by Janey Fraser
And Mrs Banks, who didn’t have sons and looked as though she wouldn’t know what to do with a stuck-in-the-zip problem, had nodded. ‘I must say, I’m very glad I didn’t have any myself. They seem, well, very boisterous.’
‘Exactly,’ her mother had replied and somehow, within half an hour and another couple of drinks (it turned out that Mrs-Banks-but-do-call-me-Kitty was quite partial to Bombay Sapphire too), the matter was resolved.
‘Shouldn’t we have made Nick come down and apologise?’ Jilly asked afterwards.
Her mother had given her an are-you-daft look. ‘And put him off sex for life? Don’t be ridiculous. He was merely doing what any teenage boy would do if he found a list of women and their phone numbers. It was your fault, dear, for keeping your files in the kitchen. Goodness me! If you knew how hard I had to work at keeping our address book away from your father. He was always ringing up my friends to suggest “coffee”.
‘Please, Mum,’ she began. ‘I don’t want to hear—’ but her mother was already calling up the stairs.
‘Nick? Are you there? Come down, would you?’
‘I thought we weren’t going to tell him off?’ said Jilly.
‘I said we shouldn’t reprimand him in front of someone else. Giving him some firm guidelines is a different matter.’
Nick, who, from the look on his face, had heard the commotion, came skulking down with his headphones lying forlornly round his neck. Oh my God. He’d sprouted a spiky orange cockatoo hairstyle like his friend.
‘Go on then,’ he said challengingly. ‘Tell me you don’t like my hair.’
Jilly took a deep breath. ‘Actually—’
‘It’s very nice dear.’ Her mother flashed her a warning look. ‘But what we really want to know is whether you are responsible for handing out your mother’s au pair numbers to your friends?’
‘No.’ He tweaked the top of his gel hairstyle defiantly as he spoke.
‘Come on, Nick. Don’t lie to me. I’m your grandmother, not your mother.’
‘I didn’t give them, Gran. I sold them.’
‘You what?’ The crinkly lines around her mother’s eyes deepened in amusement. ‘Clever boy. A natural entrepreneur. I like it.’
‘Nick, that was wrong!’
He shrugged. ‘Your file was in the kitchen, Mum. Anyone could have looked at it.’
Her mother gave her a ‘see’ look.
‘Well, I want you to tell your friends to destroy all those numbers and not make any more calls.’
Nick gave her a rueful look. ‘That’s a bit difficult.’
‘Why?’
‘Cos I’ve spent the money already and, ’sides, they’ve already contacted quite a few.’ He grinned. ‘One of my mates has actually got a date with some blonde from Scandinavia.’
Her mother looked impressed. ‘Scantinavia. That’s what your grandfather calls it. Well, Jilly. Looks like Nick’s got more mettle than I’d given him credit for. You’ll go far, my boy. Well done.’
Nick’s face shone. ‘Thanks, Gran. I really like having you here. It’s cool.’
‘Is that so.’ Jilly felt disgruntled and, in a stupid way, left out. ‘Well, while you two congratulate each other on interfering in my business, I’ve got a phone call to make.’
Going into the kitchen, she rang Marie-France’s number. ‘I’ve just heard about the burglary. Are you all right?’
Marie-France’s voice was small. ‘I think so.’
‘Can I come round and see you tomorrow?’
‘Could you come tonight?’ Marie-France’s voice dropped. ‘My family is out and it is easier to talk.’
Jilly glanced at her watch. It was already halfway through the evening and David still hadn’t returned. Not even a might be late text. ‘Sure. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’
Mum would look after the kids. Marie-France’s voice suggested this was more important.
‘It was very frightening.’
Marie-France’s face was pinched as they sat in Dawn’s kitchen, which was bigger than the entire ground floor of her own house. The children had done their homework, she assured her solemnly, and were now in bed.
‘The buggers lock us in the room for ages.’
‘I think you mean burglers.’
Marie-France nodded. ‘That’s what I say. So I play my guitar with the children to make them forget. Then I give them big cuddles.’
