She must keep calm. There would be a way out. She could manage Claude. She’d always been able to manage Claude. He would have to help her, she would somehow convince him that she had done it for them. He would cover for her. She had come so far, there was no way she was going to throw it all away.
Beatrice passed Nick walking up the road weighted down with a heavy rucksack. Screeching to a halt and giving him the fright of his life she wound down the window. ‘Do you want a lift?’
‘Nothing would induce me to get into a car with you again, Beatrice.’ He grinned at her. ‘But you can take the rucksack.’ He shrugged it off his back.
‘Not another market, Nick?’ She laughed.
‘A tiny one, stumbled on it by chance, just a few stalls mainly selling ducks, so I bought mainly ducks.’
Beatrice laughed again. ‘Are you sure about the lift? You’ve still a fair way to walk.’
‘Very sure, Beatrice.’
‘Your loss,’ she said, opening the door and reaching for the bag.
‘That is exactly what I would be afraid of,’ he chuckled.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
I’d replaced my kimono with a pair of paint-spattered denim dungarees, which always made me feel like a kids’ TV presenter from the early eighties, and espadrilles had taken the place of the wellies. I realised it was an eclectic mix but it was comfortable and practical. I grabbed my bag and my easel and stealing an apple from the kitchen went outside. I was eager to get started again, the early morning hours had been magical and now I wanted to capture the images in a different light.
I had several ideas of what I wanted to paint. The old stone fountain was a must, as was the gypsy caravan, but right now I headed towards the chai which to my mind was one of the most important places. It was the place where the lifeblood of the chateau flowed. I wanted to capture the rows of barrels, the soft wood contrasting with the shine of the huge metal vats.
I was fascinated with a small ante-room that Philippe had shown me. The room where the wine was blended. It was a magical room strewn with test tubes, measuring jugs, bottles and notepads. A room where the alchemy took place, where wines were perfected, a room where science and philosophy combined
I wondered how long Philippe thought I ought to stay. The ticket he had booked me was open-ended, I needed time to do my work properly, but at the same time I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. Nick was going home after the weekend, maybe I should go back with him, that should give me enough time.
My heart sank at the prospect and my eyes unexpectedly filled with tears. What the hell was I going to do back in London? What was going to happen with my life? Here, time seemed suspended, I could almost pretend that everything was alright. I had fallen in love with the area, the countryside, the chateau and all its inhabitants. I never wanted to leave. I couldn’t bear the thought of going home. I wasn’t even sure if I knew where home was anymore. Certainly not the flat in London.
Shaking myself, I made my way to the chai. Henri was there. He looked up and smiled.
‘Where is old Ginger?’ I asked. I had never seen him without the cat and I was suddenly worried.
‘He is sleeping,’ he said gently. ‘He is very tired, it won’t be long before he leaves us.’
‘Henri, I am so sorry.’
‘He has had a good life, cheri, it’s time to let him go.’
‘Do you mind if I sit and paint?’ I asked him, heading towards the huge leather armchair that Philippe had told me had been brought in for his father when he was ill. It was shabby and worn and extremely comfortable.
We sat in companionable silence. I worked quickly, trying to capture the intense concentration on Henri’s face, the way he gazed into the distance, lost in thought, and the way he drummed his fingers on the table. He had an expressive face, a face that had spent most of its time outdoors, a kind face with eyes the colour of the sky outside. He was as passionate about the wine as Philippe and Luc and again I thought how heartbreaking it was that someone was betraying them.
‘Do you think Celine is behind the wine scam?’ I asked, voicing my thoughts.
‘Well it’s not me or Luc,’ he replied.
‘That’s what Beatrice said.’ I hesitated. ‘I get the impression that she is not that fond of Celine.’
‘She isn’t, she warned us about her from the start.’ He sighed. ‘We should have listened.’
‘I just don’t understand why she would do this.’ I was really puzzled. ‘I mean, why does she want to steal from her family? What has prompted her to be so vindictive?’
‘Celine is not a happy lady, Sky.’ Henri got up and walked towards the window. ‘Life has not given her what she wanted and she wants retribution.’
‘From where I’m sitting she has everything.’ I certainly couldn’t summon much sympathy for Celine. ‘She has a gorgeous daughter, a husband who dotes on her, a huge house, a fantastic family. She has a life most people would envy.’
‘Sometimes other people’s lives are not what they seem, Sky.’
‘Yes, you’re right, I guess I should know that,’ I said with feeling and Henri smiled in sympathy.
I put my sketch pad down on my lap and lay back in the chair. The sun was streaming through the window, creating rainbows on the glass bottles. I could hear the birdsong outside. It was hot and very still. My eyes felt heavy and tucking my knees under me I began to doze off.
Then Henri began to sing. His voice was soft and pure. He filled the chai and my heart with his music. The notes seemed to hang in the air like living things. I felt a sense of peace and tranquility such as I had never ever felt before. Henri was weaving a magical web and like a fly I was caught in the middle, but unlike the fly I never wanted to leave.
