The Au Pair

by Janey Fraser

  Brigid paused dramatically for effect. ‘So we knocked on the door and there was all this scuffling on the other side. When she finally opened it, the curtains were closed even though it was the afternoon – and my husband could see a pair of male feet underneath.’

  Jilly made what she hoped were sympathetic sounds.

  ‘You wouldn’t believe the sort of man standing behind my lovely curtains! He was really rough; the kind you’d cross over the road to avoid. And there he is, in my house with his nose – covered in studs – pressed against my lovely Designer Guild drapes from the Curtain Exchange.’

  ‘So what did you do?’

  ‘Yelled at him to get out, of course, and then I told Maria that I was calling you. She’s meant to be a Catholic! Got all these religious pictures everywhere in her room but she seems to think it’s fine picking up strangers in the street.’

  ‘Oh dear.’ Jilly sighed. ‘I’m so sorry but maybe it’s just a question of letting her settle in. It’s her first time away from home and she’s probably tasting a bit of freedom—’

  ‘Well she can bloody well taste it in another house,’ cut in Brigid crossly. ‘I want to swap her for another!’

  Not again! This had happened twice in the last month. First there’d been the au pair who had ticked the box for ‘Driver’ on the application form but didn’t actually have a licence. (It turned out she’d banked on passing her test before arriving but had failed the week before.) And then there’d been another au pair who refused to cook meat. She’d stated she was a vegetarian but hadn’t said that she couldn’t physically touch the stuff.

  ‘Brigid, do you remember what it was like when you were a teenager?’

  There was an audible bristle at the other end. ‘What’s that got to do with it?’

  ‘Didn’t you ever try to do something that was, well, a bit risky?’

  ‘Maybe. So?’

  ‘Well I certainly did.’ Jilly winced at the memory. ‘One summer when I was about sixteen, my mother packed me off to spend a few weeks with a friend of hers, not far from here, actually. It was very boring compared with London so I shimmied out of the window and went to this dance round the corner in the village hall.’ She laughed at the memory. ‘I wasn’t bad. Just desperate to find a boyfriend.’

  ‘What’s that got to do with this?’

  ‘I just thought you might be generous enough to give this girl a second chance. I’ll have a word with her if you like and explain she can’t bring in strangers off the street. If at the end of this month, you’re still unhappy, then of course we’ll find you someone else.’

  There was a grudging noise. ‘All right. But only until the end of the month, mind.’

  ‘Thank you for being so understanding. I’ll call Maria on her mobile now and make an appointment for an informal chat.’

  As she put down the phone, there was a strange click on the line. ‘Mum? You were listening?’

  ‘Of course I was, dear. It’s like when those people record your call for training purposes. You did very well. I’m proud of you. I couldn’t have handled it better myself. Well, I could, obviously, but you know what I mean. You’ve really come on in leaps and bounds. Now, did you find a PA as I suggested?’

  Jilly groaned. ‘Yes. A French girl who’s working as an au pair for one of my clients. But I’m not sure about her now. She might have had a thing with someone’s husband.’

  ‘Listen, darling. Delegating is an art. Take her on; try to train her up; make sure she doesn’t make a play for David; and if there are any signs of trouble, fire her. Simple. Your father was always ogling my personal assistants but I made sure it didn’t go any further.’

  ‘Please, Mum, I don’t want to know all this stuff about Dad. What I would like to know, however, is if you’re going to this party or not. Dad keeps ringing me about it. And remember, you don’t know anything about it.’

  ‘Of course I don’t, dear. I’m upstairs in your bedroom trying on my outfit in front of the mirror. Did I tell you I bought a second one? Much nicer than the first. Come on up and tell me what you think.’

  Mum looked incredible. She certainly didn’t look her age. That Mrs Middleton coat-dress showed off her legs to perfection, spelling out ‘elegance’ with a capital ‘E’.

  ‘Amazing!’

  Her mother gave a satisfied smile as though she thought exactly the same herself. ‘Thank you, darling.’

  ‘And your hair looks fabulous too.’

  ‘Your little man down the road did it. Now tell me, what are you going to wear?’

