The Eclair Affair

by Cressida McLaughlin

  ‘Weren’t you here having a cream tea yerseln’ last Saturday?’ Rose asked.

  ‘I was,’ Frank admitted, sighing. ‘And it was great. But,’ he added quickly, and Charlie imagined the daggers Rose was giving him over her silver-rimmed glasses, ‘if Daniel’s going to be doing cream teas on a Saturday, then we won’t feel the loss of this place.’

  ‘Daniel’s just as bad,’ Rose said. ‘Young yuppie comin’ in and swaggering about as if he owns the village.’

  ‘But Crystal Waters isn’t going anywhere, is it?’ Frank said. ‘May as well make the most of it. Now, are you off home?’

  ‘In a bit,’ Rose replied. ‘Goin’ to pick my ma up some fudge, and mebbe take a look at those Cornish pasties.’

  ‘I wanted to look at the tea stall, see about getting some of that Cornish blend. Truro’s the closest place other than here. I could stock up if this is all going to be ending soon.’

  ‘Let’s go there first, as that’s the closest one,’ Rose said. ‘Just over here, past the curry place. Don’t those spices smell amazin’?’

  Charlie waited a few minutes for Frank’s reply, but it didn’t come and she realized they had gone. Off to enjoy the food market they hated so much and couldn’t wait to get rid of. She stood and dusted down her skirt, the anger bubbling inside her. Never mind Rose and Frank’s hypocrisy, how dare Daniel be supportive to her face while he was plotting her downfall with the villagers? Did he really think she was scatterbrained? She had done nothing to warrant that insult. And as for him adding cream teas to his menu to spite her, she—

  ‘Excuse me, but would we be able to sit down?’

  Charlie turned to find a boy of about fifteen looking at her with alarm. She tried to soften her glare.

  ‘God, yes. Sorry – I was miles away. I think there are a couple of tables upstairs if you’d prefer the view? Here are some menus.’

  ‘Th-thank you.’ He took them from her, then almost ran back down the aisle of the bus.

  Charlie leant against the counter and closed her eyes. She couldn’t let them get the better of her. She didn’t mind so much about the older villagers, but after all Daniel had said and done, she wasn’t prepared to let him get away with it.

  When she finally locked Gertie up and went round the other stalls, thanking everyone for a great event, her feet were throbbing and there was a persistent ache in her lower back. She should feel overjoyed at the success of her second week, but all she could think about was what she had overheard.

  ‘You look like you could do with a cocktail,’ Oliver said, as she reached The Marauding Mojito. He seemed as relaxed as ever, despite the sweat on his brow and the detritus of lime peel and mint leaves around him, showing that his day had been as busy as hers.

  ‘I would love to, Ollie, but I’ve got to go and see someone.’

  ‘Oh. Anyone important?’ He came down from the truck.

  ‘Just …’ She couldn’t tell him about Daniel, or why what he’d said had made her so mad. ‘I need to clear something up.’

  ‘Of course,’ Oliver said, his smile faltering. ‘But I’ll see you again next week?’

  ‘Definitely! Next Saturday. The Porthgolow food market is here to stay.’ If she’d been determined before, then she was absolutely adamant about it now.

  ‘Want to get together sometime soon when we’re not working? I could show you this place I know near Helford, or the Eden Project grounds are great this time of year.’

  ‘They both sound lovely. Thank you.’ She kissed his cheek.

  ‘I’ll be in touch,’ he said, squeezing her arm. ‘Bye, Marmite.’

  The walk up the hill was a struggle, the heat lingering long into the evening, but after a day spent mostly in the cab, Marmite almost bounced to the top of the cliff, and Charlie was spurred on by her dog’s enthusiasm and her own anger. She arrived at the retreat with sweat pooling down her spine, her cheeks hot from the exertion. Walking into reception was like being wrapped in a cool blanket, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Charlie, hi,’ Lauren said. ‘How can I help?’ She was looking at her curiously, and Charlie wondered if the rage was beaming out of her pores like some kind of aura.

  ‘Is Daniel here? I need to talk to him.’

