Just as she was considering attempting to walk along the beach to be nearer the waves, Sir Peter interrupted her thoughts.
“Ladies, it is almost half-past twelve. Shall we go and find this restaurant?”
Now that the hour was upon them, Marina suddenly felt sick with nerves.
“Marina, are you ready?” he asked. He could see that she was feeling apprehensive.
“Yes, I believe I am,” she replied, in a quiet voice. Ellen squeezed her arm as if to reassure her.
The three of them walked in silence to the harbour. Sir Peter asked a passing couple if they knew where the Pot au Feu restaurant was and they pointed to an elegant building with a striped awning.
Marina was shaking as they walked towards it. She could see that it was already quite full and wondered if they would even be able to secure a table.
Sir Peter strode in ahead of them and spoke with the manager.
Within moments they were being shown to a table. “We are fortunate, indeed,” said Sir Peter, as they sat down. “There are only a few tables free for luncheon today.”
While Ellen and Sir Peter scanned the menu, Marina looked around the room anxiously. The sound of chatter was so loud that it was a tangible hum.
She searched until her eyes ached and then, just as she was about to give up, the figures of Monsieur and Madame Solange appeared in the entrance.
Madame Solange was folding her parasol and Monique came in behind her, wearing a pale linen dress.
With a beating heart, Marina stared hard at the family, willing them to notice her.
As luck would have it, they were led towards a table just past them.
Monique’s eyes came to rest on Marina and her mouth fell open.
“Cherie! It is you. Here. I cannot believe it!” she cried, and broke away from her family group to run towards Marina’s table.
Automatically, Sir Peter rose to his feet.
Monique embraced Marina and before long they were crying with joy.
“I cannot believe you are here,” repeated Monique, holding Marina at arm’s length as if to make certain she was seeing correctly. “Why did you not answer my letters?”
“It is a long story,” began Marina. “Papa has thrown me out!”
“What is this nonsense?” exploded Monique, unable to believe her ears. “Monsieur Fullerton would not do such a thing.”
“I am afraid that he has,” replied Marina, sitting down. “Maman, Papa. Regardez. It is Marina!”
They came bustling up to the table and kissed Marina on both cheeks.
“Where are you staying?” asked Madame Solange, refusing to let go of Marina’s hand.
“At a hotel not far from the fishermen’s cottages,”
replied Marina.
She then realised that Sir Peter was still politely standing, so she made the introduction.
“Monique, Monsieur and Madame Solange, this is my friend, Sir Peter Bailey. He was kind enough to accompany us to Biarritz when we could not find you at home in Paris.”
Monique shook his hand and eyed him appreciatively. Marina thought for one awful moment that she was about to pass comment on him, but Monique simply smiled knowingly at Marina.
“So, you are to be thanked for looking after our friend,” said Monsieur Solange. “After lunch, you must come back to our home and have coffee. Marina, I think there is much you have to tell us.”
“Thank you, I would love to,” answered Sir Peter. “Oh, Marina! How could your Papa be so cruel?”
asked Monique, in a low whisper. “You must promise to tell me everything.”
“Yes, I will,” agreed Marina, with a smile. She could see that Simon was not with them and so she assumed that he was lunching elsewhere.
As the Solanges left for their table, Sir Peter spoke up. “They seem so very nice – the Solanges.”
“Yes, they are,” replied Marina, full of relief at the non-appearance of Simon, “they have become my second family.”
They settled down to order as the waiter had returned and Marina felt quite light-hearted and full of optimism as she asked for a grilled sole.
“I can see that my work here is almost done,” said Sir Peter, sipping at a glass of water, “but I fancy I might take a short break and enjoy the pleasures that Biarritz has to offer.”
Marina was relieved as she had feared that he might decide to leave at once, now that she had found the Solanges.
She was just about to reply when she looked up in time to see the figure of Simon with a young, dark-haired woman on his arm. His face was set in an expression of arrogance as he led the girl towards his family’s table.
Marina caught her breath and found that she could not take her eyes off him.
Too late, she looked downwards – for Simon had seen her.
His expression did not change one jot. He simply passed Marina’s table, settled his lady-friend down and then said something to his father.
“Him,” hissed Ellen, throwing a withering look in his direction. “Now, miss, don’t be getting upset –”
Marina could not speak or form a single word as her heart was beating so fast that it robbed her of the power of speech.
She felt sick and dizzy as she watched Simon turn on his heel and walk towards their table.
Sir Peter gave Marina a searching look as she tried to avert her gaze from the approaching Simon. But she was like a moth drawn to a candle flame. She could not take her eyes off him.
She did not know what she felt as he drew up to their table and stopped.
He was as handsome as ever. His long eyelashes framing those dazzlingly blue eyes that Marina had once loved to gaze into. His face was brown from the sun and he had grown a small, clipped moustache that made him look even more dashing.
“Marina –“ he said, in a low voice. Marina panicked.
She could not speak, she could only stare.
‘Oh, what is it he wants of me?’ she thought trying to compose herself. ‘What is it that he has to say to me?’
