A French Pirouette (23 page)

“It’s beautiful,” Evie said, admiring the way it sparkled on her finger. “I love the fact that it’s a family heirloom.”

“I know we agreed to keep things quiet until after
Swan Lake
but I wanted to make things official between us before you disappeared back to Paris,” Pascal said quietly. “So I bought you this as well.” And he handed her a gold chain. “If you want to keep our secret for a little longer, you can slip it on this and wear it round your neck out of sight, when you’re in Paris.”

Taking the chain Evie said, “I promise you I’ll be telling everyone how lucky I am once the ballet is over but until then, the chain is a brilliant idea. Thank you.”

The ring had stayed on her finger until she left Brittany yesterday when she carefully placed it on the chain around her neck and hid it under her shirt. But last night she’d taken it off the chain and replaced it on her finger. There was nobody in the apartment to see it and she loved having it on her finger. Now though it was time to slip it on the chain and hide it. Thankfully there were only two more weeks before she could tell the world about Pascal and place it back on her finger. For ever.

Yesterday afternoon she’d been practising in the barn with the ring securely on her finger when Marquisa had appeared, full of congratulations.

“But Pascal tells me I’m not allowed to tell my friends yet. He says I have to wait until after you dance.” She raised an eyebrow quizzically. “
Peut-être
you give me permission?”

Evie had shaken her head. “Please keep the secret for a little longer—until after
Swan Lake
. Then we can both tell the world.”

Sighing Marquisa had agreed to keep quiet about their engagement. “It’s going to be wonderful watching my future daughter-in-law dance,” she’d said before leaning in unexpectedly to kiss Evie on the cheek. “You have made my Pascal so happy already and for that I thank you.”

Remembering how stunned she’d felt at the unexpected display of emotion from Marquisa, Evie smiled to herself as she turned to go back into the apartment. Maybe Pascal was right when he assured her she would grow to love his mother.

Closing the balcony doors, Evie went into her tiny kitchen to make a cup of coffee, mentally beginning to plan her day and start a to-do list. Official rehearsals began tomorrow so she needed to make the most of a completely free day. Once the ballet opened there would be a few hours during the day spare, except for the two matinee days when she’d be at the theatre from midday until late evening.

One of the first things she must do was to ring Malik and tell him she was back in town. Make sure he remembered his promise not to tell anyone, ANYONE, that next week Suzette Shelby would be performing in her last ballet. That
Swan Lake
was to literally be her swan dance. Of course there would have to be an official announcement but she’d make it in her own time and in her own way. No way did she want the added pressure of an announcement in the press before opening night.

An hour later with a long to-do list in front of her, Evie pressed Malik’s number on her phone. It went straight to voicemail.

“Malik, I’m back in the Paris apartment. Ring me.” She pressed the end-call button. Damn she needed to know times for tomorrow so she could plan some appointments she needed to make. There was a lot to fit in this week. Thirty seconds later her phone rang.

“Welcome back to civilisation. You’ve been missed,” Malik said.

“Only by you I’d guess,” she said. “Update me with what’s going on—especially who’s in the company for this ballet.”

Malik reeled off a couple of well-known names before saying, “Everyone is looking forward to seeing you again. People have been wondering where you were all summer. Some thought you’d already retired.”

“Hope you disillusioned them. Malik, please tell me you haven’t told anyone, particularly the press, that this ballet is to be my last public performance.”

“If people know it’s their last opportunity to see Suzette Shelby dance, they’ll storm the box office for tickets,” Malik protested.

“Promise me you haven’t?”

Malik laughed. “OK. I promise. There isn’t a single ticket left to sell anyway. But you can’t just drift away to Brittany or wherever without telling your fans.”

“I know. I’m planning to do it in my own time and in my own way,” Evie said. “And it’s definitely Brittany I’m going to, nowhere else.”

Part of her wanted to tell Malik about Pascal and her engagement but she couldn’t be sure he’d keep a second secret. Switching off her phone and moving across to the small table where she kept a few framed photographs, she picked up one of her mother. Lovingly she traced her finger over the face staring back up at her.

