by Martha Long
I laughed even louder, then saw the musicians were smiling and suddenly the girls gave an almighty cackle as Lulu-Belle started to cry. They were trying to get her to do something but she sat looking frazzled, pulling shreds out of a hankie. They were slapping their heads with their hands, making it look like they thought everyone was crazy. Then I looked back at Jacques and suddenly it felt like a dose of cold water was poured over me.
‘A golf ball!’ I said quietly, seeing him still staring, looking tired and pitiful, like all the life was gone out of him and now he just didn’t want to move or even know what to do next. ‘Jacques, I am sorry,’ I said, putting out my hand to land it on his arm, not knowing if I should do that. France is very different. People keep their distance.
He put his hand on my shoulder, saying, ‘Thank you, I understand. I believe also she was making a nuisance with my good friend Ralph. This was not good. The woman is impossible! But then it was, dare I say . . .’ he said, then hesitated, ‘a ménage à trois?’ he said softly, leaning into me and grinning.
I slowly grinned, seeing the look of pleasure that mischief gave him. ‘Non, non, Jacques. Perhaps, but not quite. Ralph can take care of himself. But it was personal, between Soviah and I. Forgive me, please, but I did not like the woman. She showed me nothing but contempt. She behaved as if I did not exist. She was very insulting, dismissive, churlish. I saw no trace of a well-bred woman. Then she took a step too far when she called me a peasant. I showed her what happens when she insults a peasant. But she is lucky I gave her a controlled measure. I did that only for Ralph. Anything more would have hurt him, made difficulties for him. You know, Jacques? When Soviah looks at you, stares into your eyes, she is looking for her own reflection. But if she had looked more deeply into my mine, she would have seen not just a peasant, oh no!’ I said, shaking my head slowly. ‘She would have known very quickly her aristocratic breeding did not prepare her for someone of my calibre. My breeding prepared me to be a warrior! That lady was punching well above her weight, she was out of her depth. With all due respect, Jacques, the blood of a royal house ran very thin when it produced Soviah. She is a poor imitation of what makes a woman. Not like yourself,’ I laughed, ‘rambling in here with that thing plastered to your eye.’
‘Pouff! Mon Dieu! It caused a stir but it amused you, so better than nothing!’ he grinned, holding out his hands and shrugging as he dropped his neck, lifting his mouth. Then he flicked his eyebrow, letting me see a twinkle sit in his one eye. I watched, seeing his smile slowly fade as he got serious and started to stare at me.
I saw him look very calculating at me, like he was thinking, searching for a hidden truth, figuring out I was not all I seemed. Then his eye lit up, deciding his discovery was not a bad thing. A smile slowly appeared like he was amused. Then he sighed in a slow deep breath. ‘Martha, it is my fortunate pleasure to know you. Ralph is a most lucky man,’ he said softly, taking my hand and kissing it.
‘Thank you, Jacques,’ I smiled, feeling my heart gladden at his kindness. He had just gotten a glimpse of the real me. ‘I am sorry for my behaviour. It was very insensitive to have laughed like that. But my intention was not to mock you. Perhaps I had too much of your delicious liqueur! It shut down my brain.’
‘No, no, think nothing of this. Of course it is most entertaining, but I hope my other guests will take this evening’s unplanned little Italian operetta just as lightly,’ he said, moving in closer, whispering as he looked around with the one good eye. ‘But you see, it was not quite so dramatic as I have painted. No, Soviah did not succeed in depriving me of my treasured eye,’ he said, resting his hand in the air over it. ‘Yes, she did fire the golf ball, determined to knock me senseless. But I deflected its progress and in doing so I punched my fist straight into my own eye, bumph!’ he said, making a fist and gently bringing it towards himself. ‘So, you see, I gave myself the black eye. This ice pack is a good remedy! It will prevent swelling, so I should be looking at two perfect eyes soon,’ he grinned, watching me give another big laugh.
Then he looked up as Heinrich came over saying something, then a few more men who were standing chatting moved in as well. Suddenly the women got restless, waiting for someone to tell them what happened, and they shot up, making over for the men, demanding to know all the gory details. They needed to know if Soviah was dead or alive. They wanted gossip, shocking and all as it was.
I looked around, seeing Lulu-Belle was still in the middle of a fight with the dancers. They wanted her to get moving, sort things out. I could see by the way they were trying to haul her to her feet, pulling and dragging, pointing and prodding her at Jacques. But she was having none of it. She cried even more, wringing the hankie and stabbing them back with her elbow. They waved their arms, puffing and blowing at each other, but it was no good. There was going to be no shifting her. She knew the game was up with Soviah back in the nest and most certainly on the warpath. It was breaking her heart. I could see she was thinking this may be the end now of her and Jacques.
I wandered over to the musicians, who were now getting very relaxed. They were sitting and smoking, drinking and laughing, talking to the waiter. He was having a party, taking a sly sip of the booze while filling in the details for the men, giving them a blow-by-blow account of the goings on of the aristocracy. I watched him talking rapidly, throwing himself backwards and waving the arms, then punching the air with his fists, watching an imaginary someone trying to land a blow. Then lifting his face to give little screams, with the musicians watching and listening with their mouths hanging open, then letting rip with the laughing coming out of them.
Oh, the waiter would be the one to know what went on upstairs, I thought, thinking it’s a pity I can’t understand a bleedin word. Then I had an idea and I made my way over to them. They all looked up as I moved in, interrupting the middle of the story.
