Biarritz Passion: A French Summer Novel (10 page)

Edward, sensing a change in the atmosphere began to talk about Biarritz, the Basque coast, the festivals, the folklore. Julian told Margaret and Birdie about the first time he’d been down to the villa with Edward when they were at University, how he’d been introduced to surfing and nearly got carried out to sea, how
Edward’s cousin Claudie, an adolescent at the time, had developed a crush on him.

Caroline scratched Titus behind the ears and pressed her face into his
coat, trying to conceal her flushed cheeks. She felt humiliated. Annabel’s performance that afternoon had been Oscar-worthy. ‘We asked you because we wanted you!’ And Caroline had believed her.

All too easily she imagined the scene, her sister picking up the phone to Golden Gloria, saying in her sweetest voice:

‘Darling!! Congratulations!! Wonderful news!! You must be over the moon. Oh by the way, you know that villa invitation I mentioned? The villa with the pool and the sea views? So sorry to disappoint, darling but it simply can’t be wangled. I’m afraid we’ve got to take big sister with us instead. Such a bore, but what to do? After all she is flesh and blood. Yes darling I know you were looking forward to it so much…’

Annabel would have had her
petty revenge on Gloria. And blackmailed big sister in order to do so.

‘Do you speak French
, Caroline?’

She raised her head and saw that Edward was looking at her with an unfathomable expression. Had he understood? Before she could answer him Margaret launched into a reply.

‘Caroline,’ she declared, like a Headmistress giving the Speech Day address, ‘Caroline has a natural ear, rather like myself. The school wanted her to specialise in Modern Languages. But she wanted to follow in my footsteps, join the Civil Service. And then there was the job security. After everything that had happened, when she was just a little girl, you know. She was an excellent student, could have done anything she chose. But she was a timid little thing at the time, great big eyes in a solemn face, wouldn’t say boo to a goose. Except when it came to defending her baby sister, then she turned into a positive lioness, didn’t she Birdie?’

‘I should say so.
’ Birdie nodded her agreement. ‘Anyone could boss her around, but when it came to Annabel, that was a different matter. Up in arms in a minute.’

‘My clever, brave big sister! Not like naughty Annabel!’

Annabel had moved behind Caroline. She slipped her arms round her shoulders with a show of affection. Caroline stiffened, conscious of everyone’s eyes on the pair of them. Annabel, feeling her tense, swiftly moved over to Julian’s chair, perched elegantly on the arm and gave a big yawn.

‘Heavens it’s so hot! What about a walk to the Green Pool before dinner?’

‘Good idea,’ said Margaret. ‘You young people run off and enjoy yourselves for a while. You will stay for dinner won’t you Edward?’

‘Thank you Miss MacDonald, but I told my parents I’d be back. Another time, with pleasure.’

‘But you will come to the pool with us, won’t you Edward? It’s on the way back to your place.’

The Green Pool was a small clearing in the adjacent wood where a stream widened into a shallow basin of clear water. Caroline and Annabel had often bathed there as children, splashing and gasping in the cold water.

‘I’ll stay and tidy up the kitchen,’ said Caroline, jumping to her feet. Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure someone would hear.

‘Why don’t we give you a hand?’ asked Edward. ‘
We cleared most of it away earlier. It’ll be done in five minutes, then we can all go.’

‘What a clever thought,’ said Annabel. ‘I’ll just go and change into my swimming things and then I’ll be down to help.’

The dishwasher was stacked and the kitchen cleared by the time Annabel reappeared, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, a towel slung over one shoulder.

‘If you don’t mind, I think I’ll stay here,’ said Caroline. ‘I’m getting a headache, too much sun probably.’

‘Why not come? A little walk in the shade would do you good.’

Edward had moved in front of her, placing his hands on either side of the door, effectively blocking her path.
He was looking down at her, she had to raise her head to reply. As soon as their eyes met she felt it again, that shocking current. Her resolve melted, the alien took over her body. She tried to look away.

‘We can get to know each other a little better.
Before the holiday I mean. I know, that is, Julian’s told me a bit about your family. Your parents. What your aunt was mentioning. I hope I’m not being indiscreet.’

His voice was low
, urgent. She raised her eyes to his. The seconds seemed to stretch into an eternity.

Finally she nodded.

The minute they set off across the garden, Annabel grabbed Edward’s arm and pulled him into a jog. Caroline found herself walking alongside Julian. She was almost relieved. She cast around for a topic of conversation.

‘How are things at work?’

She had only a vague idea of what Julian did for a living. Something in the City, to do with the family business, wasn’t it a large electronics company?

‘We’re pretty busy at the moment. Thank God,’ he added with fervour. ‘It’s been a nervous time.’

Caroline wondered if they’d been hit by the global recession, then told herself of course they had, it was simply a question of how badly.

‘We’ve just landed an important contract in
Frankfurt, as a matter of fact,’ he continued. He frowned and stared at the two figures on the path ahead.

‘Looks as if I’m going to have to spend a lot of time over there.’

‘Frankfurt? Won’t that be difficult? With you and Annabel I mean? Sorry, that’s indiscreet.’

‘No, no,’ said Julian. ‘I’v
e been wanting to have a word with you about it anyway. You know, best way to handle things with your sister and all that. Though I won’t be leaving until sometime this autumn. Time to get things finally sorted out. There’ll be a luxury flat in the city centre, a maid, everything that Annabel could need.’

Caroline tried not to show her surprise.

‘You mean she’s going with you?’

The others were some way ahead, but Julian lowered his voice, his expression unsure.

‘To be honest Caroline, I’d like us to get married. At the end of summer.’

Caroline was so dumbfounded she stopped short.

‘This summer, you mean? But Julian, it’s already May!’

