Daisy joined in the applause. She beamed at Lydia who looked resplendent in her shiny dark grey dress and matching headdress with long opera pearls tied in a lose knot below her chest. Lydia spotted her and saying something briefly to Gabriel, walked over in Daisy’s direction with him.
‘You look stunning, Daisy,’ she said. ‘How lovely to see you here tonight, I wasn’t sure if you’d be on duty or not.’
Daisy shook her head. ‘Not tonight: Fi’s holding the fort but she’ll join us later.’
Lydia looked at Gabriel. ‘Is that elegant brother of hers coming tonight?’ She looked back at Daisy. ‘Young Sebastian Fielding caused something of an uproar here in the island last year. It was in all the papers, and not just the local one.’ She lowered her voice. ‘He can come across as a little fierce, but he’s a hardworking man who only wants the best for his employees, and he’s devoted to his younger sister.’
Daisy recalled Fi’s chatter about the brother who bossed her around but spoiled her. ‘She talks about him a lot.’
‘Gabriel,’ Lydia said, waving him over to join them. When he reached them, Lydia said. ‘Why don’t you relax for a moment and ask Daisy for a dance? You’d like to dance, wouldn’t you?’ she asked, her tone implying that a refusal would be out of the question.
Daisy smiled. ‘I’ve got no idea how to Charleston,’ she said, presuming that’s what Bryn and Soraya and their guests were doing on the dancefloor.
Lydia grabbed hold of Daisy’s arm and one of Gabriel’s, and pushed them towards the dancefloor. ‘Go on, you two,’ she shook her head. ‘In my day you never missed an opportunity to have fun.’
Gabriel took Daisy by the hand before she had a chance to argue and led her onto the wooden floor to join the others who seemed to be managing with the music. ‘Sorry about that,’ he said. ‘But she won’t give up until we do. It can’t be that hard, can it?’ he said watching the others for a second and began to do a vague impression of what they were doing.
Daisy laughed at his comedic attempts to copy the others. He was obviously more used to the water than the dancefloor, but she decided that if he could have fun without worrying about making a fool of himself, then she could do the same.
‘There you go,’ he shouted not attempting to hide his amusement at her. ‘You’ve nearly got it.’
Two dances later and Daisy, out of breath but happy, took Gabriel’s hand and led him over to one of the tables. ‘Can we sit?’ she asked, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
He turned his chair so that he was facing her a bit more and nodded at one of the barmen, who immediately brought over a tray of drinks. Thanking him, Gabriel took two glasses from the tray and handed one to Daisy. ‘That was fun.’
She laughed. ‘It was. I’m a bit of a Strictly fan and love watching the different dances. I think the Charleston always looks great fun.’
‘I’m so glad you came tonight, Daisy,’ he said, before leaning forward and kissing her quickly on her lips.
Startled but pleased with what he’d just done, she smiled. ‘So am I.’
‘I want you to know that I’m doing everything in my power to sort out my divorce.’
Daisy’s mood plummeted. She hated to be reminded of his situation and that they couldn’t be a couple. ‘Let’s not talk about it tonight.’
He took her hand in his. ‘Having met your father and learnt something of your past, I can understand the way you feel about my situation much more. I probably shouldn’t have kissed you, but I want you to know how I feel about you. Our time together in Vietnam was special. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.’
‘And you don’t think it was just because of the magic of the surroundings?’
‘It helped, I suppose, but Vietnam was more mystical to me because I shared those experiences with you.’
She couldn’t help agreeing with his sentiment. ‘I know what you mean. I feel the same way about our time there.’
‘I wish you’d answered my emails. We still could have spoken on the phone, or I could have come to Devon and spent time with you.’ He looked so sincere. ‘Maybe met your mother.’
She shook her head. Not wishing to discuss her issues with Aaron and unused to sharing her private life she didn’t like to admit that it had never occurred to her to introduce him to her mother. ‘My mother had issues,’ she said. ‘She was intensely private and a little ashamed of her home.’ She cleared her throat. ‘It was quite rundown and she hated living there.’
