Thank you for the reviews.

Now back to series 3 episode 19... set a month after the last chapter... And I really gloss over quite a few things that happen in the episode so, if you need reminding then I would go and remind yourself of what happens in the episode now.

Chapter Seven
La Visite de Monsieur Legard

"There you go." Rachel said as she handed Eddie his coffee.

He took it off her and she practically fell into the chair behind her. She picked up her water and took a mouthful, trying to get her stomach to settle again. Just the smell of coffee seemed to unsettle it and the last thing she needed was to be sick again. Although it was worth it for Eddie after everything he had done for her over the last month.

"Coping better?"

"Much. I mean, I could just sleep all the time but the headaches seem to be dying down and I haven't had a migraine since the one last month. Although, sticking to the water is my best bet rather than having coffee."

"Rachel Mason is going to go without her morning coffee."

"Just coffee in general. Might have to try and get myself back into drink tea. Or try herbal teas or something like that."

His face dropped slightly as she realised that he had got what she meant.

"You didn't have to make me one."

"After everything you have done for me. Making you coffee is probably only the start of the gratitude I could give to you."

"But it still must be nice. Like the proverbial weight has been lifted from your shoulders."

"Yeah, without the other thing."

"And we are dealing with that. Still nothing from Stuart I can gather?"

"Nothing and I hope that it is the end of it. It's been over a month now. I don't think he is coming back."

She felt like he wanted to say something else and was probably going to if they hadn't been interrupted by Danielle, who had knocked on the door before she entered the antechamber.

"Miss Haydock sent me. Monsieur Legard's here."

Rachel sighed before she took another mouthful of water. Danielle left them not long after but she knew that the moment had gone for them. Whatever Eddie was going to say would have to wait for another time.

"Well, I guess I'll go and meet and greet. I'll see you later." She said as she stood up.

She knew Eddie had the same doubts as her regarding Steph's appointment of Financial Director. They both believed that she would cost them more than she would ever make and until she had confirmation that this Monsieur Legard was coming, Rachel didn't believe that they would get any money from the trip Steph went on.

"Two language labs can't be bad?"

"Yeah, let's hope so. Nearly three grand this schmoozing business has cost us."

"It'll be all right, you're just a natural worrier."

The smile that graced her lip was as genuine as it could be. It was something that she had realised since Eddie found out about her past. He did know her better than anyone she had ever known before. Even her own family.

"Why did you say coffee?"

"What else was I meant to say?"

"For a drink," Eddie said, knowing how it sounded after it left his mouth.

"Even for a french man, I still think it is a little early in the morning even for him." She said before she giggled.

It was the way that Rachel laughed that made him smile. Her happiness was infectious, even to an awkward sod like him. It helped that he was the one to make her laugh like that. He couldn't remember the last time she seemed so carefree about everything that was going on. It was like he had said earlier. A weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Either that or it was the pregnancy bring out the best in her.

"Just you have Steph in the room. Thought you didn't want to raise any suspicion."

"Then you will just have to be a gentleman and pour it for me. Found some chamomile tea in the staffroom. Going to see how that goes or it looks like it is hot squash for me."

"But Steph…"

"You were the one that told me that I should just let the staff think what they want to think."

"True."

"So let's let Steph think what she wants to think. In all honesty, I think she will be a little distracted by Monsieur Legard. Or should be."

There was a knock at the door and Steph and Claude came in when they were told to. Bridget wasn't far behind them with coffee and some pastries. With just one look at Rachel, he knew that she wouldn't be enjoying the spread in front of them and even surprised him when she grabbed her glass of water off her desk.

"So, Claude, what do you think of our school?" She asked once they had settled on the sofas.

"The pupils are extraordinary, very warm."

"Excellent."

"How do you take your coffee?" Eddie asked for her.

She gave him a small smile before Steph butted in.

"Black, he likes it black."

Eddie gave Rachel a look before he poured the coffee for Claude and handed it over, trying to keep it as far away from her as possible. It was evident that someone had to say something as they all took a sip of their drinks and Eddie felt like it fell on him as he clocked that Steph had noticed Rachel's water.

"So erm, Mr Legard, I'm sorry, but, how much are we actually talking about here? Steph's been a bit vague with the figures."

The look on Claude's face didn't match the laugh that Steph gave and Eddie couldn't help but worry about what was going to be the Frenchman's next words.

"When Stephanie first told me of your plight, it was my plan to offer you money for your labs. But where are the teachers to teach in them?"

"Erm, hello?" Steph said.

"And where are the pupils to learn? Only very few I am told, are studying for the A-level. This is offensive to me."