  As if she’d had time to think! ‘I’ve no idea.’

  ‘Thought as much. Tell you what. Why don’t you go round to your friend Paula’s and get her to go shopping with you. I’ll hold the fort at this end. There are a few more spreadsheets I want to set up on the agency system before I leave you to it. Now do try to find something reasonably sexy, won’t you, dear? It might bring David to heel again.’

  Only her mother could use that kind of expression! ‘David just doesn’t like me working, that’s all.’

  ‘Sure?’ Her mother gave her a pitying look. ‘Because I caught him making a rather furtive phone call on his mobile in the car outside the other night. As soon as he realised I was watching, he quickly ended the call and shoved the phone in his pocket. Now if that isn’t suspicious, what is?’

  Jilly wasn’t sure whether to confide in Paula or not. After all, her husband Nigel might tell David. On the other hand, she needed to talk to someone. It was also good to get out of the house! Ever since she’d started the agency, she’d felt tied to the house, never feeling able to turn off her mobile or be away from her files in case there was an emergency or a placement to be made. Even now, she had her phone on in the back pocket of her jeans, just in case.

  ‘Sorry to turn up without ringing first,’ she said when Paula opened the door. As usual, her friend was in her jeggings. Behind her, in the den, Jilly could see the television blaring with one of Paula’s favourite fitness instructors fiercely ordering her to squeeze her abs NOW. There was the sound of kids yelling from the garden and William ran past clutching a Halloween pumpkin and a water pistol.

  ‘Not inside,’ yelled Paula.

  ‘But it’s raining,’ he screamed back.

  ‘Then you’re going to get wet anyway!’

  ‘Where’s Antoinette?’ enquired Jilly as they went back inside, almost trampled by the small horde following with their plastic shotguns, leaving muddy footprints everywhere.

  ‘It’s her day off. God, how I hate half-term.’

  ‘But it’s not until next week – isn’t it?’

  ‘I know but I’ve got pre-half term stress. Did you get the invitation to William’s party?’

  ‘Yes, but—’

  ‘And you are going to come along and help, aren’t you? It’s a swimming party at the leisure centre so I need as many eyes and hands as I can get.’ Paula rolled her eyes. ‘Nigel can’t get along until later, apparently.’

  ‘I suppose so but—’

  ‘MUM, MUM…’

  ‘Shit. Immy’s stuck again. Listen, Jilly, I’m sorry but can we chat another time? Unless it’s really urgent, that is.’

  Jilly bit her lip. ‘I’m worried that David is going off me.’

  ‘They all do. It’s called living with MAK. Marriage after kids.’

  ‘No, but really. Nigel hasn’t said anything, has he?’

  ‘Not that I know of but he’s shot off to Egypt again on business which is why I’m so grateful you’re coming to help. Listen, Jilly, you’re probably feeling insecure after Mark and Suzy. They’re definitely getting a divorce and he wants to marry that nineteen-year-old, silly old fool. But David would be mad if he did anything stupid. And so would you.’

  ‘I know, but—’

  ‘MUM, MUM…’

  ‘Was there anything else?’

  ‘I wondered if you fancied coming shopping with me actually. I’ve got to get an outfit for Mum’s par
ty.’

  ‘Shopping? With this lot going mad around me? Wish I could. Why don’t you just go upstairs and take a look through my-used-to-be-a-size-twelve section. It’s on the left.’ She shot a glance at Jilly. ‘You’ve lost weight, haven’t you? Probably the stress of working again, lucky you. Anyway, you might fit one or two things.’

  Halfway up the stairs, Jilly almost collided with a tall, dark-haired girl dressed in a black leather jacket, sporting what appeared to be two terrible cold sores. Then she realised they were two small pale pink lip studs. How revolting!

  ‘Au revoir,’ Antoinette muttered. ‘I go out now.’

  She was certainly dressed to kill, thought Jilly turning her attention to Paula’s huge walk-in closet. Wow! Paula had the most amazing wardrobe collection. This purple shift dress was nice. And it fitted. Jilly surveyed her reflection in the mirror. Maybe a bit short? Then again, why not? She’d always been quite proud of her legs and here was a sweet little black cardigan to go with it.

