Dreaming of St-Tropez

by T A Williams

  ‘Of course. Sorry, I didn’t mean to look miserable, but it’s not quite the start I was hoping for.’

  ‘We all make mistakes, Jess. So he forgot, it doesn’t matter. We’ll soon have the place shipshape.’

  ‘I know, Hope. And you’re right. We’ll soon get this place tidied up. Now, let’s see if we can find a vacuum and a few mops and brushes.’

  By the time Antoinette returned with an armful of linen, they had located the cleaning utensils and had made a start. The housekeeper, still looking apologetic, deposited the sheets and towels and returned to the villa for a second load. When she came back, she was carrying two hefty shopping baskets. From these, she produced veritable cornucopia of delicacies, ranging from olives to eggs, pâté and local cheese. She also brought fruit, bread and a couple of packets of biscuits. As she stocked the fridge, she kept apologising.

  ‘I’m so, so sorry. Anyway, listen – tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the shops and get in a load of food for you.’ She waved away Jess and Hope’s protests. ‘It’s what Mrs Dupont would have wanted me to do. That’ll keep you going for a few days and then I can explain where to buy more food.’

  ‘There’s really no need.’

  ‘Oh yes, there is. I’ll go and make up your beds now and I can come and change the sheets whenever you want. And I can do any laundry for you, too. Just tell me.’

  Jess shook her head decisively. ‘Absolutely not. We certainly don’t want to make extra work for you. We can make our own beds and we’ll do our own laundry – and that includes sheets and towels. I can see there’s a washing machine. Is there an iron and an ironing board?’

  ‘Well… yes, but I’m very happy to do the sheets, really.’

  Jess thanked Antoinette again and politely refused her help. A bit of laundry was the least they could do. Finally, Antoinette agreed and Jess could see she was secretly rather pleased.

  ‘Well, if you’re sure. Thank you. Now, there’s a swimming pool over to the east of the villa. If you go back into the rose garden and take the path to the left, it’ll lead you there. If you want to swim in the sea, you’ll need to take the right path and just follow it round the other side of the villa and down. But the water’s still a bit cold at this time of year.’

  Hope smiled. ‘Don’t forget, we’re English. We don’t feel the cold! I’ll give it a try.’

  Jess shivered. ‘Speak for yourself. I’ll come with you and stick my toe in the water, but you might be on your own after that.’

  Antoinette smiled. ‘You’d probably do better in the pool, Jess. It’s heated all year round.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Anyway, I’m afraid I have to dash off and prepare dinner for Mr Dupont and then go home and look after my husband. Here’s my phone number if you need anything. I’m at the villa from eight in the morning to seven or later, most days, with a few hours off in the afternoon. Anything you want, just call.’

  She glanced down at the dog who was lying stretched out on the floor, looking as if he belonged here.

  ‘What about the dog? What’s his name again?’

  ‘Brutus. He can stay here with us unless Monsieur Dupont prefers to take him. We’ve brought his bed and some food. He’ll be fine.’

  Antoinette looked relieved.

  ‘Very good. I’ll make sure Monsieur Dupont knows you’ve arrived, but I have no doubt he’ll be very happy to know that you’ll look after the dog. I’m sorry he’s not feeling very sociable today, and I’m even sorrier he didn’t tell me you were coming, but he’ll be in contact with you before long. Would you like me to give you a hand with your things, bringing them from the car?’

  ‘That’s very kind, but there’s no need, thanks. We haven’t got a lot of stuff.’

  ‘Well, au revoir, and remember to tell me if you need anything.’

  Once they had emptied the car, Jess and Hope spent an hour cleaning the house and making their beds. In fact, apart from a bit of dust and a whole legion of dead flies, along with some disgruntled spiders that Hope painstakingly caught in a glass and released a good long way from the house, there wasn’t an awful lot to do, and the place was soon quite habitable. Jess sat down and had a long phone conversation with Mrs Dupont in London, while Hope made them some tea. She made no mention of the fact that Mrs Dupont’s son hadn’t thought to inform his housekeeper of their imminent arrival – preferring to let her go off on her cruise without worries.

