settled in?’

‘The girl, she’s a good worker, been turning her hand to anything I ask her. Pity she’ll be leaving us so soon, but that baby must be due at any time. Her aunt, that Madame Sauze, has been to the village and arranged with Widow Leclerc for her to live there when her time comes.’

‘That seems a good arrangement,’ said Rosalie. ‘It’s best to be prepared. I knew I could rely on Madame Sauze to organise things.’

‘That’s as may be,’ said Madame Choux darkly, ‘but I won’t need her once Miss Clarice is married.’ She looked Rosalie in the eye and added, ‘I don’t rightly need her now, madame, if you don’t mind me saying.’

‘I do mind,’ said Rosalie briskly. ‘Whom I choose to employ is none of your business, and’ – her lips tightened – ‘I choose to employ Madame Sauze.’ There was a moment’s silence as Madame Choux realised she had gone too far and then Rosalie said, ‘I’m glad everything is under control, madame. Please ask Madame Sauze to come and see me straight away.’ She picked up the notebook in which she’d been writing and Madame Choux bobbed a curtsy and left the room.

A few minutes later there was a knock at the door and Agathe came in. Rosalie set aside her writing and said, ‘Good morning, Madame Sauze. How have you settled in?’

‘Well, thank you, madame. Annette and I are very comfortable, and there has been plenty to keep us busy.’

‘I’m sure there has,’ agreed Rosalie. ‘I hear from Madame Choux that you have managed to make arrangements for Annette when her time comes.’

‘Yes, madame. I spoke to Father Bernard at the church and he suggested that Madame Leclerc, who was recently widowed, might be pleased of the company and the extra money.’

Rosalie nodded. ‘I have heard of her,’ she said. ‘I believe she is well known in the village both as a midwife and for laying out the dead.’

‘Indeed, madame. I went to see her and for a small recompense, she is happy to give Annette and the baby a home. We have agreed that the baby should be born in her house, where she would be on hand to help deliver the child. If you agree, madame, I think she should move there immediately after Miss Clarice’s wedding. She can still come to work from there if that’s acceptable to you, until the baby is born.’

‘That sounds a good arrangement,’ Rosalie said, and with that decided, she glanced down at the list in her notebook and asked, ‘And how are the preparations going in the house?’

‘Well, madame. I know you’ll be pleased how much we’ve achieved. The windows still need to be cleaned, but better just before the day. Everything else has been prepared, and with Monsieur Didier back with us to supervise in the butler’s pantry, you can rest assured nothing will be overlooked.’