There was an awkward silence while everyone gazed in Simon’s direction and waited –.
CHAPTER TEN
“Marina, how pleasant it is to see you again. I trust that you are well?”
“Well enough, thank you,” she responded, controlling her emotions.
“Then, I shall see you at the house soon, no doubt. I hope that you will have a pleasant stay in Biarritz,” he said, before turning on his heel and returning to his table.
Marina stared after him, unable to make sense of their short and polite discourse.
Something about the arrogant manner in which he was comporting himself made Marina feel annoyed. He had displayed no sign of contrition at his previous bad behaviour, just an overbearing confidence.
“What a strange fellow!” declared Sir Peter. “I do not know if I should be offended that he did not acknowledge me or introduce himself.”
“Are you all right, miss?” asked Ellen, nervously. She could see how upset her Mistress was, but did not wish to draw too much attention to the fact.
There was an awkward silence during which Marina felt that she could not think fast enough to make idle conversation.
Sir Peter, sensing that something was amiss, arose from the table and coughed.
“You will excuse me, ladies, but I have just seen a fellow on the other side of the room with whom I have had business dealings. I simply must go and pay my respects to him.”
As soon as he had left the table, Marina almost collapsed in her seat.
“There, there, miss. Do not upset yourself,” coaxed Ellen in a quiet but soothing tone. “You are well rid of a cad like that.”
Marina pulled herself together just in time for the waiter to return with their food. Seeing that Sir Peter was not there, he asked if he should take his meal away.
“He will not be long,” answered Ellen, “but I believe he would prefer his food hot than cold.”
The waiter nodded his head and removed
the dish immediately.
“Eat up, miss, or else your food will get cold too.”
“I am not certain that I have an appetite now, Ellen. It was such a shock to see Simon – and the nerve of the man, coming over to my table like that and not apologising for his rudeness the last time we saw each other.”
“Chances are he does not think he has done anything wrong,” advised Ellen. “Arrogant little monkey!”
Ellen looked up across the room in time to see the figure of Monique hurrying towards them.
“Oh, don’t look now, miss, but Mademoiselle Solange is coming over.”
Marina smiled as Monique stood in front of her, breathlessly waving her hands.
“I am so sorry about my brother,” she spluttered, bending over and lowering her voice. “He is terrible! I cannot apologise enough.”
Marina bade her sit in Sir Peter’s seat and Monique sank gracefully down.
“He has caused a scandal flaunting that woman,” she continued. “She has been married before, of course, and Simon seems not to care at all for Maman and Papa’s feelings.”
“Monique, I am so sorry that your parents are unhappy, but truly it is of no consequence what Simon does,” replied Marina calmly. “It is true I once believed myself in love with him, but I now realise that it was just a silly infatuation.”
“Even so, I feel guilty. He led you on and all the time he was involved with not one, but two girls, one of whom was engaged to someone else and who broke it off to be with him. There was such a scandal. On the morning that you left, Papa had stern words with him about the situation. That is why he was so strange with you.”
Marina received this news with a sage nod of her head. “It all makes sense now, but, Monique, you must not feel badly on my account. It really does not matter any longer.”
Just then, Sir Peter arrived back at the table and seeing Monique, bowed to her courteously.
“No, please remain seated, I shall ask for another chair to be brought,” insisted Sir Peter.
“And I must return to my family,” demurred Monique. “But you and Marina will come to dinner this evening at our house, no? Here, I have written down the address and, Marina, you must come and stay with us – we cannot have you sleeping in some hotel.”
“Thank you, Monique, I would love to. I will come at the weekend, if that is all right.”
“Of course,” replied Monique, appraising Sir Peter once more with her frank gaze. “I shall tell Maman and Papa to make two guest suites available. You will do us the honour of staying, I hope, Sir Peter? We would like to thank you for looking after our dear Marina,”
“Thank you, I would be glad to,” replied Sir Peter bowing.
“A bientôt!” she called with a flirtatious wave of her be-gloved hand.
“What a charming girl,” commented Sir Peter.
“Yes, she is a dear thing,” replied Marina. “Now, shall we ask for your food to be brought to the table?”
Sir Peter clicked his fingers and summoned the waiter. Ellen gave Marina a meaningful look. Marina tried to ignore her as she knew exactly what Ellen was thinking – ‘is it wise to not only have dinner, but to stay at the Solanges?’ Marina smiled back at her reassuringly.
‘Simon can no longer hurt me,’ she thought, resolutely.
‘I will not let him.’
As she formed that thought, she had her eyes firmly on the handsome face of Sir Peter.
After luncheon, he announced that he had a surprise for Marina.
Her eyes lit up as she loved surprises.
“What is it?” she asked, hardly able to contain her excitement.
“The chap I went to speak to – his name is Georges- Henri Martin. He has a large stable on the outskirts of Biarritz and he has offered to take us out riding this afternoon.”
“Oh, miss –“ started Ellen.
“Hush, Ellen, it is quite all right. Just because Mama died in a riding accident, it does not mean that I never want to go near a horse again.”
“I am sorry, I did not think –“ began Sir Peter clearly mortified that he had made a blunder.