  Lauren glanced at her watch, and Charlie realized that, this late on a Saturday, he might well be somewhere else, enjoying a night out with friends, crowing at how he’d duped the woman who’d arrived in his village with nothing but good intentions and a hearty dose of gullibility.

  ‘I think he’s still in the office,’ Lauren said. ‘Let me check.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Charlie shut her eyes for a moment, weariness taking the place of her fading adrenalin, and opened them to find Daniel standing in front of her.

  ‘Hello.’ His eyes swept over her. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Can we talk?’ She kept her voice calm. She didn’t want Lauren eavesdropping on their conversation, even though she wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t been doing exactly that herself. But Rose and Frank had been standing right next to her bus – what had she been supposed to do? Put her hands over her ears and sing ‘la la la’?

  ‘Sure,’ Daniel said, frowning. ‘Want to come into my office?’

  ‘That would be good, thanks.’ She was conscious of how she must look, red-faced and sweaty, while he was cool and composed and perfectly at home.

  ‘Isn’t Marmite with you?’

  ‘I tied him up outside. There’s a bowl of water, but …’ She trailed off. She should have taken him home first, but she wasn’t planning on staying long.

  ‘Don’t leave him out there – bring him in.’

  ‘Daniel,’ Lauren said. ‘I don’t think—’

  ‘It’s fine, Lauren. He can come into the office. It’s much cooler in there.’

  ‘That would be great.’ Charlie rushed outside and untied Marmite, reminding herself that Daniel was a master of charm. She couldn’t let his show of kindness sway her.

  Back inside, Daniel led the way behind the reception desk and into his office. He closed the door behind them.

  It had no walnut cupboards or shark tank in the floor, as far as she could see. It was small and neat, with white walls and a pine desk. There was a noticeboard pinned with various letters and leaflets, and a photo in the bottom corner of Jasper, Daniel’s German shepherd, as a chunky puppy with his tongue hanging out. A peace lily sat on the desk, and a blue fabric sofa was pushed up against one wall. The high window looked out on the car park, which Charlie thought was a shame when there was such a spectacular view on the other side of the hotel.

  ‘Do you want some water?’ Daniel asked, taking Marmite gently out of Charlie’s arms and settling him on the sofa. He gestured for her to sit next to her dog.

  ‘I’m … uh,’ she managed, torn between her raging desire for a cool drink and her need to be strong in the face of his gallantry. ‘Yes please …’

  Daniel nodded. ‘I’ll be back in a moment.’

  Charlie sat next to Marmite and stroked him while he chewed the arm of the sofa. She chided him gently, but the dog kept going and she felt a small stab of satisfaction.

  ‘Here you are,’ Daniel said, returning with a jug and two glasses. ‘You look like you need it.’

  ‘I’m fine,’ she snapped, but she took the glass and drained it in a single gulp.

  Daniel settled into his chair, wheeled it round to face her, and rested his hands on his stomach. His brows were knitted together, but his mouth was twitching as if he was trying to suppress a smile.

  ‘How can I help you, Charlie?’

  ‘You didn’t come to the food market today. Why was that?’

  ‘I’ve been busy here. Saturdays are one of our main check-in days. Did you expect me to come every week?’

  ‘I bet you’ve been planning your new afternoon teas, too, haven’t you? So you can take over once my “scatterbrain” events peter out. You must have been so pleased when you thought of it; letting me have a fe
w Saturdays on the beach, then filling the void with your upmarket menu once I’d run out of puff.’

  Daniel took her glass and refilled it, then pressed it gently back into her grasp. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said calmly. ‘But something’s obviously pissed you off and you’ve decided I’m the punch bag.’

  ‘Of course you are! You said I was a scatterbrain, that my food markets weren’t going to last and that you were going to start serving cream teas in your hotel.’

  ‘When exactly did I say all this?’ He leaned back and folded his arms. He’d stopped even trying to hide his smile now, which only made Charlie’s heart race faster.

  ‘I don’t know! But Rose and Frank were talking about it, right outside Gertie. How ridiculous it was that I’d started calling it a food market instead of a festival, and how they were going to run out of steam and you were waiting to take over once I’d gone back home with my bloody bus!’

