Chapter 21
21
The next morning, Penny and Ingrid sat in the kitchen making a list of every question they needed to ask Madame Richard, and also decided on the answers to questions she was likely to ask.
‘Thirty people isn’t that many,’ Penny said, biting the end of her pencil. ‘Should we offer the orangery as an intimate alternative to the larger rooms here in the chateau? It could be really romantic.’
‘Not sure the orangery is ready,’ Ingrid said.
‘Not a lot to do to it. I had a quick look after breakfast,’ Penny said. ‘One of the important things we must get straight from the very beginning is the drinks they want served. I did a little research last night and there could be a minor hiccup in that there is no way we can sell alcohol without a licence, and we won’t get one in the next two weeks. You or Dad have to go for a training session before they will grant you one. You have got chambres d’h?te and restaurant permits, haven’t you?’
Ingrid nodded. ‘Yes. And we do have an alcohol licence. Dad did his three-day training session a few weeks ago.’
‘He did? That’s brilliant,’ Penny said. ‘Now, have you bought anything catering-related for the chambres d’h?te side of the business and the weddings you plan to do eventually? And what about kitchen equipment?’
‘I did buy crockery, glasses and cutlery for the dining room. Otherwise, I was waiting until we were closer to starting before buying more. I want the crockery and glasses for weddings to be special and I haven’t actually seen any I like yet.’
‘How many place settings did you buy?’
‘Fourteen, because with six bedrooms, we’re never going to have more than twelve guests, and the two extra were for breakages.’
Penny scribbled on the notepad in front of her. ‘Kitchen equipment?’
‘You know what I had in my kitchen at home,’ Ingrid said. ‘But I did think ahead when we were planning the kitchen. We do have two ovens, the fridge is a big new double one, and there is another one and a wine fridge in the utility room, a small convection oven and a large freezer.’
‘Right. We can always hire crockery, glasses and cutlery if we can’t find anything we like in time. Depending on the menu I have to cook, I’ll buy some catering trays and dishes.’
Ingrid sighed. ‘I’m not convinced we’re doing the right thing, agreeing to do this wedding. It’s going to cost us. We’re just not ready.’
‘We are doing the right thing. Okay, we’re not going to make a fortune, even if we end up charging fifty euros a head, but it means we’ll be up and ready by the summer.’
‘How much a head?’ Ingrid said, looking at Penny in amazement. ‘I don’t think we can charge that much for a last-minute booking we’re not even ready for.’
‘Yes we can, it might even be higher.’ But before Penny could say more, there was a knock on the door and Sasha called out, ‘Good morning!’
‘Door is open, Sasha, come on in,’ Ingrid answered.
‘Sorry, are you busy?’ Sasha said, looking at the paperwork on the table. ‘I don’t want to interrupt and I can’t stay long. I only came up to see how you are.’
‘The swelling on my foot is going down and it’s not as painful as it was, but I’m still immobile, to all intents and purposes,’ Ingrid said.
‘Good that the swelling has gone down, just don’t try to do too much too soon,’ Sasha said. ‘I’ll leave you to it. I have to get back to the cottage, apparently the bathrooms are being delivered today.’
Madame Richard arrived promptly at two o’clock and, abandoning her white mud-splattered sports car in the driveway, immediately launched into a torrent of French as Penny walked down the steps to meet the flamboyant woman with blue hair wearing a shocking pink trouser suit. Whatever else this woman turned out to be, it would definitely not be shy.
Penny smiled, tried to interrupt the flow of words to introduce herself, and took her into the chateau through the main entrance to meet Ingrid who was waiting, leg propped up, in the main dining room.
‘This is Madame Richard,’ Penny said.
‘ Je vous en prie, appelez-moi Stella ,’ Madame Richard replied. ‘The chateau is beautiful. I am so pleased you can help with my catastrophe. I have brought the menu we agree with the now not available hotel, and also the deposit.’
‘Madame Richard – Stella, we have to discuss things first. We hope we can help, but before we can agree to host the reception, we need to know more details of your requirements,’ Ingrid said, her French slow and deliberate, hoping to avoid any misunderstandings.