  If she teamed it with sheer black tights and high heels, she would look … what? Striking? Different. Not like the usual Jilly. She could see that from the image which was now smiling hesitantly back at her from Paula’s lovely wardrobe mirror. And that was exactly what she wanted.

  Of course David wasn’t having an affair! She knew him better than that. But she definitely needed to do something to help their marriage get back on track.

  Not long now until the anniversary party and if she was going to take a whole weekend off work, Jilly needed to get organised. If only she hadn’t offered to help out with Paula’s party today. Talking of which, she hadn’t even got a present. Oh God. Jilly rifled through her present drawer trying to find something that Paula hadn’t given her in the past. A play dough set. Too young? A cowboy outfit aged 5–6. Too small. A packet of Christmas chocolates in the shape of a stocking past its sell-by date. Tempting.

  Instead, Jilly thought guiltily as she swallowed Santa’s yummy bottom, she’d just have to buy something on the way to the party itself. Paula had asked her to take three kids in her car but she had to drop Nick off on the way to his Duke of Edinburgh practice and after that—

  What was that commotion? It sounded like someone yelling downstairs. And Bruno was making the most peculiar noise!

  ‘Jilly, Jilly.’ Her mother was hammering at the door. ‘That bloody dog. You’ll never believe what he’s gone and eaten now? My HRT tablets. The whole packet including the foil. It’s going to set me back weeks. There’s no way I can go to my own party if I look old and grumpy.’

  ‘Your HRT tablets?’ So that’s how she did it! It wasn’t drinking lots of water or taking weird supplements. But that wasn’t important. Not compared with Bruno who was suddenly looking rather sprightly.

  ‘Look, Mum, I’ll take him to the vet if you do the D of E run. I’ll have to ask Marie-France if she could take the twins to the party. And—’

  ‘—Jee-lee.’ It was Fatima, her nose in the fridge. ‘I theenk I ’ave Braxton Hiccups again. Or maybe I eat too much ekmek.’

  What the hell was ekmek?

  ‘Bread,’ piped up Harry helpfully.

  ‘You’ll have to come with me then,’ she snapped unsympathetically. Scooping up the dog, she belted out towards the car, impatiently waiting for Fatima to waddle into the front seat before heading off towards the vet at the other end of town.

  ‘HRT tablets?’ repeated the receptionist, looking from her to the dog and then Fatima.

  ‘Not for me.’ Jilly was conscious of everyone looking at her. ‘They’re my mother’s.’

  ‘That’s what they all say,’ chuckled a jolly-looking man hanging on to a Great Dane.

  ‘He will be all right, won’t he?’

  The receptionist looked grave. ‘I can’t say. Take a seat and I’ll squeeze you in as soon as I can.’

  ‘Mee-sis Jee-lee. I am hungry still.’

  Everyone’s eyes in reception swivelled to her as though Jilly was somehow responsible. ‘I do feed her, honestly,’ she said lightly, trying to make a joke. No one laughed. Not surprising. This was no laughing matter. In fact it was a complete bloody nightmare. The dog might die – although it had to be said that at this very moment, he was leaping all over the place, putting his nose into every crotch in sight.

  Oh no. Not her mobile again.

  ‘Madame Jilly?’

  It was a deep-voiced man with a heavy French accent.

  ‘My name is Thierry. I am a friend of Marie-France. You are the agency that give her a job, yes?’

  ‘Well, yes but—’

  ‘It is very urgent that I grab her.’

  ‘Sorry. She’s taking some children to a swimming party.’

  ‘Where is partee?’

  Jilly hesitated. Marie-France might not want to see this boy, but on the other hand, this sounded urgent.

  ‘Plis,’ he was repeating. ‘I have a ferry to catch and I must tell her something before I go.’

  ‘Mrs Collins?’

  The vet was at the door now signalling she should go in.

  ‘Plis,’ the boy was still saying. ‘I must talk to her.’