  Daniel stared at her, and then started laughing. He leaned forward and tried to put his hand on her arm, but Charlie pushed herself into the sofa, away from him.

  ‘How can you find this funny?’

  ‘Because it is,’ Daniel said. ‘Rose and Frank got the wrong end of the stick, that’s all. It got lost in translation.’

  ‘Explain.’

  Daniel raised an eyebrow at her sharp tone. ‘Gladly. I was in The Seven Stars the other night, and bumped into a friend, Evan, who lives in the next village over. I mentioned the food market – which seems an entirely valid thing to call it, by the way – and, in an attempt to encourage him to get his backside along to the next one, said that you didn’t live in the area, so I didn’t know how long they would last, and that he’d better come while he could.’

  Charlie digested that, and nodded. ‘I was hoping the markets would continue after I’ve left Porthgolow. But that’s only going to happen if everyone’s behind them.’

  ‘You’re not staying?’ Daniel took a sip of water.

  ‘I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I can’t live with Juliette and Lawrence for ever, can I?’ She couldn’t seem to moderate her tone and Daniel held a hand up in submission.

  ‘I was only asking,’ he said. ‘I promise I have never called you a scatterbrain. I may have called you a few other things – I’d had a few beers by this time, which is why I didn’t realize I was being listened to so intently – but never scatterbrain.’

  ‘What else did you call me?’

  ‘What else are you accusing me of?’ There was an edge to his voice now, and she wondered whether this was about to escalate into a full-scale argument. She wasn’t sure she had the energy for that.

  ‘The fact that you said you were going to start serving cream teas here, at the hotel, in direct competition with me.’

  Daniel sighed. ‘I’m not sure whether to nominate those two for troublemakers – or idiots – of the year. I was annoyed by the WhatsApp love-in the other day, that fact that you were getting all the credit for the solstice festival.’

  ‘I made sure that I gave you the credit, I—’

  ‘Let me finish, Charlie. I was pissed off, I was a bit drunk, and I told Evan I was going to start making a feature of afternoon teas at the hotel. We already serve them, but they can’t compete with yours. Our view looks over the sea, you’re right on the beach. The restaurant here is pretty smart, you’re on a vintage double-decker bus with all its charms and trappings. Is it your sole purpose in life to make me admit my weaknesses to you?’ He looked irritated, suddenly. Tired and irritated. Charlie couldn’t blame him; it was after eight o’clock on a summery, Saturday night and she had forced him into his shoebox office to have a go at him.

  ‘You already sell cream teas?’

  ‘Yes, Charlie.’

  ‘You’re not trying to get rid of me, and you didn’t call me a scatterbrain?’

  He levelled her with a look, and Charlie dropped her gaze to a snoozing Marmite, who was taking full advantage of the sofa now he’d stopped assaulting it.

  ‘They were so convincing,’ Charlie said. ‘They didn’t know I was listening, and they came out with all this stuff, so I—’

  ‘What is it your uncle Hal said? Forget the mistake, remember the lesson?’

  Charlie nodded.

  ‘The lesson here is never to listen to other people’s conversations and take them to heart. That goes for Rose and Frank as much as you. Now, are we done? Because I’ve got much more important things to be doing with my time.’

  Charlie nodded, feeling suitably chastised. She should have asked him, rather than going in, all guns blazing. She stood and went to pick up Marmite, but Daniel put his hand on her arm. His skin was warm and dry, and Charlie’s breath faltered.

  ‘Leave him,’ he said softly.

  ‘I thought you had other things to do,’ Charlie whispered.

  ‘I do. They involve you, the hot tub, and the Porthgolow sunset. Come on.’

  Charlie held up the black swimming costume. It was simple, not too low or high cut, too frumpy or too exposing. When she had tried to complain, to tell Daniel she couldn’t possibly go to the hot tub with him, he had dismissed all her excuses and led her to the spa shop, told her to pick out a costume and showed her where the changing rooms were. Charlie should have said no. She should have thought of some pressing reason why she couldn’t stay, but then the thought of those bubbles soothing her event-weary limbs, and the promise of the sunset over the sea, made her hesitate. She didn’t want to settle for too long on how important Daniel’s presence was in the whole equation.

