He sighed heavily. ‘I don’t know. Maybe because this time I’m more emotionally involved than I usually am, or because I’m still hurting about losing the baby.’
He realised he was being very negative and forced a smile. ‘Take no notice of me. It’s been a lousy day and I’m being an idiot. I’ll try to think of something, but I’ve tried all the legal avenues and there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to hurry up my divorce.’
‘That’s a shame,’ she said.
She stared at him silently and he knew what she was about to say. Gabriel hated sharing anything with his grandmother that could upset her. Although telling her about his legal situation was something she’d insisted upon knowing, he knew she couldn’t do much to help him.
‘Gabriel, what was in that envelope I asked Daisy to take to you at Noirmont? Was it about your research project?’
He nodded. ‘It was, but it’s fine. Nothing to worry about,’ he lied.
‘Rubbish, they’ve pulled the funding, haven’t they?’ she said, giving him a sharp look.
‘They’ve rescinded all funding.’ He frowned. ‘How do you know?’
‘I guessed it might be something like that. I’m so sorry, darling. What are you going to do now?’
He had no idea. Working for his parents at the hotel went a little way to fund his expeditions, but he always needed sponsorship. ‘I’m not sure yet, but I’ll think of something.’
She smiled. ‘Now that’s the attitude I’m used to you having. Stop fretting about Daisy. She’ll come round if she loves you. You just haven’t known each other long enough for her to want to ignore these other things. After all, what’s a few years?’
‘We both know that’s a very long time when you love someone, Nan,’ he said. He bent forward and kissed her on her cheek. ‘It’s fine though, I’ll think of something,’ he assured her, wishing he felt as positive as he sounded.
‘I know, darling. You just have to believe it and make her love you.’
He hugged his grandmother tightly, wishing he had half the faith in himself that she had in him. ‘You always think the best of me,’ he said smiling at her.
She stared at him. After a moment’s thought she said, ‘Darling Gabriel, you’ve achieved so much in your young life already with your conservation activities and those projects. I admire how much you care and how you’ve put that caring into saving marine life. You’ve also always been there when your parents or I needed you. I’m sure once Daisy gets to know you better she’ll trust you as I do.’
He wasn’t so certain. Not now he’d seen Daisy’s reaction to her father and realised just how deep her hurt went. He might come second best to his parents’ career and even maybe to their own feelings for each other, but at least he came first where his grandmother was concerned. He supposed Daisy must have had a similar relationship with her mother, but it had sounded as if Daisy’s mother had needed her far more than his independent grandmother needed him. He wished Daisy hadn’t been so scarred by her past; the haunted look he saw crossing her face sometimes concerned him and he wished she’d open up to him more.
‘She’s been deeply hurt,’ he said quietly. ‘I’m not so sure I’ll be able to make her understand how important she is to me.’
They sat in silence, the only sound entering their space being birdsong and the lapping of the waves onto the beach at the end of the garden.
‘What will you do about the project?’ his grandmother asked. He might have known she wasn’t going to leave it alone.
‘They’re having a meeting tomorrow to discuss the funding,’ he said. ‘I’ll send them a report urging them to rethink their decisions and assuring them that we’ve gone too far now to back out of the work.’
She rested her hand on his arm. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
He shook his head. ‘Thanks, but no. I’m sure it’ll be fine.’ He hated lying to her, but didn’t need his grandmother worry about having to bail out his project. It was his problem and he was going to have to find a way to solve it. His parents would be back in Jersey in a few weeks and he’d have time to return to South Africa and find a way to keep things going. Until then, he needed to keep track on what was happening at the hotel, with his divorce, and maybe think up new ways to fund his failing enterprise.
He checked his watch and drank the last mouthful of his coffee. ‘I’d better get back,’ he said. ‘We’re expecting a few late arrivals and they’re return visitors who come several times a year; they’ll expect us to welcome them properly, and then I’m taking Daisy out for a drink and hopefully a chat.’
