the fête Eloise helped in the kitchen whenever Marie-Claire would stay quiet, despite the older Madame deVrac’s extreme disapproval. She enjoyed it too much to stay away pretending to be a real lady, even though that would have been ‘more suitable’. Several women came up from the village to help, so there was great merriment in the kitchen and despite the heat tempers stayed cool. The prospect of a large and delicious meal had everyone in good form. There were joints of beef to roast and a large pot was simmering, full of pieces of beef and onions, garlic, beans, herbs and wine. The aroma was heavenly and the temptation to dip a spoon was not being resisted. The hunters had been out, so there were several rabbits and a few hares to make another rich stew. The baker had been working overtime and had delivered several sacks full of large loaves as well as some tempting cakes. The cook was making several dishes of terrine from her own recipe and Pascale was grating stale bread in huge quantities to mix with flour and eggs to make big dumplings to cook in the stews. Several large cheeses had been ordered from the town and delivered last week, they were maturing nicely in the pantry. Everywhere you looked there was food, but you did not even have to look as the smell was everywhere, a new delicious odour came to Eloise’s attention every time she stopped noticing the last one. She stopped for a moment and leant against the door jamb as she came in with more ingredients from the vegetable garden, to feast her eyes on the busy room. I am so lucky, she thought, to be at home here where there is so much, such plenty. I am blessed. What did I do to deserve such wealth?
“Nothing in particular, this time. You are able to share, to help Daniel see that things can change a bit, that it should be fairer. And because your energies work so well together you are succeeding, he is hearing you and maybe this small corner of the world will become more equitable. I just wish you could share some of it with me. Judging by all your behaviours, that food is a real pleasure to the senses.” Trynor was thoughtful for a moment. “I should take another body sometime, to get a taste of that food.”
“You are all very welcome to this wonderful meal, in celebration of a spectacular harvest. Later I will talk more about how you have all played your roles in this year’s bounty, but for the moment, let’s not waste time with these wonderful smells in our noses – Bon Appétit!” Daniel raised his glass towards his employees and their wives and sat down, to applause. The food was handed around and wine was poured. Bread was broken and dipped in the aromatic sauces, and the gathering became noisy with laughter and joking between the cries of ‘pass me that’ and ‘more wine anyone?’
Eloise sat happily at the top of the long trestle table to Daniel’s right and revelled in the feeling of belonging, to her husband on one side, and her parents and brothers and Pascale and many other old friends from the village, sitting all along the table. If only it could be this friendly all the time, she thought, as she looked up at the starry sky so calm and unhurried above her. And if only it could be a good harvest every year, then even the poor might get a chance. She looked along the table, noticing who was not there, who would never be there again. The last two lean years had stolen so many friends, particularly the old, who could not manage in hard times. Of course, it would still be hard for them, even if Daniel gave wages in money to his workers. The old could not work as fast and could never hope to earn enough. I hope everyone old has a young person belonging to them, to earn for them. Please, God, she thought earnestly.
“You are thinking well, Eloise, not just of yourself. That is good. Well done.” Trynor turned to Jotin and smiled, a bit smugly. “My girl is progressing well, isn’t she? How do you feel about Daniel? Is the energy-meld working for him?”
“It is a bit harder for him, nothing in his daily life supports what he has read. Also the class system in this country nearly