‘First I’d like to show you the rooms available,’ Penny said. ‘This is one of them, upstairs there is another larger reception salon and there is also the orangery, which would be a smaller, more intimate venue.’
‘The orangery sound parfait ,’ Stella enthused. ‘Show me.’
‘It’s through here.’ Penny said, opening a door at the back of the room and ushering Stella through. ‘We would dress it up, of course, put some fairy lights around, mirrors, possibly candles, give it an intimate, romantic atmosphere.’
Stella stood enthralled in the middle of the orangery. ‘So beautiful. I don’t need to see the other room. This is the one I want. We go back and organise.’
Back in the chateau dining room, Penny offered Stella a drink. ‘Coffee, wine?’
Stella shook her head. ‘ Non, merci .’ She reached into her large tote and pulled out a folder. ‘This is the menu we want. Here is the deposit the hotel return, five thousand euros.’
‘Thank you,’ Penny said faintly. ‘I’ll give you a receipt when I’ve told you a bit more about what we can provide, and you’ve answered a few questions and we’ve agreed.’
‘Okay!’
‘What time is the wedding?’
‘Five o’clock in the afternoon. I think we be here about a quarter to six.’
‘Welcoming glass of champagne or a soft drink for everyone?’
‘Of course.’
Penny glanced at the menu.
‘Definitely a sit-down meal? Not a buffet?’
Stella nodded.
‘One long head table? Or one just for the bridal family and several smaller round ones?’
‘Oh, round ones – six people on the head table, and about five or six on the others. Informal, fun atmosphere.’
‘So, no formal seating arrangement – apart from the bride and groom on the head table obviously – no place names, a “sit where you like” for the guests?’
‘Yes.’
‘Wedding cake?’
‘Will be delivered on the day.’
‘ D’accord ,’ Penny said. ‘Now we must discuss the main problem we have. Alcohol. We do have a licence, but we do not currently have a stock of drinks in the cellar as we have not officially opened.’
Stella looked at her aghast. ‘But we must have champagne and wine with the meal and for the party afterwards.’
‘I realise that,’ Penny said, making a mental note to ask about the party. ‘We are happy to buy in a large enough quantity of champagne and wines for the wedding meal and simply charge you for what you use. But I hadn’t realised you were planning on having a party afterwards, and there is no extensive cellar or bar here.’
Stella nodded thoughtfully. ‘So how do we do party drinks?’
‘You could bring all the drinks you want for that and we’d serve them for you.’
‘You have somewhere to store them? And an extra fridge?’
‘Yes,’ Penny replied.
‘I bring them in the week before the wedding,’ Stella said.
‘How long do you expect the party to go on?’
Stella shrugged. ‘Until it finish? Can you do some finger food for that?’
‘Yes, I can do that,’ Penny nodded and made a note. ‘But the party, by law, cannot go on past one o’clock.’
‘That’s fine,’ Stella said. ‘There is an extra something I would like to arrange in addition to the reception. Do you by any chance have a four-poster bed in one of your guest room?’
‘Yes,’ Ingrid said.
‘I hope it is free on the night of the wedding. I like to reserve it.’ And Stella placed a five-hundred-euro note on top of the other notes.
‘Wouldn’t you like to see it first?’
Stella shook her head. ‘ Non . It will be a wonderful surprise, I think.’
‘I’ll write you a receipt for the deposit.’ Penny pulled a piece of paper towards her and quickly wrote one and gave it to Stella, who casually thrust it into her jacket pocket. ‘I will send you a quotation when I’ve priced everything. I will need your acceptance in writing,’ Penny said.
‘I accept whatever it is. I know it will be expensive, but…’ Stella shrugged. ‘It’s a very special day and I want the best. Now I must go. I leave the folder with you. My address is there for you to send the quotation. I see you again the week of the wedding with the party drinks.’
Penny followed Stella out to her car and held the door open for her as she got in. ‘Thank you for entrusting us with your daughter’s special day. We will do our best to make it truly special.’
Stella gave a loud hoot of laughter. ‘I don’t have a daughter. C’est moi . I’m the bride. I finally met the love of my life and I’m getting married at the age of seventy-two for the first time.’ And churning up a spray of gravel, Stella drove away, cheerily waving her hand out of the window as she went.