  The old lady was very pleased to hear that they had got there safely and that Brutus hadn’t found the journey too stressful. As she talked, Jess glanced down to the black shape sprawled at her feet, grunting happily to himself, and was able to assure her that Brutus was in fine form. She also decided it best to omit any reference to the incidents in the hotel or his change of diet. Time would tell as far as that was concerned.

  ‘And have you met George?’

  ‘Your son? Um, no, not yet.’

  Jess went on to tell her what Antoinette had said about him not feeling very sociable and she heard concern in Mrs Dupont’s voice as she responded.

  ‘Oh dear. I’m so sorry. The thing is – I should really have told you, but his wife died last year and he’s been suffering from depression. Will you try to cheer him up, please, Jess? I’m sure you’ll be able to do that.’

  ‘I’ll do my very best. I promise.’ She hesitated a moment. ‘And I saw his son, David, but only briefly.’

  ‘Poor David.’

  Jess waited for more, but it wasn’t forthcoming. Finally she tried a bit of prodding.

  ‘He didn’t look very happy either.’

  ‘No, I’m afraid he and his father have both been quite miserable. He’s had a hard time. Next time you see him, give him a big hug from me, will you?’

  Chance, Jess thought to herself, would be a fine thing.

  ‘Anyway, Jess, tell me all about Brutus. Is he eating properly?’

  Properly wasn’t really the adverb Jess would have chosen for Brutus’s diet – at least not up to the previous day. She made no mention of his flabbiness, flatulence or unfitness and just told Mrs Dupont how happy he looked, here on the Côte d’Azur.

  ‘And he’s not the only one. Hope and I have been blown away by the beauty of this place.’

  ‘I’m so glad you like Les Romarins. I have very fond memories of the years I spent there. I hope you both have a wonderful time. Do stay in touch. I’m off to Southampton tomorrow and we sail the morning after. I imagine there’ll be telephone connections and internet on board – although I don’t really get involved with all that computer business.’

  ‘Of course I’ll stay in touch, and thanks again, Mrs Dupont.’

  ‘Goodbye my dear. You have a wonderful time and remember – I’m counting on you to cheer George and David up.’

  Jess had no idea how she was supposed to do this, but she answered positively all the same.

  ‘I’ll do my very best.’

  Chapter 6

  The little house was equipped with air conditioning, but they found they didn’t need it. No doubt when summer arrived in full force it would prove a godsend, but for now, the evening air temperature was warm but very pleasant, and they sat outside in the little courtyard to have their evening meal, to the accompaniment of a chorus of cicadas. The food Antoinette had brought was mouth-watering, and there was more than enough to feed several hungry families.

  The last serious meal for either of them had been in the hotel where Brutus had come close to wrecking the place, and by now they were both hungry. Their appetites grew as they unloaded some of the wonders that Antoinette had produced for them.

  There was an amazing selection of sliced ham and salami. To their amazement, they found a dish containing four thick slices of foie gras, accompanied by what tasted like pear compote. Along with this were hard boiled quail’s eggs and huge green olives. There was half an asparagus quiche – clearly homemade – and they made themselves a salad out of two enormous tomatoes, which smelt and tasted as if they had been picked only
a few minutes earlier. They added a selection of different lettuce leaves, dressing them with local olive oil and wine vinegar.

  There were no fewer than four different cheeses, wrapped in anonymous paper, varying in form from hard, yellow exteriors to soft, creamy interiors, none of them familiar, but all excellent. Antoinette had also supplied them with a long fresh baguette, and Jess found herself wondering if the occupants of the villa would be eating dry biscuits tonight as a result.

  The meal was delightful and the bottle of very pale, almost grey, rosé wine they opened to accompany it was spectacular, even if the label was new to both of them. They finished the meal with a bowl of wonderful fresh black cherries and finally sat back, replete, smiles on their faces, feeling decidedly drowsy. As the sky darkened, the swallows shooting overhead were replaced by bats, and all around them was silent. They couldn’t even hear a car. It was wonderful.

