This is basically an idea that has been floating around in my head for a while and would not leave me alone. Mademoiselle Dutoit returns to Grantleigh to find that Audrey and Richard are still apart despite being 'perfectly matched' and obviously in love. She decides to play matchmaker in a last attempt to bring the king of Cavendish and the ex-lady of the manor together. Will she succeed or will her meddling drive a wedge between them?
Disclaimer: I don't own these wonderful characters or any other thing of To The Manor Born's; they belong to the BBC and Peter Spence. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.
Enjoy (;
"We will be arriving at Grantleigh Manor in about 5 minutes, Mademoiselle Dutoit."
Mademoiselle Claudine Dutoit looked out the window of the helicopter and watched as the English countryside passed by beneath them. She smiled softly as she thought of her destination and the occupants there. It had been several months since she last walked the halls of Grantleigh and although business between Cavendish and the Dutoit Empire was running smoothly, Mademoiselle Dutoit liked to keep close relations with those she did business with. Though, if she was being completely honest, her curiosity was getting the better of her. On her last visit, she had sown the seeds of what she hoped could be a potentially beautiful relationship and now she had returned to see whether or not it had flourished.
From the moment she'd seen Richard Devere's 'wife', Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, it had become only increasingly obvious that they both harboured feelings for each other, and as Claudine continued to observe the pair, she realised that it was the beginning of the most honest kind of love; the kind that lasted a life time. Admittedly she had tried to seduce Richard, after all he was a powerful and extremely attractive man, and was still fixed on doing so until she saw the way his eyes shone with pride and devotion when he introduced Audrey to her. It had been enough to show her that any attempts at gaining his affections would be pointless, after all, what was the point of trying to steal a heart that had already taken by another? Especially one that had been traded with another.
On the horizon, Claudine could just make out the shape of Grantleigh Manor standing tall and proud against its surroundings. Its darkened bricks weathered by centuries of harsh, English winters. Its halls decorated with the vibrant, and sometimes shady, past of its many owners; the latest to add his mark upon its hall of fame was Richard Devere, and how she hoped that it was joined to Audrey fforbes-Hamilton's.
It's only a very short chapter to start with, however I wanted to 'set the scene' before I started with the story line. I wasn't sure what Mademoiselle Dutiot's first name was so I used the same one I saw in another TTMB fanfic (don't own it) so I'm not sure if it is her actual name or what. Anyway please leave a review and tell me if you liked it or what you think I should improve.