‘Didn’t she invite anyone there at all?’ he asked looking stunned at the prospect. ‘What about her friends, or your friends?’
Daisy sighed. ‘I didn’t have any, and neither did she.’
He stared at her for a moment and Daisy could have bitten her tongue for opening up so much to him. She wished she could take back what she’d just said. Now he was bound to see her in a different light. She’d done so well up until now at reinventing herself.
‘Don’t look so horrified,’ he said, giving her hand a squeeze. ‘None of our lives are exactly how we might wish them to be.’ He tilted his head. ‘Yes, I know I’m speaking as someone who has enjoyed a better life than most, but it can be quite hard when you’re fourteen and your mum has acted in a pretty risqué part in a movie.’
Daisy winced. ‘I hadn’t thought of that sort of thing.’ She could see the hurt in his eyes.
‘I love my mum,’ he said lowering his voice so only she could hear him speak. ‘But I had to learn to stand up for myself at a young age. Not everyone’s parents’ lives are lived through the magasines. Some of the stories have been,’ he hesitated, ‘difficult to read knowing I had to go to school on the Monday morning and deal with some fool who thinks he’s funny by sharing details with the rest of my class.’
Daisy couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. ‘We’ve had pretty opposite upbringings if you think about it,’ she said as it dawned on her that something half way between the two was probably what most people experienced. ‘I’m not sure which was the most enjoyable.’
His expression softened. ‘Probably neither,’ he said, smiling widely at her. ‘At least we have that in common.’
Daisy smiled. He was right and for once she didn’t feel so much of an outsider. To think that his childhood might have been as difficult as hers, albeit in a completely different way, was reassuring somehow. She was about so tell him how much better he’d made her feel when there was an upsurge in the volume in the room. Both of them turned their heads to see what all the commotion was about.
‘Your parents: they’re back,’ she said, delighted to see they had been able to get to Jersey in time for the party.
He and Daisy stood up together. ‘Come on, let’s go and say hi to them,’ he said taking her by the hand.
It felt so natural that it was only when Francesca made a point of spotting their hand-holding and raised a perfectly threaded eyebrow in their direction that Daisy felt at all awkward and let go. She could feel Gabriel staring at her and hoped she hadn’t hurt his feelings.
‘Darling, so good to see you again,’ Francesca cheered, giving Gabriel a hug. ‘You look very handsome in all your finery.’
‘Thanks, Mum. You look amazing as usual.’ He smiled at his dad. ‘Great to see you back again. Will you two be here for a while or is this a flying visit?’
‘I’m flying out again first thing if this bloody fog lifts,’ his father said. ‘We had to get the ferry here. Still only three quarters of the way through my tour, so there’s no chance of a break for me yet.’
‘Yes, but you love it,’ Francesca said putting her arm around Rick’s waist. ‘I’m back for a bit now. Filming wrapped yesterday.’
‘That was quick,’ Gabriel said.
Daisy had no idea how long it took to shoot a film, so didn’t like to comment.
‘Not really; I was only in the final scenes of the filming, so they didn’t need me at the beginning. It was only a small part, unfortunately.’ She smiled at vari
ous people in the room. ‘Bryn and Soraya seem to be having a ball; they look like they’ve been dancing for ages. I’d better go and have a chat with them.’ She went to leave then said, ‘This all looks fabulous, darling, well done.’
Daisy and Gabriel watched his parents walking away, chatting to people as they made their way across the crowded room.
‘Why is she so surprised that you’ve pulled this together so well?’ Daisy couldn’t help asking.
Gabriel smiled. ‘Because she knows how I’d much prefer to spend my days down on the beach, or diving somewhere. Staying indoors for too long makes me restless.’
‘Won’t you ever want to settle down somewhere?’ Daisy asked. ‘I mean have your own home, rather than being away on projects all the time and living out of a rucksack.’