  ‘Blimey, Jess, this is the life.’

  Jess couldn’t agree more.

  ‘Too true. Mind you, if we carry on eating as well as this, it’ll be Brutus who has to put us on a diet.’

  They both slept like logs that night and Jess was particularly pleased not to be bothered by mosquitoes. Next morning, she was woken by a cold, wet nose prodding her bare arm. She opened her eyes and saw Brutus standing beside the bed, wagging his tail.

  ‘Morning, Brutus. Sleep well?’

  In reply, he stretched luxuriously, producing his trademark half-howl, half-whine.

  ‘Want to go out?’

  Jess slipped on shorts, a T-shirt and flip-flops and led him through to the front door. A glance at the clock told her it was just before eight o’clock and there was no sound from Hope’s bedroom, so she didn’t disturb her. She and the dog stepped out onto the terrace and looked around. Brutus wasted no time in locating an appealing tree, while Jess wandered across the lawn to the wooden door leading to the walled garden. In there, she was initially surprised to see puddles on the paths and to hear running water, although the sky was once again cloudless. Then she found that the water was coming in the form of a fine spray emanating from a network of black hoses laid between the plants. Clearly, this was courtesy of the precious wells beneath the property. Droplets covered the leaves and flowers, and the early morning sunshine sparkled on the petals like jewels. It was refreshing, beautiful and tranquil. Apart from the sound of the water and the buzzing of bees, it was still completely quiet in there – no rumble of traffic, no planes overhead and no voices, not even in the far distance. She took a deep breath, relishing the peaceful atmosphere.

  She felt a warm body touch her legs and glanced down to find Brutus standing beside her, his tail still wagging.

  ‘Want a little walk, Brutus?’

  She tried to remember which door led to the pool and which to the sea. In the end she opted for the left-hand door and pushed it cautiously open, finding herself on a path that wound its way around the side of the villa. As she and Brutus followed it, she saw no signs of life from the villa, but she did notice the silver sports car now parked on the gravel outside the front door. Instinctively, she glanced up at the windows in the roof of the house, but the shutters were all closed, and there was no sign of the car’s enigmatic driver.

  As they passed the side of the villa, it immediately became clear that she had taken the wrong path. Instead of heading for the sea, she found herself in a charming spot, rather lower than the surrounding ground, surrounded by a tall, impenetrable hedge of meticulously-trimmed rosemary. The bushes were covered in a mass of little blue flowers and the scent was almost overpowering. Once again, legions of bees were hard at work. In the middle of this sheltered area was a delightful swimming pool, the water absolutely motionless in the still early morning.

  Or at least it was for a few seconds.

  There was a sudden splash that made Jess jump, and the next thing she saw was a very happy Labrador surfacing after flopping in. He shook the water off his head and looked up at her. It didn’t take much imagination to see a broad smile on his face.

  ‘I’m not sure you’re supposed to be in here, Brutus.’ She had a feeling the other inhabitants of the villa might object to finding dog hair in their pristine pool. ‘I think you’d better come back out again.’

  Brutus clearly had other ideas, and he set off on a tour of the pool, nose just lifted above the water, tail streaming out behind him. Apart from her fear that dogs and pools maybe shouldn’t mix, Jess was sure of one thing. Even though Brutus didn’t appear to display any great interest in walking far at the moment, if he could get into the habit of going for a good swim every day, his weight problem would soon be resolved. She walked across to the shallow end, where four steps led down into the pool, slipped off her shoes and put her feet in the water.

  It wasn’t hot, but it definitely wasn’t cold. Enjoying the sensation of the water on her legs, she vowed to come back for a swim later on. She stood in the shallows and watched Brutus for a few minutes, enjoying the warm morning sun on her shoulders. The thick hedges would offer excellent protection on a windy day and they almost completely hid the pool from sight. Glancing up, she saw that it was only overlooked by three shuttered windows on the upper floor of the villa, but, otherwise, occupants of the pool would be assured of their privacy. For a moment, a rather naughty thought occurred to her. She had never tried skinny-dipping in her life. Maybe this was the place to try. No sooner had the thought come than she dismissed it. She and Hope were here as guests, and it would be wise to behave responsibly.