‘Do you need me to come along to the hotel?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘No, you stay here and enjoy the sunshine. I shouldn’t be too late. Maybe we can have a drink out here and a stroll on the beach.’
She beamed at him. ‘I’d love that,’ she said.
He stood up, kissed her on the top of her white hair and walked away. She was always there for him, he thought as he got into his car and drove off to the hotel. If only Daisy could experience the same sort of love. He indicated to turn into The Encore driveway.
He just wished Daisy would trust him enough to let him devote his time to her so that they could enjoy this beautiful place with its peaceful meticulously designed garden and valley divided by tiny geometric ponds.
He checked with Fi at Reception that everything was in order for the Johnsons. They were the hotel’s most honoured ‘RVs’. Gabriel knew from their records that almost seventy-five per cent of the visitors to the hotel were ‘RVs’, or return visitors, and the Johnsons had been coming to stay at least three times each summer since his parents had bought the place. Each time they arrived, his parents always ensured that there was a champagne bucket filled with ice and one of their best bottles of champagne waiting for the couple to drink as they settled in their room. An arrangement of fresh flowers was sourced from the well-stocked gardens were always displayed for them on a table and Mrs Johnson’s favourite local chocolates stored in the small fridge in the room. It was the least they could do for such valued guests.
He was about to speak to the concierge about booking their favourite restaurant on the Sunday, when he heard a hum of excitement behind him. Turning with a smile on his face, Gabriel saw Mr and Mrs Johnson, arms linked as they greeted the staff they’d come to know so well.
‘Wonderful to see you both again,’ Gabriel said, his hand outstretched to shake Mrs Johnson’s before giving the wife a welcoming hug. ‘You’re both looking very well. I was sorry not to be here for your last visit to The Encore.’
‘My lady wife missed seeing you here,’ Mr Johnson joked.
She reddened and nudged him. ‘He’s such a naughty man, Gabriel,’ she said. ‘You take no notice of him.’
Joseph, the concierge, immediately appeared next to Gabriel, welcoming the guests and waving his assistant porter over to take their bags to their room.
‘Can I offer you a drink in the bar?’ Gabriel asked. ‘Or would you prefer to go to your rooms and settle in first.’
‘I think we’ll go to our rooms and take a shower,’ Mr Johnson said. ‘It’s blistering hot out there.’
‘No problem,’ Gabriel said. ‘I’ll see you a little later when you’re ready to come down.’
He waited for them to leave, followed by Joseph and his assistant, and then went to Reception to see Fi. He was surprised when no one seemed to be there and was about to walk around behind the desk when Daisy popped up.
‘Oh, I didn’t know you were here,’ she said, eyes wide with surprise. ‘Did you want something?’
‘I was looking for Fi,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to be sure that everything had been covered for the Johnson’s arrival.’
Daisy nodded. ‘All done,’ she said. ‘We double checked earlier. Our main priority now is the party that’s happening on the weekend. The family start to arrive tomorrow and the rest follow on the next day. I’ve told the host and hostess that you�
�ll go through everything with them; I hope that’s OK.’
‘It is,’ he nodded. He was used to these occasions, although this one promised to be a little different, but no doubt still fun. He preferred it when his mother or grandmother took over, if he was honest. ‘I’m more of an outdoor guy, but I enjoy seeing people having fun, even though I don’t seem to have the finesse that my mother or grandmother have for these events,’ he said. ‘I’ll do my best though. Do you have the list of everything I need to go through?’
She looked down at the desk and handed him a copy attached to a clipboard. ‘I’ve given you the checklist the hotel uses for weddings, but it should be similar enough, I think.’ She leaned over to him slightly and lowered her voice. ‘Is the decorating in the orangery complete now? Francesca said the reception will be held in there and she was concerned that Luke Thornton might not be able to finish everything in time.’
‘I’ve arranged to meet him there in half an hour,’ he said. ‘I’ll go through everything then.’
Fi came back to Reception. ‘All OK?’ she said with a glint in her dark blue eyes. She looked at Daisy. ‘If you want to go with Gabe and check through everything on the list, you know, for any future weddings you might have to arrange?’