He shrugged. ‘Maybe, but right now I love what I do and can’t see myself giving it up any time soon.’
Then we’re really not suited, thought Daisy. However much she might wish his divorce to be finalised and to have a home of her own where she could put down roots and make a life for herself, Gabriel was obviously not the person with whom she could ever hope to achieve this dream.
Before she could say anything further there was a shriek followed by a loud crash as a large tray of glasses was knocked from the bar area onto the floor.
‘Bryn, be careful,’ Soraya shrieked, staring at the splintered glass all around their feet. ‘You shouldn’t be so exuberant.’
Bryn raised his hands. ‘Not to worry, if someone will bring me a dustpan and brush I’ll clear this mess in a jiffy. Just put the breakages on our bill.’
‘Sorry,’ Gabriel said. ‘I’m going to have to go and sort this out.’
She nodded and took the opportunity to excuse herself and go to the ladies. She was having a lot of fun, but couldn’t help being sad that she and Gabriel wanted such different things for their futures.
Feeling a little more settled, she returned several minutes later to see someone sitting on her chair in deep conversation with Gabriel. Unsure whether to interrupt them, she hesitated, then when the woman looked over at someone in the crowd, Daisy realised it was Bella. She decided this was her cue to leave.
Chapter Ten
Gabriel
Gabriel was woken by his mobile ringing. ‘Hello?’ he said, checking his watch to see if he’d overslept, and noticing that it was just after seven in the morning.
‘Gabriel? It’s Fanshawe, your father’s lawyer.’ Gabriel cleared his throat to speak. ‘Sorry for the early call but I’m on the red-eye to London and don’t have time to chat. I wanted to ask you if you got married in Jersey.’
‘No, South Africa,’ Gabe answered pushing himself to a sitting position and rubbing his eyes with the back of his free hand. ‘Why?’
‘Damn,’ I’ve got another call coming through. You might be able to arrange for a divorce or annulment in South Africa if that’s where you were married.’ There was a mumble and clatter in the background. ‘Sorry, I have to go now but wanted you to know that this might be your way to sort things out.’
Gabe couldn’t believe it. ‘Thank you, that’s great news.’
‘I’m not promising anything, mind.’
‘No, of course.’ He took a breath to say more but realised that the call had been ended. Delighted with this unexpected news Gabe dropped his phone onto his duvet and got out of bed. He needed to speak to Bella as soon as possible, but first he wanted a shower to work out exactly how he was going to persuade her to do this for him.
Freshly showered and dressed he phoned Bella and asked her to meet him for breakfast at St Ouen’s Bay.
‘So,’ she said sipping at her latte once they’d been served. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure? I can only imagine you’d bring me out to this beautiful bay and buy me breakfast if it was to break bad news to me about the project.’
‘That’s partly it, yes,’ he admitted going on to explain that the funding had been rescinded.
‘Damn, that’s lousy, and our findings were so positive too. I suppose that means we’ll have to watch while another company completes our work there then?’
‘I haven’t been told of anyone else taking over, just that with cuts that we won’t be getting any further funding.’
‘I thought we would be fine since we’d discovered that new species of sea anemone,’ she said, looking downcast.
‘Me too.’ He took a bite of his bacon roll and they ate in silence for a few minutes, both looking out at the rolling waves on the wide beach. ‘I’m going out soon to close everything down. I’ll take a few more samples of the algae and sea grasses in the area so we can test these, but other than that I’ll just have to ensure our records are fully up to date and the lab reports on the new species we believe we’ve found are recorded.’
‘Such a disappointment though,’ she said. Then looking up at him she narrowed her eyes. ‘There’s more though, isn’t there? Why would you bring me here to tell me this when I’d already told you months ago that I’m taking a sabbatical from work?’
He explained about Daisy’s reluctance to be involved with him romantically if he was still married.
‘But that’s ridiculous,’ she said. ‘We’re not together anymore.’
‘She has her reasons,’ he said going on to explain about the phone call that morning from Advocate Fanshawe. He waited while she absorbed what he’s just said.