  ‘Mrs Collins.’ The vet was looking impatient. ‘I was told you were an emergency. Would you like this appointment or not?’

  Email from Susan Manners to Jilly’s Au Pair Agency

  Thank you very much for teaming us up with Natascha. She is very nice but we have one small but hugely irritating and unsightly problem. Natascha eats with her mouth open at mealtimes and it is setting a bad example to the children. I have tried explaining it’s bad manners but she won’t stop. Any suggestions?

  Chapter 32

  SHE’D LEFT HER mobile behind, realised Marie-France as she drove to Antoinette’s family’s swimming party with the twins and Lottie. The excited babble in the back made it hard to concentrate!

  ‘Can we go on that chute thing that makes you go so fast that your stomach spews out of your mouth?’

  ‘Don’t be stupid, dumbo. It’s the other way round. It goes so fast that your mouth spews out of your stomach! Tom told me. His dad took him last Saturday.’

  ‘But how does your stomach get back again?’ This was little Lottie’s worried voice in the back of the car. ‘I don’t like going fast, Marie-France.’

  Originally, Jilly had been going to give them both a lift but then there’d been some panic over the dog and Marie-France had called Matthew at work to explain she was doing the party run after all.

  ‘I don’t know,’ he had said and she had heard the worry in his voice. ‘You’ve never done that route before and it’s a tricky road.’

  ‘But Lottie will be so disappointed if she cannot go,’ pointed out Marie-France.

  He’d reluctantly agreed and now here she was in the car with two noisy boys who were teasing Lottie but in a kind, brotherly way. It reminded her of her own childhood in France when she’d been so jealous of friends who had brothers – or indeed sisters.

  ‘You’re going to go right down to the bottom of the pool and lose your stomach in the deep end!’

  ‘You’re going to lose your mouth!

  ‘You won’t be able to eat again!’

  ‘You won’t be able to talk again!’

  ‘BOYS! Stop.’ She paused at a particularly busy stretch of road where they had to merge into a stream of traffic coming from the right. Why did the English have to drive on the wrong side?

  There was a space! Quick! Right. Or was it left? Right. She’d go for right.

  ‘Alfie, please stop kicking the back of my seat. Yes? And Harry, ascend your window.’

  ‘But I’m waving at Heidi! Look she’s behind us!’

  Marie-France glanced in the mirror. It was true. Her friend was flashing her lights and waving. This swimming party might be good fun. Pity that the tarty Antoinette was going to be there too.

  ‘I’m hungry!’

  ‘I need a pee!’

  ‘Too bad.’ Marie-France certainly wasn’t getting off the ro
ad now she was on it.

  ‘I’ve left my birthday present behind.’

  ‘Your mother can give it to Paula another day.’

  Merde! The boys were such a handful compared with Lottie, who was sitting as good as gold in the back. Still, at least the journey was taking her mind off Phillip. Now she knew the truth about the burglary, she was furious! How dare he put his own stepchildren through such a terrifying ordeal?

  Yes, Marie-France told herself as she overtook a car that was going too slowly in front, she’d definitely done the right thing in telling Matthew about the insurance scam. With any luck, Phillip would be punished. Yet she still couldn’t get rid of that funny feeling in her heart for him.

  The back-seat arguments distracted her so much that she made a wrong turn. Consequently they were nearly half an hour late and then it took ages to find a parking space. The pool was in a vast modern steel complex with a cinema and a bowling rink as well. Mon Dieu, the noise was deafening! It was like being in a human zoo, observed Marie-France, with all those kids rushing in and out followed by bored-looking parents. Some were clutching streamers and balloons, indicating that theirs wasn’t the only birthday party today.

  As they went in – ‘Boys, not so fast!’ – there was the overpowering smell of chlorine and she could see kids splashing in a huge pool on the other side of the glass wall. Her mind went back to when she and Thierry used to swim in the lake. It had been there that they had made love for the first time just after her seventeenth birthday. He had undone the strap under her top and …

  ‘Marie-France, Marie France?’ Little Lottie was jumping up and down next to her. ‘I don’t really have to wear my water wings, do I? The boys will say I’m a baby if I do.’