Jilly could just picture it. Marie-France was a kind-hearted girl and brave too. Many girls of that age would have been freaked out!
‘Then I hear another car and, thank God, it is Phillip. He is come back because he forgets his phone. He calls the police and I tell them what is happening. The buggers, they take many things and now Dawn is angry with me because I let the first man in.’ Her eyes swelled with tears. ‘I make mistake. I think he is someone I know.’
What a nightmare! ‘I can’t believe Dawn didn’t ring to tell me this.’
Marie-France shrugged. ‘She is very busy with her “friend”.’
‘Her friend?’
Marie-France lowered her voice. ‘She has a lover who comes here nearly every day. Phillip, he doesn’t care.’
That was awful! ‘Do you want to carry on living here? I have other families you could go to although they’re outside the town and not so central.’
Marie-France bit her lip. ‘I consider it but I wish to remain in Corrywood and besides, I make friendship with Tom now. He is nice to me since the buggers.’
‘Burglars.’
‘No.’ Marie-France shrugged. ‘I know what I mean. They are bad men.’
‘You poor thing.’ Jilly gave her a hug. ‘You were so brave!’
‘Brave!’ Dawn’s voice came from the front door. ‘Is that what you call letting strangers into our home! I’m glad you’re here, Jilly, even though you didn’t have the courtesy to tell me you were coming. I want to complain about this girl you’ve set me up with. I’ve lost several pieces of jewellery as well as furniture, including a beautiful new gold clock in the hall—’
‘Hey.’ Phillip appeared behind her. ‘We’ve been through this, Dawn. It wasn’t Marie-France’s fault. She thought she knew the intruder.’
Jilly noticed Marie-France shooting a grateful look at Dawn’s husband. He was very good-looking, certainly, with a slightly Moroccan-looking swarthiness about his complexion, but there was something about his suave manner that made her feel uneasy. And unless she was mistaken, he seemed rather fond of Marie-France. Just look at the way he was casually draping his arm around her shoulder in supposed reassurance. Dawn’s face was livid!
‘I’m concerned about my girls’ safety,’ Jilly began. ‘Marie-France has been through a very frightening experience. Most girls would have packed their bags by now. Frankly, I think you ought to be congratulating her, Dawn, instead of criticising her.’
Goodness! Where had that come from? Jilly had never heard herself sound so firm – it must have been watching her mother in action earlier on.
Phillip was nodding in keen agreement. ‘We’ve suggested to Marie-France that she takes a couple of days off.’
‘Have we?’ Dawn’s whiny voice sliced in. ‘But I need her to cook for my dinner party on Friday.’
‘Is it for children?’
‘No, Jilly. Of course it’s bloody not for kids.’
‘Then she shouldn’t be doing it! I gave you a list of an au pair’s duties and it states quite clearly that she can be asked to make children’s food but not cook just for adults.’
Marie-France reddened. ‘I do not object.’
‘See?’ added Dawn sulkily. ‘I can’t help it if she offers, can I?’
‘But we’ll pay her extra,’ cut in Phillip. ‘Won’t we, darling?’
By the time she got home, Jilly felt quite pleased with herself. It had been important to go round to show Dawn face to face that Marie-France had someone to look after her interests. She’d made the point about safety and she’d made sure that Marie-Fran
ce was paid more money for those extra ‘duties’.
‘Where have you been?’ David met her in the hall. ‘I was worried stiff about you.’
‘I told Mum I had to go out to deal with a problem with one of my girls.’
‘But it’s nearly ten o’clock, Jilly.’
‘Where were you then? You didn’t say you were going to be late.’
‘I had a meeting.’ He sounded evasive. ‘I’ve got to go to bed soon or I won’t be able to get up for work tomorrow.’
‘Let me make you something to eat.’
‘There’s nothing left in the fridge. Fatima has hoovered it up.’
‘There’s no need to be sarcastic.’