If all honesty, Eddie couldn't agree more with him when he put it like that. The way Rachel glanced over to him told him that she felt the same way.

"I'm sorry, Madame Mason, it is not the language lab that you need," Claude said as he continued. "It is the teachers who can inspire."

Eddie could tell that Rachel was starting to panic. It wasn't like they were rolling in offers for these language labs.

"Erm, we're always eager to improve our teaching standards, but it would be the, er, language labs that would inspire the kids to learn."

"I'm sorry, but I have to say no. I will talk to schools with more potential. When you have invested in the teachers, I will willingly return."

With that, Claude stood up. Rachel wasn't too far behind him after sharing a shocked look with Eddie. He was glad that Steph was looking worried as Eddie joined Rachel by the door to say goodbye to Claude.

"Madame Mason." He said as he shook her hand. "Monsieur Lawson." He said as he shook Eddie's hand. "Stephanie."

With that, Claude left with an au revoir and nothing more. Eddie was annoyed and shocked but not really that surprised.

"Steph!" Rachel shouted.

"Why the pub of all places?"

"Because we work with a bunch of alcoholics. Just have a small one. Just to make her seem like everything is okay. You don't have to drink it if you don't think you can stomach it."

"But that's not the point Eddie. It is your money that I will be wasting."

"Rachel, honestly, I don't mind."

Every time Eddie did something sweet for her, it was usually followed by a chant of 'don't fall in love' that repeated itself a number of times in her head. The problem was that she felt like she had already and she still didn't know how she felt about it. She knew that he had said that they were both friends and she was glad that he did say that then but now she was sure, deep down, that she wanted more from him.

"Put another one in there, mate, will you?" Steph said as they reached the bar.

"And a pint and a small glass of Merlot please, mate. I'll get these Steph." Eddie said.

"If I'd known that I would have ordered a triple."

"Guess how much money Claude gave us?"

"Yeah, all right, he blew me out, the little French…"

"Thirty thousand euro, over twenty grand." He said as he interrupted Steph.

"You're lying."

Rachel found herself shaking her head at Steph. "He came to see us after you left."

"I can't believe it," Steph said before she joined them at the same part of the bar. "What happened to make him change his mind?"

They picked up their drinks and moved to a table close by.

"You, apparently." Rachel said as she sat down.

"See, told you you were wrong, I did it!"

Rachel almost felt sorry for Steph. Steph was right when she said that she everything to her role as Financial Director and she was obviously as gutted as they were about Claude not wanting to give them the money.

"Yeah, well done. I can't say I approve of your methods of persuasion."

In all honesty, Rachel almost didn't take the money off of Claude. She knew that Eddie would have understood why in the end but it just reminded her of a time when she felt like she had to use her powers of persuasion, just in a different way.

"Every financial director has their own little ways, Rachel," Steph said before she noticed the look that Rachel and Eddie had given each other. "I'm still for the chop, aren't I?"

Rachel listened to Steph as she tried to explain herself but it wasn't going to change her mind about the decision that she had already made. Everything that had happened was already too close to home for her. How could she condone Steph's actions?

"Oh, get over yourself, so I flashed a bit of thigh. So what? Don't tell me you've never done it?" Steph said.

It was the final straw for Rachel and she knew Eddie's glance was for her comfort. It wasn't even like Steph was sorry about it. At least Rachel knew that if the truth about her past came out, she would gladly explain her reasons and why she did what she did and why she was now in education. Not that she had explained it all properly to Eddie but she felt like he could see why she was so passionate.

"I'm not reinstating you, Steph. We'll discuss your new responsibilities when we've thought of something. Somewhere you'll do the least damage."

She knew it wasn't what Steph wanted to hear and in true Steph fashion, she let them know about it.

"Thanks… for nothing."

Rachel knew that there was no point in trying to call her back. She picked up her drink and brought it to her lips but didn't even take a sip before she placed it back down.

"Sorry, Eddie."

"Honestly, Rach, it's fine."

"Still not going to stop me from feeling bad about it."

"It will get better. Or so I am told. Alison went from throwing up to craving the weirdest of things."

"Hopefully all my cravings are on the… normal side."

"They are going to notice."

"I know but we have our plan."

She held her tongue, trying not to add 'which I wish was true' to the end of that sentence. She wanted to curse Eddie for making her feel the way that she did. She even wanted to curse the fact that she was pregnant, playing havoc with her hormones and emotions. But she knew that this had been building for a while now. She just hoped that they could get to the end of term without anything else going wrong. Maybe then she might find the strength to tell him her feelings.