  She changed into the swimming costume, put on the robe and slippers that he had given her, and stepped into the corridor. Daniel was nowhere to be found, but a woman with blonde hair and a nametag that read ‘Cherry’ over a dark green tunic caught her eye.

  ‘Daniel asked me to take you to the hot tub. He said he’ll join you as soon as he can.’

  Charlie nodded, and let Cherry lead her along silent corridors and out into the scented garden – past three of the wooden pods that Marmite had taken a misplaced interest to at the St Agnes Head Festival – and down to the hot tub. It was already bubbling and the water looked clear and inviting, the sea beyond contrastingly still. The sun was starting its descent, the horizon a hazy pink after the heat of the day.

  Thanking Cherry, Charlie slipped off her robe and slippers. She climbed into the bubbles, sinking down until only her neck and head were above the luxuriously hot water. The cliff-top breeze whispered around her, and the sight of Cornwall’s rugged landscape and the endless ocean beyond was breathtaking. She could see why people paid a lot of money to come here. For this experience alone, the hot bubbles, the fresh air and the unbeatable view, it would be worth it.

  She leaned her arms on the side of the tub and looked out to sea, laughing at the turn the evening had taken. An hour ago, she’d been hot and flustered and mad as hell with Daniel, and yet, here she was. Putting up little resistance to his suggestion after he’d smoothly addressed all her concerns. Had she been too easy to accept his explanations? She remembered all the times Stuart had dismissed her worries, including the first inklings she’d had that he had been cheating on her. He’d placated her and, at the same time made her sound foolish and neurotic.

  She wasn’t in a relationship with Daniel – she barely knew him – but that didn’t stop the familiar twist of anxiety. She thought of Oliver, his disappointment when she’d turned down his offer of a cocktail to come storming up here.

  This was a mistake.

  She pushed herself up on her arms, wondering if she could make it inside before Daniel appeared.

  She heard a crunch of gravel and turned.

  The answer was a resounding no.

  Chapter Eight

  Daniel had two glasses of what looked suspiciously like champagne. He held one out for Charlie, and she reached forward to take it, then sank back into the water.

  ‘Cheers.’ He sat on the wooden bench that ran around
the outside of the hot tub.

  ‘Cheers.’ Charlie clinked glasses with him. ‘You’re not coming in?’

  ‘We’ve got a late check-in due to arrive in ten minutes’ time, and Lauren’s about to go home. I’ll join you once they’re settled in.’

  ‘Why?’ She took a sip of the champagne. It was delicious: fruity but crisp, not too sweet.

  ‘Why, what?’

  ‘Why are we doing this? Do you feel bad about what you sort-of said in the pub?’

  He grinned. It was dangerous and sexy, and did strange things to Charlie’s insides that had nothing to do with anxiety. ‘You think this is an apology because someone else misinterpreted my words and you got unintentionally offended? No. This is because I told you to come up to the hotel and try out the hot tub – and once you were here it seemed too good an opportunity to miss.’

  ‘An opportunity for what?’

  ‘To get you exactly where I want you.’

  She swallowed. Even if she’d wanted to reply, it seemed her mouth had stopped working.

  ‘I’ve tasted your scones and cakes,’ Daniel continued. ‘I thought it was about time you sampled the hotel. And this is the best bit.’ He gestured towards the view and Charlie turned, spellbound by it all over again.

  ‘It’s stunning,’ she said.

  ‘And good for relaxing when you’ve had a busy day, or you’re stressed out.’

  ‘I’m less stressed than I was,’ she admitted. ‘But you can understand why I was so angry.’

  ‘If I’d said those things, then your anger would have been entirely justified.’ He glanced at his watch and stood up. ‘I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere.’ He went inside, his shoes crunching on the gravel.

  Charlie could hear the low murmur of people enjoying the outdoor pool, but the hot tub was on a higher part of the grounds, and not visible from there. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, letting the bubbles soothe away any last tension.