‘Isn’t there? In a few months, I’ve lost my wife or as good as. One of our bedrooms has been taken over by a pregnant au pair who’s always ravenous. And now your mother has come to stay. Anyone else I ought to know about?’
‘My mother is helping me. And you asked her down.’
‘My mistake. She’s not helping our marriage. And nor,’ he added, stomping up the stairs, ‘is this bloody agency of yours!’
That night, Jilly couldn’t sleep. David was acting like some Victorian husband. She had a right to a career, didn’t she? Yet since she’d set up Jilly’s Au Pair Agency, she’d lost her best friend, neglected her kids and was now on the verge of losing her husband too. Was it really worth it?
‘Jee-lee!’
Now what? Reluctantly, Jilly got out of bed and fumbled her way through the dark to the landing where a heavily pregnant Fatima was clutching her stomach. ‘I have pains. I see the doctor.’ She sank down on the top of the stairs and gazed up at Jilly with calf-like eyes. ‘Very bad pains. Plis. Help me.’
CORRYWOOD ADVERTISER
THIEVES LOCK UP AU PAIR AND CHILDREN IN DARING RAID
THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF EXPENSIVE JEWELLERY AND CLOCKS STOLEN
Chapter 20
IT WAS SO embarrassing, thought Marie-France. Everyone was talking about the burglary and now it was on the front page of the local paper. They had even managed to get hold of a picture of her – Dawn had apparently given one to the reporter without asking her permission. And rather than praising her for keeping the children calm during what was a very frightening time, Dawn kept bursting into tears because she had lost some ‘priceless’ rings and necklaces, not to mention that ornate gold clock.
But what really made Marie-France feel uncomfortable was that the couple had asked her to lie!
‘I don’t think you ought to tell the police that you let them in,’ Phillip had said firmly on the night of the burglary. ‘It might invalidate the insurance. We could just say that they got in through the downstairs cloakroom. The window was open, right?’
‘But what about fingerprints?’ she had asked. ‘They won’t find any.’
‘Thieves often wear gloves.’ Phillip brushed away her concerns as though they were irrelevant. ‘And we’ll pretend we forgot to lock the security gate. Please do this for us, Marie-France, otherwise we won’t get any of our money back.’ He gave her a disappointed look. ‘After all, if you hadn’t let them in, we wouldn’t be in this mess.’
So she had done what he asked. Explained in shaky English – because she really did feel shaky – that she had been with the children in the TV den when the men had just burst in. Luckily, Tom and Tatty Arna didn’t contradict her but even so, she felt very uneasy, especially when the policewoman was so understanding.
Meanwhile, instead of being grateful that she had lied for them, Dawn carried on moping around the house with a pinched, pained expression on her face and when she gave Marie-France her instructions for the day, she stood several feet away as though she didn’t want anything to do with her.
‘She’s upset,’ said Phillip softly when he came to find her in the library where she was dusting the false spines of the books as the cleaner wasn’t there any more. ‘Poor Dawn lost some stuff which had great sentimental value for her.’
‘What about the children?’ Marie-France had demanded fiercely. ‘She should be glad they is safe.’
‘Are safe,’ corrected Phillip kindly. ‘You’re right. She should. But Dawn’s priorities aren’t exactly the same as yours and mine.’
She liked the way he said that. ‘Yours and mine.’ It suggested they had more in common than him and Dawn. And it made her feel appreciated and cared for.
He touched her arm. ‘I think you were very brave. You must have been scared. Are you sure you didn’t recognise the men from the photographs the police showed you?’
She nodded. ‘Absolument!’
Phillip shook his head ruefully. ‘I’m sorry this has happened to you. I have to say that I admire you for your courage! Most au pairs would have packed their bags by now and gone back to France.’
Marie-France dropped her voice. ‘It is because I need to find a friend of my mother’s.’ She hesitated, wondering whether to tell him the truth. ‘I think he is my father.’
His face registered surprise. ‘Really?’
‘She had a relationship here when she is au pair. That is why I ask for the telephone dictionary when I arrive.’
Phillip nodded. ‘I’m beginning to understand now.’