Sometime later I opened my eyes. Henri was nowhere to be seen. I felt happy and content, as if a spell had been cast over me. I didn’t want to break the magic. I wanted to stay in this chair for ever. I closed my eyes once again, desperately trying to will myself back to sleep.
‘You look as if you and that chair are one.’
I opened my eyes at Philippe’s voice. He was leaning against the doorway grinning at me.
‘I feel as if I have melted into the fabric, we have swapped atoms, I am now half leather chair.’ I smiled back. ‘I must have dozed off, what time is it?’
‘Coming up to midday.’
‘What?’ I sat bolt upright. ‘It can’t be, that means I’ve slept for nearly two hours.’ I was shocked and a little embarrassed to be caught sleeping on the job, so to speak.
‘Henri didn’t want to wake you.’
‘It was his fault, he sang to me, he put me in a trance, the most beautiful trance.’
‘Ah, yes, that tends to happen.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ I flexed my feet, I’d expected to feel stiff but my limbs felt weightless.
‘Sky, what are you apologising for?’ Philippe looked perplexed. ‘You obviously needed it.’
‘I should have been working,’ I mumbled.
‘You got up at dawn to work, Sky.’ Philippe laughed. ‘You don’t have to work around the clock.’ He stooped to pick up my sketch pad which had fallen to the floor. ‘May I?’ he asked, starting to open it. I nodded my assent. He turned the pages slowly and I held my breath. ‘These are exquisite, Sky, truly exquisite.’ He looked at me with admiration, I felt a warmth flow through my veins and a large smile spread across my face.
‘They’re just preliminary drawings.’ I paused. ‘Actually, though, sometimes they are the best, I often prefer the lightning sketches to the full-blown paintings.’
‘Well, do nothing more to this one of Henri, you have captured him quite perfectly.’
‘Thank you, Philippe,’ I said softly.
‘No need to thank me, it should be the other way around.’
‘No, I mean thank you for inviting me here, for giving me this chance, for allowing me to experience the beauty.’ I paused. ‘I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me.’
It must have sounded a bit over the top but I meant every word. I felt so alive here, and despite everything that was going on I felt so happy.
‘It’s a pleasure to have you here, Sky.’ It sounded formal but I could see that he was genuine and I glowed.
We looked at each other for a few seconds before Philippe broke the silence.
‘We are all going out for lunch, Nick and several ducks have taken over the kitchen.’ He laughed. ‘Rosa has thrown in the towel so I’ve booked a table at the little auberge around the corner.’
‘Well, maybe I should get on with some more…’ But he interrupted me.
‘Don’t be silly, Sky, you need to eat. You’ll love the auberge, everyone does, run by three generations of the same family, four if you include the latest arrival.’
‘Sounds perfect.’ I got up and stretched, I was aware of him watching me. ‘I need to get changed.’
‘You look fine to me,’ he said briefly before adding. ‘Some are going in the car, it’s about a fifteen-minute walk.’ He hesitated. ‘Would you like to walk with me?’
I nodded, suddenly feeling absurdly nervous.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Gail was standing at arrivals in Stansted Airport with Sonny by her side. She had arrived far too early and during the long wait had become increasingly nervous. She spotted the tall figure of Tariq walking into the arrivals hall but she stood rooted to the spot, overcome with apprehension. Sonny had no such inhibitions and flew across the airport and into his arms. Tariq hugged him tight, his eyes searching for Gail who seemed completely unable to move. He walked slowly towards her. Her heart began to pound and her breathing was ragged. She felt tongue-tied and tense. She managed a tight smile and stumbled awkwardly into his embrace.
‘The car is miles away, I’m afraid, which is a bind especially as my ankle still hurts, the parking is ridiculous here, it used to be much better but then they changed it and now it’s a complete mess.’ She knew she was speaking too fast and talking nonsense. Why would he care about the parking for heaven’s sake? She was making an idiot of herself.
Tariq smiled gently at her.
Sonny talked non-stop on the way home and Gail was relieved that she had made the decision to take him out of school for the morning. Without his constant chatter it would have been a rather uneasy journey home.
‘I don’t know if you remember the house?’ Gail said as they parked in the driveway. ‘I mean it’s not changed or anything, obviously it’s nothing compared to your wonderful home of course.’ She was babbling again but seemed powerless to stop herself.
Tariq covered her hand with his. ‘Gail, relax,’ he said softly.
And as she gazed into his warm eyes she felt her anxiety subside. She smiled back at him and he leant forward to give her a gentle kiss.
Sonny was already out of the car and at the front door. He was impatient to show his new father everything. He was overflowing with happiness.
Never having had a father he’d never missed one. His mother had been his whole world and he adored her but now his whole word had suddenly exploded and expanded. Without really understanding why he felt instinctively that things would never be the same again. He had loved Morocco, there had been nothing there that he hadn’t liked and he hadn’t wanted to come home.
Grabbing Tariq’s hand he led him into the house. ‘We not got animals like you, we only got a fish.’ He felt slightly worried about the lack of animals but to his relief Tariq smiled.