“No, there is nothing to apologise for. I love riding and although I confess that I am a little nervous, I must not let it prevent me from enjoying something I have always loved. This Georges-Henri, is he is an experienced horseman?”
“The very best in all of France.”
“And his horses, they are well cared-for and well- behaved?”
“Impeccably. He would not put anyone in danger, I can assure you.”
“Then, we shall go!”
Ellen spent the remainder of the meal frowning at her Mistress, but she knew that once her mind was made up, she could not stop her.
Marina felt gay for the first time since her Mama had passed away. She smiled at Sir Peter gratefully.
“You must not mind Ellen, she is very protective of me, the more so since Mama died.”
He leaned over to her and laid his hand over hers in an unexpected gesture of tenderness that quite took her breath away.
“And I am glad that she is, Marina. You are precious to her, as you are to all of us.”
Looking into his green eyes, she saw something that unnerved yet thrilled her at the same time. She suddenly felt overcome with emotion and withdrew her hand from underneath his.
‘He is so good-looking,’ she thought, as she tried not to look at him.
She felt as if something had indeed changed. It was as if someone had closed the door on one part of her life and another was opening.
*
Ellen made her feelings quite clear on the subject of Marina going out riding with Sir Peter and his friend.
Back at their hotel, she fussed and fussed as Marina could not decide what to wear.
“Oh, why do I not have a riding habit with me?” she wailed, pulling at numerous black jackets and skirts. “I cannot go in any of these, I shall look a perfect fright.”
“Now, what is this sudden worry about what you look like? Could a certain gentleman of our acquaintance have anything to do with it?”
Marina found herself blushing so hard that she felt certain her face was on fire.
She tried to hide it as Ellen tied up her boots.
‘I wonder if this friend of Sir Peter’s might have a sister who could lend me a riding habit?’ thought Marina.
‘My skirt is far too long and is the wrong shape for me to sit comfortably on a horse for hours.’
However, she need not have worried herself.
At the appointed hour, Sir Peter knocked on her hotel door and handed Ellen a package to give to Marina.
“Tell Miss Fullerton that I shall wait for her downstairs.”
“Very good, sir,”
Ellen excitedly gave the box to Marina. “What is it?” wondered Marina.
“Open it, miss, and then we shall see.”
Ellen could hardly contain herself from undoing the ribbon that bound it. Marina pulled at one end and the knot came flying undone. Gingerly, she took the lid off the large box to find inside a beautiful, dark-green riding habit!
“Oh, my goodness,” she gasped, “it is so lovely, but I am not certain that it would be correct to accept such a marvellous gift.”
Marina held up the tailored jacket that was made of fine linen and admired it. The label inside told her that it was very expensive indeed.
“Now, miss, don’t tell me that you are intending to go riding in your mourning clothes. They are not practical,” chided Ellen. “If you tell Sir Peter that you will, of course, settle the bill yourself, then I cannot see the harm in it.”
“Yes,” agreed Marina. “I will insist on paying for it myself. After all, I am hardly poor just yet.”
“Hurry up, miss. There is no time to stand there gazing at it. Sir Peter is waiting.”
Marina scrambled out of her black dress and could not wait for Ellen to help her into the new riding habit.
As she stood in front of the mirror, she took in
the details breathlessly. The dark-green linen was light and cool and there was a pale-grey blouse to match.
“You look a picture, miss,” declared Ellen, “now go at once and have a wonderful time. Be sure and take no chances, now.”
Marina embraced her servant with affection.
She hurried downstairs to where Sir Peter was waiting anxiously for her.
“Thank you so much for ordering the wonderful riding habit. As you correctly surmised, I did not bring any such garment with me. Naturally, I shall pay for it.”
Sir Peter hesitated for a moment and then nodded his head in agreement.
“Naturally, I did not expect you to accept it as a gift. Nevertheless, I am pleased that it meets with your approval. I must confess, I was a trifle unsure if it would fit you, but I can see that it does – perfectly.”
Sir Peter’s gaze lingered for a long time on Marina as she stood in the hall. At last, he ushered her outside to the carriage. It was open-topped with two fine white horses. Marina thought them very fine-looking animals.
“They are descended from the white horses of the Camargue,” explained Sir Peter, “it is a very famous, French breed of wild horse. Some say that their coats are white so that they do not get bitten by mosquitoes.”
“How fascinating,” enthused Marina, thinking that Sir Peter had to be the cleverest man she had ever met. Each time she saw him, he told her yet another interesting fact that she had not known.
The journey to Georges-Henri’s house did not take very long. It was an impressive building made entirely of a white stone that Marina could not name.
Almost as soon as the carriage pulled up outside the front entrance, a tall, handsome man with jet-black hair and a swarthy complexion emerged into the sunshine to greet them.
“Peter,” he called with a very charming smile, “how kind of you to bring me such a beautiful visitor.”
He walked up to the carriage door and, as the coachman opened it, held out his hand to Marina to help her down.
“Thank you,” she murmured, taking in his striking appearance.
Seeking Love Page 13