‘I know. It’s just that the contract is vital for the firm, and I can’t see Annabel putting up with the fact that I’m only in London on weekends. You know what she’s like.’

Caroline knew only too well. She also knew that Annabel’s idea of a wedding involved thousands of pounds, palatial marquees, fountains of champagne and a guest list of hundreds. The kind of event that needed to be organised at least two years in advance.

‘What about her job?’

Annabel was young, she loved the glitz and glamour of life in London, especially since she had a rich fiancée to subsidize most of her extravagances. But she was not without ambition. She’d been delighted to get the job with ‘Klass’
magazine, and worked quite hard, from what Caroline could make out. But so far there had been no sign of promotion. And now there was the double blow of Gloria steaming ahead with her career and Julian wanting her to give up working and live in Frankfurt.

Julian was looking troubled.

‘She might consider the idea of giving up her job. I mean, if everything works out.’

Oh Julian,
she thought, who are you kidding? Aloud, she said:

‘Has she told you that?’

‘She, well we, we’ve had a few discussions. She’s not exactly agreed to anything yet. I don’t want to rush things for her, I know she’s young, and I’m thirty-two this year. I suppose you could say I’ve had time to enjoy myself before settling down. Selfish of me really to expect her to give it all up and become Mrs Courtenay, housewife. But I’d be able to give her everything she wanted, and Frankfurt is less than two hours from London, she could fly back any time.’

Caroline had never heard Julian say so much. She felt a sudden wave of sympathy towards him. He’d always seemed so aloof, so in control. Now it was clear he was in a dilemma, torn between the demands of his job and the demands of his fiancée.

‘To be honest Julian, I think it would be a wonderful experience for anyone, going to live abroad. And when you’re in love, the most important thing is to be together, isn’t it? No matter where.’

She stopped, confused.

‘I’m probably very old-fashioned. And romantic. Blame it on Aunt Margaret and Jane Austen.’

Julian gave her one of his rare charming smiles.

‘I just wish Annabel were more like you. Her idea of romance is a bit different.’

‘Champagne, diamonds, and the freedom to do what she wants?’

‘Something like that.’ Julian laughed. ‘It’s only normal at her age. We were discussing it last night, actually. What she wants and doesn’t want, I mean.’

He stopped and gave a little grimace.

‘She...what would be great Caro, is if you could talk to her. I think she’d listen to you, she looks up to you in so many ways.’

‘Oh Julian, I’m not sure about that. Maybe in the past, but now...’

Seeing his downcast look she added

‘Listen, I’ll have a go. But what about this wedding business? There’s no time to organise anything this summer, and I’m sure that Annabel is going to want the whole
‘Hello’ experience.’

‘What I was thinking was just a simple affair, a registry office do
.’ Seeing Caroline’s eyebrows shoot up, Julian hurried to explain. ‘For various reasons, that would be the best solution now, just to officialise everything, and then later, as soon as we can, she could have the wedding of her dreams. You know Caro a lot of people are doing it like that now, a quick ceremony and then a big splash later.’

‘Maybe.’ Caroline’s tone was doubtful.

She gazed at the distant figure of her sister, skipping gaily along the path, jumping in the air to catch hold of branches, for all the world like a high-spirited teenager. That was the problem. Annabel was not only young in years, she lacked maturity. It was easy to be fooled by her air of apparent self-confidence, her ‘I can do anything’ attitude. How many times had Caroline heard her say to her friends ‘Believe me darling, I’ve
been
there’ when in fact she hadn’t really ‘been’ anywhere at all.

She had appeared to be genuinely in love with Julian when they had first announced their engagement, but Caroline had also sensed something else, a sort of smugness, as though she was in love with the idea of being engaged.
Particularly when the catch was handsome, from a good family, and rich enough to buy the three carat diamond ring that sparkled on Annabel’s finger. She sighed, unable to push aside a feeling of unease at this latest news.

Annabel turned round.

‘What are you two talking about?’

‘Caroline
, not a word about it all yet, please?’ Julian’s face was anxious. ‘When we are on holiday, there’ll be plenty of time then, she’ll be more relaxed, I’m sure she’ll be ready to listen.’

He squeezed
her hand.

‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you agreed to come with us.
Sorry, that came out the wrong way. I don’t mean just to talk to Annabel. I mean because, well, you’re such a thoughtful person. You’ve always made me feel so welcome. Thanks Caro.’

Caroline could only manage an answering squeeze and a brief smile.
Now she felt even more confused. She was more than touched by what Julian had said, but the idea of playing peace-keeper was less than enchanting. This holiday was getting more and more complicated by the minute. Annabel, and Edward Rayburn. As though he’d read her thoughts he turned and gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing.

By the time they caught up with them, Annabel had already slipped off her sandals and was testing the water with little shrieks.

‘It’s absolutely freezing! The Antarctic!’ She beckoned to Julian. ‘Come over here darling. Just feel that.’

Caroline found a patch of sunlit grass and flung herself down, burying her face in its soft sweet smell. Her feigned headache was turning into a real one.
The last couple of days had been too emotionally charged. Her body felt like it didn’t belong to her. Her mind seemed to be hovering somewhere above things, curiously detached. She just wanted everything to go away. Give up her job, switch off her phone and stay here forever, at Willowdale, safe and warm in the old house that smelled of log fires and lavender polish and Birdie’s cakes.

She felt a presence
beside her and something tickled her neck. She turned over quickly. Edward, sleeves pushed above his elbows, shirt unbuttoned, was leaning on one arm looking guilty and impish at the same time.

‘Sorry.’

He held up a piece of grass.

‘Blame it on my cousin Claudie. She loves being tickled.
Well, actually, she hates it. But sort of loves it as well.’