“Are you expecting a live-in nanny?”
“Of sorts, yes. We’re looking for someone to mainly be on-call during the day and an occasional evening here and there. So you would need to live nearby. We have a caretaker’s cottage on the estate that we’d prefer the nanny and her family to live in. We’d guarantee that you’d have most weekends off and at least four evenings, probably more, most weeks.”
“A caretaker’s cottage.” Again, she paused. “If offered the position, might I see the cottage before making my decision?”
“Of course.”
“And there’s just the one baby?”
Camille nodded and glimpsed down at her tummy. “I don’t think it’s twins.”
Both women laughed.
“So employment won’t actually start for a while then?” Cecily asked.
“Well…” Camille paused. “We’d like the person we hire to move into the cottage within the month so we can all get to know one another before the baby comes.” She looked at Cecily. “No offense intended.”
“None taken.” Cecily shook her head.
“Would you like to see the cottage?”
“Yes, I’d like that. Is it far from the main house?”
Camille rose and Cecily did the same, following Camille to the side door leading outside. “It’s about a quarter of a mile behind the main house.” Camille opened the door and gestured for Cecily to exit first. “We’ll take a golf cart down.” She closed the door behind her, then led Cecily through the garden. “As the nanny, you’d be provided with a golf cart, as it’s the easiest way to get around the estate. Saves walking at least.”
“That’s very generous of you.” Cecily remained gracious and reserved, even though she was ready to tear into Camille de Laurent.
It wasn’t anything in particular that Camille had done, other than getting pregnant at the same time as Andre’s wife. And why weren’t they both using the same nanny? Why hadn’t the agency specified specifically which de Laurent couple would be interviewing Cecily?
Wasn’t this just perfect? Cecily had been delegated out to the wrong de Laurents. Oh, well. She couldn’t very well excuse herself from the list of candidates saying, “Sorry, but I intended to apply to your brother-in-law and his wife.”
Maybe once they got to know her, Andre and his wife would decide to share the nanny with Camille and her husband. Either way, being nanny to Andre’s niece or nephew was better than nothing. At least she’d be living on the estate and was bound to run into Andre’s wife. At least Cecily still had several months to figure out how to get rid of her.
If she got the job.
The cart rolled to a stop at the side entrance of a two-story house sitting next to a pond. Trees provided ample shading, and flower beds filled with budding fall flowers dotted the yard.
The sight took Cecily’s breath away. This place was far grander than anything she’d ever lived in, and it was just a caretaker’s cottage. Imagine the possibilities if she could manage to snatch the Renault fortune from Andre de Laurent?
That settled it. Cecily had to get this job.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CECILY MASON WAS HIRED as Camille and Julian’s nanny. By the time Christmas rolled around, Camille and Cecily were old friends.
Cecily had heard the whispers among the other servants about the riches that flew around the de Laurent family at Christmas time, and for the first time in her life she felt no jealousy. Cecily had been given the best Christmas gift of all—when she learned about Tasha de Laurent’s miscarriage. While she felt a measure of sympathy for the girl, she felt even more hope for herself. With no baby, breaking Andre and Tasha apart would be easier than ever.
She also had a pretty good idea of just how to go about that too. In the weeks that she’d been at Pacifique de Lumière, the thought had occurred to her more than once that it was a pretty safe bet to say that Tasha de Laurent hadn’t a clue about the stipulations of Edouard Renault’s will.
If Cecily was right, and Tasha found out about it—if she was told in the right way, Tasha could be persuaded that Andre had married her solely to gain his inheritance. And that’s exactly what Cecily intended to do—when the time was right.
Now was too soon. Considering the will stated that Andre must be married for one year, which meant September, then the perfect time was summer. Anything sooner might give him and the de Laurent attorneys time to find a loophole inviting a second marriage, and Cecily couldn’t have that. Waiting until mid-summer was the better plan. Tasha’s abrupt departure would send Andre reeling. By the time Andre collected his thoughts, September would be here and he’d be in the midst of divorce proceedings. Or better yet, Tasha would have the marriage annulled. Either way, the Renault money would be Cecily’s.
But it all depended on just how much Tasha knew. Cecily was betting very little. She used these next few weeks to find out if she was right, or if she needed to come up with another plan.
“Make sure you bundle up good. It’s cold outside,” Andre told Tasha in a bubbly tone.
She fanned her hands out at her sides. “If I was any more bundled up, you’d have to roll me out of here.”
Andre had to admit she was right. With that thick tweed, knee-length coat, gloves and scarf over her pantsuit, she looked pretty well padded. “Good. I don’t want you to get cold.” He winked at her and grinned.
“What are you up to, anyway?” Curiosity twinkled in her eyes as he led her to the door.
He draped his arm around her as they strolled along the hallway. “Are we leaving the estate?” she asked.
“Nope.” He shook his head. Andre had told her very little, only that he had a surprise for her when she awoke earlier this morning. She’d been cross-examining him ever since.
“You’ve hidden it here!” she said as if she’d just uncovered some state secret.
“Well, it’s not really hidden.” At the door of the east salon, he pulled a deep-blue silk scarf from his coat pocket and flapped it in the air. “For that reason, I’m afraid I’m going to have to blindfold you,” he added with a grin.
“Mr. de Laurent…” She laughed scandalously and turned her back to him so he could blindfold her.
He tied the scarf loosely, covering her eyes and then drew her back into his embrace to lead her through the main salon and out into the east garden.