Read Online The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore - Free Book Online
Authors: Santa Montefiore
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repeated with a smile. “Syrup sponge was Mr. Lightly’s favorite.”
After lunch David’s satisfied gaze rested on his wife. There was nothing like a belly full of good food to make him feel horny. He ran his hands through his hair and leaned back in his chair. “How would you children like to watch a video for a while?” Miranda frowned. Hadn’t he forbidden Gus to watch television? “Mummy and I would like a siesta.” Her frown melted into a smile. Gus jumped down from his chair.
“Make sure you watch something that Storm will enjoy,” Miranda shouted as they bolted for the playroom. David took his wife’s hand.
“How about it, Mrs. Claybourne?”
“How about it indeed,” she replied, squeezing his hand. She felt the warm sensation of their reconnection.
“Well done, darling. You’ve found a cook and a gardener. There’s a fire blazing in the hall and the children are happy. Now you can make me happy.” He stood up and led her out of the room.
“I don’t think Mr. Underwood is a proper gardener,” she murmured as they walked into the hall.
“He’ll do for the time being. He can light fires and burn leaves. Besides, it’s autumn. There’s not a lot one can do in autumn.”
“Everyone keeps telling me this used to be the most beautiful garden in England. I’m beginning to feel we’re committing a terrible sin not looking after it.”
“It’s only a garden, darling.” He led her upstairs and into the master bedroom. “Now let’s get down to the important business before I have to catch that train to London.”
Gus and Storm sat in front of the television watching Nanny McPhee . They had already seen it before, loads of times, but it was the only DVD that they both enjoyed. Storm noticed Gus had been rather quiet over lunch, as if he was keeping a delicious secret. He fidgeted on the sofa, his gaze drawn outside by an invisible magnet. After a while he announced that he was bored of the movie and was going outside. “Can I come, too?” Storm asked, not because she wanted to play with him, but because he reeked of something mysterious.
“No,” he replied. “I want to play on my own.”
“That’s not very nice,” she complained. “You’re a poo!”
“You’re a baby.” He stood up and marched out of the room.
Storm gave him a minute, then followed him.
Gus noticed Mrs. Underwood’s car had gone, taking Ranger with it. He was disappointed. The dog had been good company. The perfect company, in fact, for a boy who likedto play on his own. He wasn’t stupid like Charlie. Gus ran off through the field to the little bridge. The clouds had cleared and the sun shone, catching the ripples in the river and making them sparkle. The air was sweet with the smell of wet earth and foliage, and the breeze had turned unexpectedly warm. He hurried across to his secret cottage, and climbed inside.
Storm watched from a distance. She had never been to that side of the garden. There was something wild and enchanting about it as the light glittered magically on the raindrops quivering on the grass and leaves. She saw her brother disappear inside the cottage and stood awhile looking about. The stone bridge delighted her, reminding her of the bridge in Winnie-the-Pooh . She leaned over and gazed onto the water. Below, she could see pebbles and rocks hidden among the weeds. She wondered whether there were fish and decided she’d ask her mother for a net so she could catch one. Then she turned her attention back to the cottage. Gus had been in there a long time. She knew he’d be cross if he discovered she had followed him. She bit her nails and gazed longingly at the cottage, half hoping that Gus would appear. But he didn’t. She wondered what he was doing in there. Slowly, she began to walk towards it.
She peered through the window to the left of the front door. It had already been rubbed clean by Gus’s sleeve so she could see inside. She gasped as she took in the room. Someone
After lunch David’s satisfied gaze rested on his wife. There was nothing like a belly full of good food to make him feel horny. He ran his hands through his hair and leaned back in his chair. “How would you children like to watch a video for a while?” Miranda frowned. Hadn’t he forbidden Gus to watch television? “Mummy and I would like a siesta.” Her frown melted into a smile. Gus jumped down from his chair.
“Make sure you watch something that Storm will enjoy,” Miranda shouted as they bolted for the playroom. David took his wife’s hand.
“How about it, Mrs. Claybourne?”
“How about it indeed,” she replied, squeezing his hand. She felt the warm sensation of their reconnection.
“Well done, darling. You’ve found a cook and a gardener. There’s a fire blazing in the hall and the children are happy. Now you can make me happy.” He stood up and led her out of the room.
“I don’t think Mr. Underwood is a proper gardener,” she murmured as they walked into the hall.
“He’ll do for the time being. He can light fires and burn leaves. Besides, it’s autumn. There’s not a lot one can do in autumn.”
“Everyone keeps telling me this used to be the most beautiful garden in England. I’m beginning to feel we’re committing a terrible sin not looking after it.”
“It’s only a garden, darling.” He led her upstairs and into the master bedroom. “Now let’s get down to the important business before I have to catch that train to London.”
Gus and Storm sat in front of the television watching Nanny McPhee . They had already seen it before, loads of times, but it was the only DVD that they both enjoyed. Storm noticed Gus had been rather quiet over lunch, as if he was keeping a delicious secret. He fidgeted on the sofa, his gaze drawn outside by an invisible magnet. After a while he announced that he was bored of the movie and was going outside. “Can I come, too?” Storm asked, not because she wanted to play with him, but because he reeked of something mysterious.
“No,” he replied. “I want to play on my own.”
“That’s not very nice,” she complained. “You’re a poo!”
“You’re a baby.” He stood up and marched out of the room.
Storm gave him a minute, then followed him.
Gus noticed Mrs. Underwood’s car had gone, taking Ranger with it. He was disappointed. The dog had been good company. The perfect company, in fact, for a boy who likedto play on his own. He wasn’t stupid like Charlie. Gus ran off through the field to the little bridge. The clouds had cleared and the sun shone, catching the ripples in the river and making them sparkle. The air was sweet with the smell of wet earth and foliage, and the breeze had turned unexpectedly warm. He hurried across to his secret cottage, and climbed inside.
Storm watched from a distance. She had never been to that side of the garden. There was something wild and enchanting about it as the light glittered magically on the raindrops quivering on the grass and leaves. She saw her brother disappear inside the cottage and stood awhile looking about. The stone bridge delighted her, reminding her of the bridge in Winnie-the-Pooh . She leaned over and gazed onto the water. Below, she could see pebbles and rocks hidden among the weeds. She wondered whether there were fish and decided she’d ask her mother for a net so she could catch one. Then she turned her attention back to the cottage. Gus had been in there a long time. She knew he’d be cross if he discovered she had followed him. She bit her nails and gazed longingly at the cottage, half hoping that Gus would appear. But he didn’t. She wondered what he was doing in there. Slowly, she began to walk towards it.
She peered through the window to the left of the front door. It had already been rubbed clean by Gus’s sleeve so she could see inside. She gasped as she took in the room. Someone
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