Did he? But what would he say if he knew about the newspaper notice and the little note she’d put in the local newsagent?
‘Marie-France,’ murmured Phillip.
Mon Dieu! He was actually lifting her chin with his finger and forcing her to look at him! The familiarity of the gesture almost made her heart stop.
‘Why do I think there is something you are not telling me?’
The way he was holding her chin made it impossible not to look straight at him. Her gaze wavered. She had to come clean. ‘The bugger,’ she began weakly. ‘I let him in because I think I know him. I put an advert for my father in a shop that sells papers. And in the local paper too. You did not see it, no?’
Phillip’s eyes hardened unexpectedly. ‘Dawn and I don’t read the local rag. In fact, she doesn’t read, full stop. Please tell me you didn’t put our address in it too?’
She nodded, suddenly feeling very stupid.
‘But that was a crazy thing to do! No wonder we got done over.’
His harsh voice brought tears to her eyes.
‘I am so sorry.’
He let go of her chin and walked up and down the room, head down and silent as though he was thinking. ‘And you didn’t tell the police about this advert?’ he said at last.
She shook her head. ‘I think they send me to prison.’
He gave a short laugh. ‘They wouldn’t do that but Dawn would go nuts.’ He looked at her now in a kinder way as though she was forgiven and she was filled with gratitude. ‘We’ve got to keep mum about this.’
‘Mum? There is another mother here too?’
Phillip gave her another of his lovely smiles. ‘It’s an English expression. It means we’ve got to keep quiet. Or Dawn might sack you. It would also confuse the insurance form, which is complicated enough as it is. Do you agree?’
Of course she did! At the moment, she would have agreed – almost – to anything that the gentil, handsome Phillip suggested. He was her only protector apart from Jilly and besides he reminded her of the English teacher at school on whom she’d had a teenage crush.
After that, whenever she and Phillip passed in the kitchen or in the lounge, he would give her a conspiratorial wink as though to say ‘We are in this together’ and that sent tingles down her spine. Out of loyalty to her host, Marie-France mentioned none of this to Jilly when she came to see if she was all right. Nor did she mention it to Maman in her phone calls. If Thierry had been there, she might have told him but according to Maman, he was still travelling.
The news made her feel jealous and abandoned. When she’d suggested travelling together, months ago, her boyfriend had declared it was impossible to take time off work. Well, he was doing that now, wasn’t he? And if he was stupid enough to race off without letti
ng her explain about the photograph, that was his problem.
Meanwhile, there was no hiding the theft from the other au pairs, who had all heard of it through their employers and fell on her when she arrived at class.
‘Mon Dieu, Marie-France, are you all right?’
‘Did they try to rape you?’
‘How did you escape?’
‘Did your employers give you a big reward?’
The questions were endless and continued throughout the class when their English teacher heard about it. ‘I think,’ she said, sitting on the desk with her legs crossed, ‘that we should have a lesson on security. Marie-France, you were very brave but you were also very lucky.’ Her face looked sad. ‘You may have heard of the au pair who was murdered at the beginning of the summer. I know it was in London but she actually worked in Corrywood for a short time.’
Some of the other girls, who were new, made some shocked murmurs.
‘And there have been more recent attacks on au pairs in London.’
Another ripple of concern ran through the class.
‘There are some very important safety rules,’ continued their teacher, getting up and walking to the blackboard. ‘First, we must never give our families’ address or phone number to strangers.’
Marie-France felt herself going red. Had someone said something about the advert?
‘Secondly, we must never talk to strangers—’
‘Then how are we going to get boyfriends?’ one of the girls called out and the others laughed. It made the atmosphere slightly lighter but Marie-France still left the class feeling cross with herself. She had done something stupid in this quest to find her father yet she was still no nearer in tracking him down.
Maybe, Marie-France told herself crossly, she should have stuck to her original plan and gone to the Sorbonne.
‘Coming up to London with us tomorrow?’ asked Heidi running to catch her up as they walked down the road. ‘We’re going clubbing. Ja?’