She reached for Solange’s hand.
“Talking to you meant more to Grandfather than anything. Thank you for letting me come by this morning.”
“It has been my pleasure. But won’t you stay longer?”
“We can’t,” Rachel said before Giles could. “I have restaurant business to do back at the auberge. Giles has to take me there before he leaves for the vintners’ banquet.
“But when my grandfather gets better, we’ll come for a visit, and that’s a promise.”
“Good.” She handed Rachel a packet of pictures to take with her. After they kissed on both cheeks, the three of them walked to the door and said goodbye.
It wasn’t long before Giles dropped Rachel off in front of the farmhouse, assuring her Luc would be in touch later.
She gave him a big hug and thanked him for everything before hurrying inside.
“Rachel Valentine,” she muttered when she entered her room.
“Before things get any more complicated, it’s time you dealt with a situation that’s your problem, not Luc’s.”
Without hesitation she phoned her travel agent and arranged for a rental car to be delivered to the auberge straight away.
When she’d done that, she called the front desk for the number of Chartier et Fils.
After writing it down, she punched in the digits. To her relief, she reached a recording at Domaine Chartier, asking the caller to leave a message.
She waited for the beep, then improvised. “Monsieur Chartier? This is Rachel Valentine. Forgive me for disturbing you, but I’ve had an unavoidable change in schedule and must leave.
“I’ll ask the owner of the auberge to fax my wine order to your office. Be assured I’ve arranged for an electronic transfer of funds.
“On behalf of Bella Lucia, I want to thank you and Giles Lambert for making this the most memorable experience of my buying trip to France.”
A trip that needed to come to an end.
She hung up and got busy on her packing, which included several precious bottles of wine.
Before she went downstairs to check out, she came across the rental car brochure with its detailed map of France. The agency had given it to her when she’d first arrived in Colmar.
According to the information, the largest automobile museum in the world was located in Mulhouse, near Thann.
If she backtracked from St Hippolyte, she could purchase some miniature models from their gift shop before leaving the province.
Her father collected classic cars which he housed in an extended garage at his house in South Kensington.
Knowing him, he would put them on Bev’s favorite glass coffee table held up by four gold elephants, just to get a rise out of her.
Another gift to pacify her father who could never be pacified for long.
Maybe Rachel was more like him than she knew. What could possibly satisfy her after she returned to the UK? The mere idea of leaving here, leaving Luc…brought such fierce pain she felt ill.
After taking his leave of Yves, Luc had given his short talk at the Alsatian vintners’ banquet and was now in his car heading for his house. Once he’d changed out of his suit into something casual, he had plans for Rachel and himself.
Since she found the area so beautiful, he was looking forward to her reaction when he drove her to a special place he had in mind.
He’d never met anyone who took such genuine pleasure in everything. As if each moment was a great adventure. Luc had to admit he was intrigued by that childlike quality in her woman’s mind and body.
With his thoughts so immersed in Rachel, he did a double take to see his mother coming out of his house as he drove up.
She walked toward him. “Bon après-midi, mon fils. I thought you’d still be at the banquet, so I took advantage of the time to bring you a little food for tonight.”