“If only I could tell you,” she said. “I know you’d adore Pascal as much as I do. I so wish he could have known you too.”

She placed the photo back on the table and turned to pick up her to-do list.

Phone the
immobiliers
to put the apartment on the market. Get to the Marché Saint-Pierre one day to stock up on some materials. Buy some jeans. A pair of sturdy shoes—she’d already ruined a favourite pair of flatties walking Lola with Pascal. So much to do.

With rehearsals every day and fitting the various appointments and shopping in, the week before opening night flew by. Thoughts of returning to Pascal and Brittany got pushed further and further away for hours on end during the day as life became more and more frantic. Thankfully apart from the occasional shooting pain, her ankle was holding up well and Evie was once again enjoying dancing.

Pascal rang every evening keeping her up to date with his news and the progress on the barn. She didn’t mention the twinges in her ankle when he asked how things were going. No way was she giving in to injury this week. However painful it became she was determined to dance through it.

Suzette Shelby was back in town for her final curtain call. And nothing, but nothing, was going to stop her giving it her all.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Suzette/Evie

After a week of performances, rapturous applause and so many curtain calls she’d lost count, Suzette was on a high. As the heavy curtains swished to the floor after the final matinee performance and the applause died away, she began making her way back to the dressing room. As always, the adrenalin rush from dancing left her feeling exhilerated.

Tiring as it was to give two performances a day she’d always liked the afternoon houses. Today was no exception. An audience full of ballet-crazy girls, their exhilaration as they’d watched spellbound was palpable and had reached her across the footlights.

Malik was waiting for her in the dressing room. “Great performance, Suzette. One of your best ever. Magical.”

Suzette smiled. “Hope the magic stays for this evening,” she said quietly.

“You sure you want it to end this evening?” Malik said. “I’ve a short season of modern ballet booked down in Nice for Christmas week.” He looked at her hopefully. “You are so fit now, you could easily do it.”

Suzette shook her head. “Thanks but no thanks.” She picked up the chain with her engagement ring from the drawer she’d hidden it in. Impossible to wear around her neck while performing, but she’d wanted it close. Time to tell Malik about her engagement.

“I’m looking forward to the next stage of my life. Tonight this goes back on my finger and is never coming off,” she said showing Malik the ring.

“Pascal? He’s a lucky man. I wish you every happiness.”

Hearing a quiet knock and the dressing room door opening, Suzette turned. “Libby and Lucas. How lovely. I wasn’t expecting to see you until the after-show party.”

“We’re not stopping,” Libby said as they kissed cheeks. “We don’t want to disrupt your pre-show routine but wanted you to know we’ve all arrived and to wish you luck.”

“Thank you. Pascal and Marquisa—where are they?”

“Gone straight to their hotel,” Lucas said. “Pascal sends his love and he’ll see you later. And so will we.” A minute later Libby and Lucas were gone.

“Suzette, I have things to do. I’ll be back in an hour.” And Malik was gone too.

Left on her own, Suzette settled down into her familiar pre-performance routine. As she reapplied her make-up an hour later it struck her that this was the last time she’d ever sit in a dressing room, preparing for a show. Her life as a ballet dancer was taking its final curtain call after thirty years. Tonight’s performance was sure to be emotional and stressful. She could feel the tears building up even now. Thank goodness no one in the media knew this was to be her last-ever performance. The pressure would escalate if they did.

Malik returned just before the five-minute call rang around the dressing room.

“Ready?” he asked, hugging her.

Suzette nodded. “Thanks for everything, Malik. We will keep in touch after tonight won’t we?”

“Of course. We were good together weren’t we?” Malik said releasing her and catching hold of her hands and looking at her seriously. “You tell Pascal he’ll have me to answer to if he ever hurts you. ” He squeezed her hands. “Ready?”

Suzette nodded and took a deep breath. Time to dance for Pascal.

Thunderous applause echoed around the theatre and camera flashlights dazzled as Suzette curtsied, taking curtain call after curtain call. A huge wave of adrenalin had swept through her body. She’d done it. She knew without being told tonight had been one of the best, if not the best, performances of her career.