  After a while, she called Brutus, feeling that the time had come for the two of them to head back to their little house. Obligingly, he swam back towards her, but then encountered a problem. In his current unathletic state, he appeared unable to pull himself out of the water onto the bottom step. Seeing him struggle, Jess tucked her shorts up as high as she could and went down the steps to help. By the time she had tugged him out of the water, she was almost as wet as the Labrador.

  As Brutus finally climbed heavily up the steps and went off to shake himself, Jess glanced down and saw, to her dismay, that her white T-shirt was now soaked. It was plastered tightly to her body and had become almost transparent. Having just climbed out of bed, she was naked underneath. She grabbed the bottom of the T-shirt and started flapping it desperately, trying to dry it at least sufficiently to allow her to make her way back to the house without looking too obscene.

  Then, for some reason, she looked upwards.

  The shutters were now no longer all closed. The shutters either side of one of the windows overlooking the pool were open, as was the window itself. And unmistakably, in the shadows inside the window, his head just visible over the sill, was the driver of the silver sports car – David Dupont. For a second their eyes met and then, as her hands flew up to cover herself, he pulled back and disappeared from view. Jess blushed red, splashed up the steps, turned and fled, her arms firmly crossed in front of her.

  Fortunately she met nobody on her way back to the house and she was able to get safely inside, accompanied by Brutus, without further embarrassment. The embarrassment started the moment she walked in the door.

  ‘Miss Wet T-shirt, I presume.’ Hope was giggling.

  ‘Bloody hell, Hope, you don’t know the half of it. I’ve just inadvertently put on a show for David Dupont, who was peeking out at me from his bedroom window.’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t worry too much. The way you and Brutus smell at the moment, I doubt if he’d be thinking too many lustful thoughts.’ She looked down at the dog, who had rolled onto his back and was scooting himself around on the marble floor tiles, grunting happily, leaving a slippery trail in his wake. ‘I think I’d better dig out the mop again – and an old towel.’

  Jess went through to her bathroom and stripped off her wet clothes. As she stood under the jet of warm water, she found herself analysing her feelings. Yes, there was embarrassment, but there had also been a moment back there when, even in the midst of her discomfort, she ha
d felt a shiver of desire. Although the idea of him peeking at her from the shadows while she walked around as good as topless should have been creepy, it had in fact been stimulating. What on earth was going on inside her head?

  She was still mulling it over when she emerged from her room, dressed in fresh, dry clothes. Hope was quick to reassure her.

  ‘As far as you showing your boobs to David Dupont is concerned, I wouldn’t worry. Don’t forget, we’re in St-Tropez. As far as I remember, this is pretty much the place where topless sunbathing took off. He’s probably lost count of how many naked or half-naked women he’s seen.’

  Jess grimaced. ‘I’ve never sunbathed topless in my life, and I have no intention of starting now, thank you very much.’

  ‘What? Not even if all the other girls on the beach were topless? I wouldn’t mind.’ Hope gave Jess a grin. ‘It’s not as if you or I are built differently from all the others.’

  Jess shook her head uncertainly, still puzzled by the emotions the sight of David had stirred in her. Surely, for somebody as adamant as she was about not wanting to parade her nakedness in public, she should have been mortified. But, although she had been embarrassed, there was no getting away from the fact that she had rather enjoyed the sensation of feeling his eyes upon her. And considering she was so determined to avoid any contact with men – particularly wealthy men – this was unexpected, to say the least.

  Hope, in the meantime, had worked out how to make them each a pretty convincing-looking cappuccino, using the amazing coffee machine in the extremely well-equipped kitchen. Jess took a sip and pronounced it excellent.

  Brutus, having disposed of his breakfast handful of biscuits, came trotting over and sat down beside her, resting his head on her knee. Hope must have found an old towel and dried him, because he was now just a bit damp, rather than wet. He still smelt a bit doggy, but at least he was now clean. Jess rested her hand on his head and scratched his ears as she looked across at Hope.