‘This isn’t for a wedding reception though, is it?’ Daisy asked.
He was glad she’d missed Fi’s point. Today wasn’t the day to be joking with Daisy about weddings.
Fi laughed. ‘No, it’s a Never-Going-to-Retire party.’
‘Seriously?’
Gabe understood Daisy’s confusion. He found it a little odd and he’d grown up with his parents holding parties for made-up occasions. ‘The couple have been acting for half a century,’ he explained. ‘They wanted to celebrate it in some way.’
Daisy smiled. ‘Does that mean we’ll meet some famous people then?’
Fi nudged her. ‘You work for three of them,’ she said. ‘Don’t let Francesca ever hear you saying you’re excited about meeting other well-known people.’
Gabriel pulled a face at Fi. ‘Stop teasing her.’ He smiled, hoping Daisy would relax a little. ‘She’s joking, and yes you will meet people you recognize from the big, and to think of it small, screen.’
‘OK, then,’ Daisy said. ‘I’ll come with you and see the routine. I suppose I should know how everything is set up for future reference.’ She looked up at Gabriel and he felt his stomach contract. Hell, he wanted to kiss her, he thought. ‘Is that OK with you, Gabe?’ she asked.
‘Sorry?’ he wasn’t sure to what she was referring and then noticed that both women were looking at him strangely.
‘Do you want Daisy to come with you to the orangery?’ Fi asked shaking her head.
‘Sorry, yes, that’s a great idea,’ he said, irritated for acting like a teenage boy in front of them. ‘I’ll meet you outside the orangery in half an hour.’
Daisy checked her watch. He was late, but she supposed he must be chatting to the Johnsons still and couldn’t really get away. She spotted a tall man with untidy blonde hair working inside the room and by the look of his paint-smeared shorts doubted he could be one of the guests. She went inside to meet him.
‘Hi,’ she said holding out her hand. ‘I presume you must be Luke Thornton.’
He turned to her, a gruff expression on his face. She thought he was probably very handsome under all that facial hair, his eyes were certainly piercing enough. She cleared her throat. ‘I’m Daisy, from Reception. Gabriel said to meet him here to go through a few things.’
The man seemed to know who she was, though she couldn’t imagine how.
He smiled and wiping his hand on his T-shirt shook hers. ‘Yes, I’m Luke. You’ve come to check that all the work’s been finished in time for the weekend, I suppose.’
She nodded, a bit stunned at how his face lit up when he looked cheerful.
‘There’s some damp paint over in that corner,’ he said pointing to an area hidden by a plant stand. ‘But that’s all. The cleaners are coming in here first thing in the morning to clean up and it’ll be dry by then.’
‘You’ve done an incredible job,’ Daisy said. ‘There seemed to be a lot of damage.’
He shook his head, reminding her of a lion when his untidy hair moved around.
‘It was bad enough not to be able to use the place for the guests, but not as bad as it could have been.’
‘Luke, hi,’ Gabriel said coming up behind her. ‘You’ve done a great job in here, thanks.’
‘No problem, I was glad to be able to help your folks out.’
‘Are you and Bea coming to the party on Saturday night?’
Luke nodded. ‘We are, and a couple of her friends. It should be fun.’
Gabriel nodded. ‘I think it will be.’ He looked down at Daisy. ‘I hope you’ve had your invitation to come along?’
She shook her head. ‘I thought it was for the guests?’
‘Not this party. Everyone here is invited. The kitchen staff will be preparing the food, but extra help is being laid on by a small events business, Lapins de Lune. They’ll be keeping an eye on the evening.’
Daisy couldn’t help being excited. She’d never been invited to such a splendid occasion before and was sure she wouldn’t have anything to wear.
‘It’s going to be fun, you really should come along,’ Luke said, glancing at Gabriel. ‘You can meet Bea; she’s my wife and she’ll introduce you to anyone you don’t know.’
Daisy laughed. ‘Well, that will be pretty much everyone, then.’
