Starting a new thread for this as the old one has reached 25 pages.
Part 1 is here.
Purely as a matter of interest, not counting Con (and counting the babies!), there actually are 24 ladies at this 'ball'... This was not deliberate!
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the ball,
And out then came the fair Janet,
The flower among them all.
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the chess,
And out then came the fair Janet,
As green as any glass.
By midday on Saturday the party was flinging itself down on the sweet smelling turf of the meadows beyond the Auberge. There had been some discussion about leaving the children behind on this trip, but in the end it had been decided that there were plenty of adults to carry the little ones if they needed it. Most of them were accustomed to walking, and it was less than an hour to this particular beauty spot.
“We thought you might do as you did a few years ago when you had that reunion,” said Madge, who had plumped herself down on the grass beside her sister. “Split us all up into groups and send us off on expeditions.”
“Gosh, no, I can’t be bothered with that sort of thing these days,” said Joey lazily. “Anyway, that was back in the days when I was still convinced that there was no way anyone could be happy unless they were doing something strenuous. And possibly life-threatening,” she added, remembering certain dramatic events that had come about that memorable summer.
Jack and Jem had been extracting certain items from some of the packs – packs that they had made sure were carried only by those they considered responsible to do so. Now Jack began distributing beakers of sparkling, bubbling champagne.
“We decided not to bring glasses in the end,” he said, handing one to Con, who laughed.
“I can’t imagine why.”
“All right everyone – shut up!” called Jem, who had given the last beaker – which contained not champagne but Anna’s delicious fruit mix – to little Marie-Claire and had stood up to gain their attention. “As I’m sure you all know, it’s Ailie’s eighteenth birthday today. I’m usually told that my speeches are too long, so I don’t plan to make one now.” There was a cheer from the vicinity of Kevin and Kester at this point, though both looked perfectly innocent when their father glanced in their direction. “Ailie was a splendid Games Prefect last year at the Chalet School, and she’s moving on next year to Royal Holloway College, where she’s going to be studying Spanish and German. I’m sure you’d all like to join me in wishing her a happy birthday and a happy and successful time at university.”
Ailie’s health having been drunk and she having complimented her father on so short and untedious a speech, they broke up into groups and began to unpack the food which had been made and packaged the previous afternoon and that morning by Anna, Katya and their two helpers, Hanna and Dominique.
“These sandwiches,” said David, his mouth full, “are the best I’ve tasted in years. Anna’s definitely not lost her touch; in fact I think she’s got better.”
“As a matter of fact, Katya made this lot,” said Stephen, who was seated beside that young lady, who looked rather shy. Con, having walked in on their argument on Friday evening, knew that Katya had only given in reluctantly to Stephen’s urging to accompany them. He had appealed to Con for assistance.
“I am not a part of the family, I am the servant,” Katya had said in her prettily accented English. “This is a time for the family.”
“It’s all very well saying that,” Con had replied, “but Shirley and Milly are coming – well, Shirley is, anyway, and Milly only isn’t because she’s dying to be a nurse and wants to spend as much time at the San as she can while she’s here. Anyway, you’ve been here two and a half years now. You practically are part of the family. I should come if I were you – we’d all like you to.”
Once they had eaten, the children went off in a noisy group to play some game of their own devising. As Joey said, “there isn’t anyone else around at the moment, so they may as well let off steam while they can.” The older children, headed by Felix and Felicity, sat a little apart in a dignified group of their own.
Con lay back on the grass, letting the chatter drift over her as the others caught up on news and gossip, marvelling inwardly at how much more relaxed she felt after her few weeks in England. Maybe the nausea would pass off soon, and all this would turn out to be a simple matter of strung up nerves and too much introspection. Lying here, so warm and sleepy, she found it hard to believe that her fears could really be true.
Someone had brought a pack of cards and an hour later at least half the group were engaged in a fast and furious game of spoons. Con had refused to play on the grounds that she felt far too lazy and lay instead on her stomach, her chin in her hands. In the end it was David who lost, mostly because he was so distracted with laughing at Shirley’s jokes.
“I used to be so good at this game,” he complained.
“You generally have to concentrate if you want to win a game,” said Jack, with a grin. Shirley looked completely unabashed.
“Have your revenge?” she said.
“No fear!” said David, tossing his cards down. “Anyone want another drink?”
“No thanks,” said Con, the dreamy mood still on her. She rolled over and sat up slightly too quickly.
“All right?” said Shirley as she shut her eyes and put a hand to her head.
“Head rush.”
“You should get Uncle Jack to take a look at you,” said David, the laughter dying from his face. “Shirley mentioned you’d been ill a few times lately.” He looked at her intently.
“I’m fine,” said Con. She stood up, still a little queasy, and turned away from his gaze just as Joey also rose and called out,
“Anyone fancy a stroll a bit higher up?”
It all seemed to happen slowly, yet she couldn’t stop it. Even as Joey spoke, Con saw a change come over David’s face. His mouth dropped open, his eyes widened, and he started to get up.
“Good God!” he said into what should have been the briefest of silences after Joey’s question. The shock in his voice made heads turn towards him. “You’re pregnant!”
I hope he gets his come-uppance, nasty piece of work that he is. 
))
When / if Tom founds out I hope he's supportive but I hope no one lets Miss Morgan know. 
I'm just busy enjoying it; more please, Abi!
Does Millie know what she is involved in?
