Objects of Desire
Page 37
‘I think it should be said, Anoushka, that nothing will change between us if you choose to marry Piers. I won’t love you less, and it will make no difference to our friendship. I would never allow that.’
‘Piers should have married you, Sally. He was a fool to let you go.’
‘Throw me out. Let’s get it right.’
‘What are you going to do, Anoushka,’ asked Page. ‘You won’t get marriage offered from Hadon.’
‘Oh, I know that. I don’t want to be married ever again. I wouldn’t give up my freedom now for any man, especially a man like Piers who demanded it. I’ve done that all my life. No more. I have my sons, I have my independence, financial security, a budding and rewarding career, a man who loves me and leaves me free to do my thing. Hadon Calder adores me, looks after me, protects me, the real me that Robert has never seen or respected. Why would I give all that up for marriage?’
‘Then you’ve chosen?’ said Sally.
‘Yes, I guess I have, just now.’
‘Does Hadon know?’
‘I haven’t told him but he might have guessed.’
‘Piers?’
‘No.’
‘Poor Piers.’
‘Don’t feel sorry for him, Sally. I can assure you he would have done to me what he has done to you, only I would have had a ring on my finger. He would have been another Robert, in a different style. And I would have become once again the old Anoushka, chasing after his love. No, don’t feel sorry for Piers.’
‘She’s right, you know,’ said Page.
‘I know, but it still hurts to admit it,’ said Sally.
‘He’s going to be in Mustique waiting for my answer as to whether I will or will not marry him.’
‘Let’s hope seeing us sail Black Orchid in safe and sound will take the edge off his disappointment. Do you think there’s some poetic justice going on here? I’d like to think there is. It would actually make me feel a little better about having been tossed away by him. Vindictive? Well, maybe. Nobody likes having to carry a scar round for the rest of their life, not even if it’s barely visible.’
‘Well, that’s going to be quite a reception committee waiting for our arrival: Piers, Hadon, Jahangir, Oscar, waiting for the sailors home from the sea.’
‘Not for me it won’t,’ said a smiling Anoushka.
‘You’ve got something up your sleeve?’
‘I told Hadon about Piers a long time ago, not long after we met. That last night we were together in Cap d’Antibes, he told me he was not a man for scenes. I had a decision to make, and though it involved him, I would have to make it alone. He had no intention of standing on a dock next to Piers waiting to be picked. I think his expression was “Like a ripe fucking plum off a tree”. Much as he wants to see us all sail in after an Atlantic crossing, he won’t be in Mustique.’
‘Oh, no!’ wailed Sally.
‘He can’t miss our arrival. I’ll really be disappointed if he won’t be there for our moment of triumph, he’s been so supportive of the three of us,’ said Page.
‘He doesn’t have to. He’s researching a new book in Barbados, he’s been there very nearly since we left France. What he said was, “If you’re looking for me you’ll find me in Barbados in a large house facing the sea, a place where one can have a great view of the boats coming in from an Atlantic crossing.” I’ll be jumping ship in Barbados, ladies.’
There were tears and hugs and kisses, a great deal of happiness for Anoushka. She too had found her man, the right man.
As captain of Black Orchid, she called the crew and Rab Nesnet on deck for a meeting. She felt, as did Page and Sally, that she had to explain her situation and ask for their support. They had come too far, been through too much together, for her to leave them out of her decision. They considered how she could abandon ship, since Rab’s orders from Piers had always been to complete the crossing at Mustique. Rab took over and choreographed the event. Anoushka called Hadon.
They had a brisk wind and at seven o’clock the following morning Sally was on early watch when she sighted land for the first time in eighteen days.
‘Land! Land! I see land!’ she shouted, ringing the ship’s bell, and screaming and laughing. Everyone having breakfast below rushed on deck. They had done it, it was over, they were right on target, the island was Barbados. The three women broke down and cried, uncontrollable tears of joy and pride. They had between them brought Black Orchid across the North Atlantic Ocean. Someone ran down for champagne. Everyone seemed to be shaking everyone else’s hand, everyone kissing everyone. They took great draughts from the bottles of vintage wine, some of the crew whooping and hollering.
Two hours later they were all still on deck and sailing parallel and close in to the white sand and coconut palm-fringed beaches of Barbados. They had dropped sail and were scanning the deserted shore for any sign of Hadon when quite suddenly he appeared out of the tropical bush and on to the sand at a run, arms waving, and shouting. Behind him were Mishka and Alexis. Anoushka could hardly believe it. All aboard were thrilled. The boys were jumping and running and calling out, ‘Mom, Mom, you made it!’
Anoushka peeled off the shirt and sarong she was wearing. She stood barefoot in her swimsuit with her friends and shipmates all round her. They kissed and said farewells.
‘I don’t know if this is the best or the worst part of the voyage, I’ve never jumped ship before. Rab Nesnet, you’re once again the captain of this vessel. I resign. Reluctantly, I might add.’
Everyone laughed, but there was just a hint of a tear in every eye. Page passed the log book over to Rab.
‘You’ll be all right, Anoushka, there was really no other way. My first loyalty has to be to Piers. His orders were to bring Black Orchid to anchor in Mustique after the crossing. We can’t stop like some packet ship to drop you off. Be brave a little bit longer. If you mastered the Atlantic ocean, you can swim a few hundred yards in the warm Caribbean Sea.’
They were already at the rail of the boat. He shouted to Hadon, ‘You want her, come and get her. She’s all yours.’
They watched Hadon and the boys charge into the water and start to swim. Rab hoisted Anoushka on to the ships’ rail, ‘Balance yourself well before you dive,’ he ordered.
She was steady as a rock when only seconds later she turned to throw kisses to Sally and Page then took her dive.
She cleared the boat and vanished under the water for what seemed like an age. She surfaced halfway between the boat and Hadon and her sons. A shout of relief rose from all aboard. Anoushka turned to wave one last time and then swam hard and fast towards her future.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Contents
Husband and Wife
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Anoushka Rivers
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Page Cooper
Chapter 8
Piers Hamilton Steven George Hazlit
Chapter 9
Sally Brown
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Oscar Kroner
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22