Cameron is being very supportive and chatty, at one point both of them leaning over the camera, frowning. I leave them to it as I can’t be of any help on the technical side of things, so instead I engage Yvette Gilliard, our stand-in interpreter, in a little chat before going over a brief overview of today’s proceedings. We agree that she will do a running commentary, as today we’re focusing on the greenhouses and will be watching a series of demonstrations before touring the nursery.
It’s fascinating learning how various plants are propagated and gaining an idea of the scale involved. Already this year’s seedlings are being repotted, like a production line; three students chat as they work, their fingers deftly nipping off tips and the odd leaf or bud. It’s as automatic as if their hands have been pre-programmed.
A little later one of the English-speaking, full-time gardeners joins us.
‘Anything up to fifty thousand flowers are planted out every year, including tuberoses, jasmine, pinks and carnations. The very positive effects of the move away from the use of pesticides, more than ten years ago now, has had a huge impact on the various plants and shrubs. Indeed, on the survival of everything that lives within the gardens, too. It has encouraged the birds to return in greater numbers, attracted by the insect life.
‘The variety of plant species is the key now,’ he tells us, ‘to avoid major losses from disease or pests in the more natural environment that now exists. It was a bold decision for Versailles to turn its back on the use of chemicals. At the time some considered it to be a risky move. But as with all change, that’s often the case, and as the years have passed and the organic movement has grown, it is now regarded as a visionary decision.’
By the time we’re ready to begin packing up I can see that Ronan is feeling much more comfortable. Yvette did a good job and her narrative flowed really well. I hope the play back confirms that it worked.
We don’t hang around long as Solange has this afternoon off and Ronan offers to give me a lift back. I wish I had anticipated that and popped to the supermarket to get something interesting for lunch.
‘How about we grab some things to eat and find somewhere quiet to have a picnic?’ I suggest instead, as we drive away from the palace.
‘That sounds like a great idea. Do we need to call into your place to pick anything up?’
I shake my head. ‘No. We’ll manage. A rustic lunch will be fun.’ I muse as he raises his eyebrows.
‘Bread, cheese, water and a little fruit. Simple.’
In fact, we end up with a carrier bag full of treats and Ronan finds the perfect place, less than twenty minutes’ drive away.
‘This is very pretty,’ I remark, swinging open the passenger door. Leaning back in, I grab my jumper and tie it around my waist. Ronan is rummaging around in the boot and hands me an old waterproof tartan blanket. I half hope the next thing in his hand will be a comfy sun chair, but no such luck.
Walking over to the grassy bank, I pile everything on the floor in a heap and then begin spreading it out, slipping off my shoes to sit cross-legged. Ronan places the bag next to me and I begin to lay out our feast. My mouth waters as the aroma of the meltingly soft, ripened Brie I’m unwrapping mingles with the saltiness of sliced, dry-cured ham.
‘Can you pass my backpack?’ I call out to him and he returns, shutting the boot and joining me on the rug, easing off his shoes with a satisfying little groan.
When I notice his odd socks, I can’t help laughing.
‘What?’ Ronan asks.
‘That’s some combo you have going on there,’ I declare. One has a black and white stripe, the other is a cobalt blue.
He grins back at me as I finish off emptying the contents of the lunch bag. I watch as he cracks open a bottle of water to wash off a couple of apples.
‘This could be a little messy to eat, but doesn’t it smell divine?’
Ronan looks at me and his eyes travel over my face, making me break into a nervous smile. ‘You look lovely and relaxed. It’s good to see,’ he says softly.
I look away, feeling a little self-conscious suddenly, and begin ripping half of the enormous baguette into chunks, stacking them up into a pile.
‘A feast fit for a king,’ he adds.
We sit facing each other as we tuck in, hungrily. It’s messy, tearing the chunks of bread apart with our fingers and scooping up the soft cheese, but fun. Chewing in silence, I scan around to take in the gentle babbling of the small brook at the bottom of the grassy bank we have found.
In the background an intermittent stream of cars flashes by but, in between, all we can hear are the birds busily chasing each other as they fly in and out of the branches overhead. The spring madness has begun in earnest and after the long winter there is much to do as they prepare their nests.
‘This is a gorgeous little spot. Only in France could you pull up alongside quite a busy road and experience a little piece of heaven.’
Ronan looks across at me, pausing for a second before he bites into an apple.
‘Simple pleasures,’ he agrees.
I watch as he savours the piece of fruit, then leans forward to grab some ham. He can feel my eyes on him, and he shrugs his shoulders.
‘Sorry, I know I probably look like I haven’t eaten for a week, but I’m starving. That was quite a morning and I will admit I was feeling the pressure, but I think I’ve sussed out the camera now. I’ll pop back to Elliot’s and pick up the spare battery a bit later. Any more updates about Mia?’
Holding my hand in front of my mouth as I finish savouring the delights of the creamy cheese, I shake my head. ‘Not really. It’s a case of rest and letting the drugs do their work until she’s well enough to recuperate at home. It sounds like the worst is behind her, but Elliot says she’s very weak. He doesn’t know when he can fly back, and I reassured him that we’re managing.’
Ronan nods, wiping his fingers as he glances across at me.
‘It looks like you have a halo,’ he muses. ‘There’s a shaft of sunlight behind me reflecting off the tips of your hair.’ He pulls his phone out of his pocket and before I know it, I’m laughing and he’s snapping away.
He places the phone down on the blanket next to him and turns his attention back to the picnic platters, lowering his eyes.
‘You never said if there was any significant other, missing you while you’re here working.’
When he raises his eyes to meet mine, I can see he’s serious.
‘No. Not even a cat,’ I add, emphatically.
‘But you do go on dates?’
I nod. ‘Of course. I just haven’t met anyone who succeeded in holding my interest for very long,’ I reply truthfully.
‘Oh, so it’s not a conscious decision to remain single forever, then?’ Well, when he has a question he certainly doesn’t hold back.
‘When the right someone comes along, then my sister reliably informs me that it turns your life upside down. One’s priorities change, I guess.’ I watch Ronan’s reaction with interest, as he draws his hand along the light stubble on his chin while he considers that.
‘Yes.’ He pauses for a moment. ‘Life-changing, for sure, once the commitment is made.’
I can see he’s preoccupied by whatever is going on inside his head. There’s undeniable chemistry between us that we’re both trying to keep in check. For me it’s a self-preservation thing. Who wants to be the first to make that move and face possible rejection? I can’t help wondering whether Ronan is treading carefully because he fears it could upset our working relationship, or because he isn’t sure what’s going on between us.