It was finally agreed that Alex could be moved to the Château Gris the day before Christmas Eve, but this in itself created a problem. Rosalind had considered turning one of the small parlours into a bedroom for Alex, but that presented difficulties due to his lack of mobility. After a brief discussion with Hester, Rosalind instructed Delfosse to bring a bed from upstairs and place it between two tall windows in the drawing room. Hester and Rosalind shifted furniture around so that there was a table close to the bed and chairs set on either side. During a quick and slightly nervous exploration of one of the turret rooms they found a hand-painted Japanese screen, which would give Alex a little privacy, as well as a washstand complete with china jug and basin. With Agathe acting as interpreter, Delfosse was again persuaded to move the items to the drawing room, which he did accompanied by the now familiar muttering.

The next problem to overcome was the fact that the cumbersome plaster hampered Alex when he attempted to rise from his hospital bed. Colonel Munday suggested that stretcher bearers would be the answer, and he supervised the move himself. Father Laurent had followed them from the hospital, carrying the few possessions and articles of clothing that Alex possessed. He was still wearing a flannel nightshirt and a dressing robe in faded crimson velvet trimmed with an extravagant fur collar, which someone had donated to the poor. However, the sudden exposure to the bitter cold and the unavoidable jolting caused Alex a great deal of pain, and it took all their efforts to transfer him from the stretcher to the bed, even with the assistance of Delfosse.

Rosalind greeted Colonel Munday with a grateful smile. ‘Thank you so much, Colonel. We couldn’t have done this without your help.’

‘Don’t mention it, my dear Mrs Blanchard. Alex sustained his injury during combat with the sea, which is a ferocious enemy. It was the least I could do.’

Rosalind laid her hand on Father Laurent’s arm as he was about to leave. ‘Don’t go yet, Father. I believe that Christmas Eve is the main feast day in France, so I wondered if you and Colonel Munday would like to join us here tomorrow for a festive meal. Madame Fournier is invited, of course, and Agathe.’

Colonel Munday’s ruddy skin darkened to a deeper hue. ‘What a kind thought, ma’am. I’d be delighted to join you.’

Rosalind smiled. ‘That’s wonderful. What about you, Father? I know you’ll have church services to conduct but we’ll take that into consideration. Do say you’ll come.’

‘I think that would be a very good thing to do.’ Father Laurent nodded approvingly. ‘We will be delighted to join you, Madame Blanchard.’

‘I’ll have to fight Madame Planche for use of the kitchen range,’ Hester said grimly.