‘What do you call it?’ he asked.
‘We just call him Fish.’ Sonny shrugged apologetically.
‘Good a name as any.’ Tariq dumped his bag onto the floor. ‘Now then, I’m sure there were a few presents in here for you.’
Sonny squealed with excitement as Tariq pulled five leather camels of varying sizes from his bag.
‘These are from Pappy Amir and this is from your Aunt Jasmina.’ He handed Sonny a photo album. ‘Photographs of just about every animal in Marrakech we could find.’ Sonny’s eyes were round as saucers and his face when he turned to his mother made her want to cry.
‘And this is for you.’ Tariq handed Gail a stunning silk pashmina.
‘Oh my God, it’s exquisite.’ Gail wrapped the luxuriant material around her shoulders, marvelling at the softness and quality.
‘It suits you,’ Tariq said. ‘Jasmina said they were your colours and she was right.’ He stood back to admire the amber and russet tones that complimented her hair and complexion.
‘This is way too generous of them.’ Gail was overawed.
Tariq smiled to himself, thinking of what else his bag held, but that was for much later on. In the meantime there was one other thing. ‘I’ve not finished yet, there is one more surprise for you both.’
Sonny immediately turned from his camels. He couldn’t think what else could possibly be better than what he already had but he was all ears. Gail turned to look at him and Tariq paused for dramatic effect before speaking.
‘How do you fancy going to France?’ He looked at them both and they both stared back.
‘France?’ Gail was astounded.
‘France.’ Tariq nodded. ‘To be more specific, south-west France.’
‘Do you mean to Philippe’s?’
‘I most certainly do.’ He grinned at them. ‘Beatrice rang me the other day. As you know, Sky and Nick are already there.’
Gail gasped. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Just for three nights, I thought it would be fun.’
‘Are we going to France?’ Sonny wasn’t sure he had got this right.
‘If Mummy says yes.’ Tariq looked questioningly at Gail. ‘Well, do you say yes?’
She stood open-mouthed for a moment before flinging her arms around him. ‘Of course I say yes.’
The day was hectic. Sonny wanted to show Tariq everything, his favourite walk, the go-cart track, his football club, his judo club, the park with the enormous climbing frame and of course his school, although much to his amusement Gail made him duck down in the car as they drove slowly past it.
‘You are supposed to be ill in bed, Sonny.’ She laughed sheepishly.
‘This is the cinema we go to and then we have pizza.’ He tugged at Tariq’s arm. ‘You can draw on the tablecloths. They have crayons.’ He turned eagerly to his mother. ‘Can we go, Mummy? Can we go for lunch?’
‘Well, I bought some lovely food to have at home, sweetheart.’ She turned to Tariq. ‘Or we can go to a nice pub?’
‘Pizza sounds fine to me.’ He squeezed Sonny’s hand.
‘He’s finally asleep.’ Tariq laughed as he walked into the kitchen later that evening. ‘He wanted to know the names of all the animals in the photographs and he’s arranged the leather camels in a line on his table so they’re the first thing he sees in the morning.’ He grinned. ‘He’s something else, isn’t he, Gail?’
‘He certainly is,’ she agreed.
‘You’ve done a wonderful job. It can’t have been easy.’
‘We’ve had our moments.’
‘Thank you, Gail.’ He looked at her. ‘Thank you for giving our son such a good start in life.’
She blushed but before she could say anything more he continued. ‘I mean it, I think you are extraordinary, I’ve no idea how you’ve found the time for so many activities, he’s such a happy boy and it is all credit to you.’
‘Be warned,’ she laughed, ‘he’s not all sweetness and light. He can be a little monster, he has a strong stubborn streak.’
‘That must come from your side of the family,’ Tariq joked, knowing full well where it came from.
‘I only wish I’d done as well with Dawn.’ Gail hesitated. ‘Tariq, I’m so sorry, I know I’ve said it before but I cannot believe what she did. I simply don’t understand how she could be so heartless.’
‘It’s not your fault, Gail,’ he replied firmly. ‘You’ve maybe spoilt her, overcompensated for her not having a mother, but you haven’t got a bad bone in your bo
dy, you are full of warmth and tenderness. Dawn certainly doesn’t take after you.’
Gail didn’t really trust herself to speak. Her eyes were misty and tears threatened.
Tariq gazed at her for a moment before walking over to the fridge to take out the bottle of champagne he’d put in earlier. Gail noted with surprise that his hands were shaking. Silently she handed him the glasses and with what seemed like unnecessary deliberation he opened the bottle and began to pour.
The atmosphere had suddenly changed and she could feel the electricity in the room. Her mouth was dry and her legs started to tremble. Abruptly she sat down. He handed her a glass.
‘Gail…’ he began, but his voice was no more than a hoarse whisper. Clearing his throat he took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. He started again. ‘Gail, this ring belonged to my mother.’ He held it out to her. ‘I would be very honoured if you now felt able to wear it.’
She stared at him, not entirely sure she understood what he was saying. There was a long pause.
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