The music had taken her over completely tonight and she’d given herself up utterly to the emotional storyline of true love fighting evil. For over two hours in the guise of Odette, the true love of Prince Siegfried, she’d danced for her own true love, Pascal. As the dying notes of the finale faded away and the curtain fell, Suzette struggled to bring herself back down to earth while the audience rose to their feet and applauded like never before.

Single-stemmed roses were flying onto the stage from all directions as Malik appeared with several large bouquets, closely followed by the stage manager with another armful.

“This is unreal. You told people I was retiring didn’t you?” she whispered to Malik, accepting the flowers.

He nodded. “Only this afternoon when you showed me your engagement ring. Forgive me? I truly wanted you to go out on a high.”

Suzette reached up and kissed his cheek. “I forgive you. This is amazing.”

“I think these are the flowers you will treasure though,” Malik said handing her a bouquet of twenty-four white-and-pink lilies and pointing to the card nestling in amongst them. ‘To my darling Evie. With all my love Pascal.’

The stage manager handed her a microphone as she struggled to control her emotions, and he ushered her forward to the edge of the stage.

Clutching her flowers she looked in the direction of the box where she knew Libby and everyone would be and blew a kiss to them before addressing the audience.

“
Merci
.
Merci
. You have been a wonderful audience.
Merci
to all my loyal fans for your loyal support down through the years.” Struggling to control the tears that were threatening to fall, she stood for ten seconds letting the atmosphere engulf her.

Sensing the curtains beginning to slowly close, she stepped back to allow them to pass in front of her.

Blowing one last kiss out over the footlights she said, “Tonight it’s time for Suzette Shelby to say a final thank you—and goodbye.”

As the curtains closed hiding her from view she turned and saw Pascal standing in the wings, his arms open wide waiting for her. It was time to live Evie’s life.

RECIPES FROM THE AUBERGE DU CANAL

Hi, Libby here,

I thought I’d share a few of the recipes I cooked for friends and guests in my first season as an auberge keeper.

First one is for the beloved Brittany crepe. Guests loved these served with an egg for their
petit déjeuner
.

BASIC CREPE RECIPE

500g plain flour

150g caster sugar

3 eggs

1 litre milk

100g melted butter

pinch of salt

For these I just whizz everything together in my food processor and then leave to stand for a couple of hours.

Brigitte left a proper crepe maker in the auberge kitchen, but a pancake pan works just as well.

Crepes can be made fresh as needed, or make up a batch and store them in the fridge ready for using.

BATTERED COURGETTE FLOWERS

Helen loved these—she had me making them several times during her stay!

4 - 6 courgette flowers depending on size

150g flour

2 eggs, separated

25cl (250ml) milk

salt and pepper to taste

300ml vegetable oil, for deep-frying

a few fresh parsley leaves, chopped finely

Make sure the flowers are clean and remove the stem and pistils. Mix the flour, egg yolks and milk together. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and add them to the mixture with the seasoning. Gently dip each flower into the batter mix and then deep-fry. Remove when a nice golden colour. Sprinkle with parsley and eat immediately!

FISH PIE

So much fish is available in Brittany I made this on a regular basis.

Fish filling:

75g butter

2 small onions, sliced

3 largish mushrooms, sliced

75g plain flour

150ml cider (I use Bretagne cider but white wine works just as well.)

570ml milk

750g of mixed fish (I tend to use cod, smoked haddock and pollock all cut into largish bite-sized pieces and sometimes I throw in a few prawns.)

Potato topping:

1kg potatoes, peeled and cubed to similar size

knob of butter

1 egg

salt and pepper to season

50g cheese grated (I use Cantal but cheddar is good too.)

Preheat oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas 6 (180ºC fan).

Fish filling:

Melt the butter and sauté the onions until soft, then add the mushrooms and cook for a further five minutes. Try not to let the onions brown too much.

Place flour in bowl with the cider and whisk until smooth. Add the milk to the onions and mushrooms, bring to a good simmer and then add the fish followed by the alcohol/flour mixture. Stir briskly until it is thick and season with salt and pepper. Pour into an ovenproof casserole. Allow to cool and form a slight skin over the top.