‘Then you’ll come?’ Gabriel asked. ‘Unless … your foot? How is it now?’
She looked down and smiled. ‘It feels a little bruised but it’s already much better and not nearly bad enough to hold me back from attending the party.’ She looked so hopeful that he couldn’t help being flattered. ‘OK then. I suppose it’s not like I have far to go if I decide to return to my room.’
‘Good point,’ Gabe said. ‘Though I hope it doesn’t come to that.’
She laughed. ‘My foot’s perfectly fine; I barely feel the bruising now. I’m only teasing you.’
‘Great,’ Luke agreed. ‘This party should be so much fun that you’ll be too busy enjoying yourself to worry about it.’
Chapter Nine
Daisy
Daisy stood at the front door of the hotel, unable to believe the thick veil of fog that had descended overnight.
‘I hope this lifts by this afternoon,’ she said to Fi. ‘Most of the guests for the party are supposed to be flying in today.’
Fi chewed the top of the pencil she was using to annotate a text book. ‘No chance.’
Daisy frowned and returned to her position behind the reception counter. ‘What do you mean?’
Fi groaned and threw down her pencil in frustration. ‘I’ll never get this to stay in my head,’ she said. ‘I wish I didn’t have to study it.’
Daisy pulled the text book closer to her and saw that it was about learning French. ‘I thought you all learnt French at school?’
Fi shrugged. ‘We do, but I skived most of the lessons and now need to brush up on it.’ When Daisy looked confused, Fi added. ‘We get paid more if we’re bi-lingual and working in the hospitality market.’
Daisy hadn’t realised that fact, which didn’t really matter because she couldn’t speak anything other than English. ‘The fog,’ she said wanting to know why Fi was so insistent that it wouldn’t be lifting any time soon.
‘What? Oh, yes,’ Fi smiled knowingly. ‘This sort of thing happens occasionally. The fog descends out of the blue and stays a few days.’
‘Days?’ Daisy was horrified. ‘But what about the party; the guests need to get here.’
‘Well, it might lift,’ Fi said. ‘I wouldn’t really know, but I think they should make plans to take the ferry if they’re travelling from England or France, just in case.’
‘I agree,’ Gabe said, coming up to them. ‘This looks as if it’s here for the next few days.�
��
‘That’s what I said.’ Fi winked at Daisy.
‘What shall we do?’ Daisy asked Gabe, hoping he had a suggestion. ‘I suppose you’ll be getting in contact with as many of the guests as possible and suggest they make bookings for the ferry. Rather they arrive in the island late than not at all.’
‘I will,’ he said. ‘And the sooner they book seats the better. It’s a busy time of the year and they’re not the only ones who’ll be trying to get a place.’
‘Can we do anything?’ Daisy asked as Gabriel walked to his office.
‘Not really. If any guests phone, tell them about the boat and give them the number to make the booking.’
She nodded and gazed out at the pale grey view, stunned that it was so dense and at the lack of any breeze to move it away from the island. ‘I’ve never seen anything quite this bad before,’ she said thinking how eerie it seemed.
‘I remember a couple of years ago leaving collage,’ Fi said, staring out the window. ‘I’d spent a gloriously sunny day sitting in a hot classroom and couldn’t wait to get home and sunbathe by the pool. Seb drove me home and literally all I did was walk into the house, run to my bedroom, and change into my bikini. When I stepped outside moments later there was a sea mist, as thick as this, billowing around from the back of the house and I had to go inside to put on some clothes because the temperature had dropped so much.’
Daisy shivered at the thought. ‘That must have been disappointing,’ she said. ‘How amazing, though, having your own pool. I wish we’d had one when I was growing up.’
‘I guess,’ Fi said sounding less than impressed. ‘What else did you wish for in your home back in England?’
‘A front door,’ Daisy said, recalling her disappointment when a maisonette her mother had found for them years before fell through and her dream of having their own front door that stepped from inside their house out to a garden vanished.
‘Surely you must have had your own front door,’ Fi said pulling a face.
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