‘Bloody hell, Gabe, I won’t do it. Just because your new girlfriend doesn’t like our situation doesn’t mean I have to traipse all the way to South Africa to get an annulment.’ She shook her head. ‘Especially when you don’t even know that they’ll allow us to have one.’
He could see why she was irritated with him. ‘I know, and I understand you being angry with me for even suggesting this to you.’
She stared at him for a few moments. ‘Have you told her what you’re planning?’ He shook his head.
‘No, I don’t want to say anything until I’m sure it’ll work out.’ He was beginning to wonder why he’d thought this would be a good idea.
‘Oh, Christ. I’ll do it for you. I’ll come over and help you wrap everything up with the project and help you try and sort out this divorce. But if she gets upset about us travelling out there together then that’s your problem, not mine.’
It was at times like this that he remembered why he’d always been so fond of Bella. She was strong and determined but you never knew what decision she’d make. ‘Thanks, Bella, I owe you one.’
‘No, you don’t,’ she said her voice sombre. ‘You’ve never let me down and it doesn’t matter who you or I are with you’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Anyway, I was there at the beginning of the project and it’s only right that I should be there at the end.’
He sighed. ‘Thank you.’
She giggled. ‘Don’t thank me yet: you’ve still got to break this news to your girlfriend, or whatever she is.’
Chapter Eleven
Daisy
It was Daisy’s day off and despite a nagging hangover she was feeling cheerful. The sun had begun to burn through the fog that morning and was now brightening up the day.
Deciding to make the most of the glorious weather she walked to Beauport headland and set up her easel. Daisy was delighted to have found a position that gave her a great view of the bay below her without being in the way of the footpaths that two people and their dogs had already walked down.
She’d been looking forward to coming here since overhearing one of the guests talking about how magnificent the views were. They hadn’t been exaggerating. Despite it only being seven-thirty in the morning, Daisy could see several yachts anchored in the bay and presumed they must have spent the night rolling on the gentle waves.
She breathed in the warm sea air and marvelled at the dew on the grassy mounds surrounding her pitch. The turquoise sea was calm and it seemed that nothing could possibly be wrong in a world where this sort of beauty existed. She chose several oils
from her khaki bag and squeezed the colours onto her palette. Gazing out at the one large rock rising from the sea between where she stood and the opposite headland, she let her mind wander and began to paint.
She was barely aware of the few passers-by who came her way or of the sun as it warmed her face and arms. She loved painting and losing herself in the emotion of the image she was recreating. It was only when someone stopped to ask if they could take her photo that she realised how long she’d been painting and how thirsty she now was.
‘You’re an excellent artist,’ the bearded middle-aged man said as he stared over her shoulder at the painting.
‘Thank you,’ Daisy replied. It dawned on her that he didn’t look like the usual tourist taking holiday snaps. ‘Are you on holiday?’
He shook his head and held up his camera briefly. ‘No, I work for The Jersey Scene, the local glossy mag. I’m doing a piece about outdoor activities for the next edition. Do you mind me using your picture for the magasine?’
She thought about his question, a niggling doubt creeping into her stomach. If it was a local magasine then who was going to ever see her picture on the mainland? It should be fine, surely. And she’d been fine with her photo going up on a local business’s website yesterday. ‘Well,’ she considered his request a little further. ‘This is a local magasine, you say?’
‘It is.’ He gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I’ll understand if you’d rather I didn’t use your picture, but I was taken by your concentration while you painted that beautiful landscape of the bay. I was hoping for a picture within a picture, as it were.’
She was being over cautious. Aaron had probably moved on by now. She didn’t want this stranger to think she was being ridiculous. If he wouldn’t see the magasine, then what was there to worry about? ‘No, it’s fine,’ she said, aware he’d been waiting patiently for her answer.
‘Great, thanks.’ He lifted his camera up to his face. ‘If you just carry on with your painting and maybe look over the top of the canvas at the view, please.’
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 104