‘Bonjour, messieurs! Eh! Play!’ I said, making a picture with my hands of moving the accordion, then pointing at the musical instruments. ‘Non, je ne regrette rien?’
‘Ahh! Oui, oui!’ they said, looking delighted as they whipped up their instruments and started playing. Suddenly the dancing girls started to sing, hearing the song of their dead national hero, the great Edith Piaf, being blasted out by the musicians.
I stood watching them, seeing how gorgeous-looking they were, and listening to their voices all singing together. It carried around the big room, with the high ceiling sending it to thunder down and crash against the walls. Suddenly we were all sitting and listening. My heart lifted and soared with the power of it. I could feel my guts wrenching with the exquisite tenderness it tore up from me as I listened to the song of a woman who is letting us know in no uncertain terms she has lived and pained, loved and lost, fought and cried, and, NO! She has no regrets! She is Edith Piaf. She is Paris!
Then suddenly the voices of the girls died away as the music stopped. There was a pause while we all listened to the silence, then everyone erupted, shouting and applauding. Shouts of ‘Bravo! Encore!’ The girls were delighted and beamed, holding their skirts and giving a little bow.
I was feeling a lot better now. The mood had been lifted and everyone was shouting more in relief than anything else. It had been funny but yet there was a lot of tragedy behind it all. Two people living miserable lives, with each dependent on the other to try and make the pain ease if nothing else. But I knew it would be a while yet before these two managed to get out from under each other. She won’t let go until she has another man lined up. But it is not going to be my Ralph! Over my dead bleedin body, she will! I will see her in hell first!
25
I looked over, seeing Ralph talking to Jacques. They were both laughing yet there was a hidden pain and worry behind Jacques’ laughter. He didn’t want to lose any more face than he already lost, having given his impromptu party of wine, women and song and inviting the bloody mistress. If Soviah wasn’t getting any, then neither was he.
Jaysus! What a tangle we can get our
selves into, and all in the name of love, money, greed, sex and power. So much for the upper classes. It seems their money gets in the way of their happiness. It blocks them from experiencing the simple pleasures of life that only poorer people get when they are content with what they’ve got. Oh, well, I sighed, that’s the pain of being human.
I made my way over to Ralph, thinking I barely clapped eyes on him this evening, never mind got even two words with him. My heart warmed just seeing the sight of him. I crept up slowly then materialised beside him while he was lost in conversation with Jacques. Then his head whipped to me and suddenly his face lit up in a lovely smile, showing his dimples and flashing the snow-white even teeth.
‘Well, hello!’ he said softly, putting out his arm to pull me into him.
I sighed as I leaned against him, feeling a great rush of pleasure and joy filling me up. I had still not gotten used to the idea I had a man in my life, and he loved me, and I loved him.
‘You must keep tight hold of this lady,’ Jacques grinned, putting his hand on my shoulder. ‘She is a wonderful find! Where did you get her, Ralph?’
I stared at him, reading something into what he was asking. He was curious to know who I was, where and what I really come from.
‘That’s a very loaded question, Jacques,’ I said quickly, not wanting Ralph to give any answer. It would just fuel Jacques’ curiosity even more. Then I said, letting him know we were on the same wavelength, ‘You are a very astute man, Jacques, for a heart surgeon! You keep your eyes wide open,’ I said, grinning.
I could see Ralph’s eyebrow raising. He was wondering what the hell we were on about. But Jacques said, ‘Yes, Martha, it takes a clever lady to see this. I think you are a very clever lady, and also quite an astute one!’
Ralph laughed, saying, ‘Goodness, have I been missing something? I am amazed, Jacques, I should have thought your hands were quite full enough with one lady!’
‘Two!’ I muttered, throwing me eye over at Lulu-Belle, still crying her eyes out huddled in the corner.
‘But you have had time to entertain my one also! You had better watch out, old boy, this one is mine!’ he laughed, pulling me towards him in a tight hug.
‘Nonsense! You are a confirmed celibate, a bachelor! You would not know what to do with this lady! We French, we are the masters of love!’ Jacques said, laughing and deliberately drawing Ralph out with veiled insults.
‘Bah! Your women come looking to me for succour!’ Ralph said, throwing back his head, getting annoyed.
‘Nonsense!’ shouted Jacques. ‘The women, they crowd me! It is no wonder I lose control of the odd one!’
Then we all started roaring laughing, with Ralph saying, ‘Well, Jacques, be prepared to die! Because I shall fight you in a duel to the death! This one is mine!’
Then Jacques took my hand, kissing it, saying, ‘I bid you goodnight, but if he breaks your heart, come to me. I shall fix it. I am a heart surgeon. I shall be at your service, Martha!’ he said, twigging his eyebrow at Ralph.
‘Bonne nuit, you rogue!’ Ralph said, then took my arm, heading for the door so we could make our way home.
I made my way down the stairs, seeing Ralph walk in through the front door then hang up his coat. ‘Good morning! Did you sleep well?’ I said, rushing down to throw myself into his arms, feeling delighted at seeing him.
He caught me in a hug and swung me around. ‘My, you are full of the joys this morning, my love. It is so good to see you,’ he said, kissing me long and hard, letting me feel the heat of his mouth tasting juicy and deliciously him.
‘How did you sleep, Ralph? The pair of us were squarely banjacksed after that party last night.’
‘Yes, absolutely, that is a good way to describe it, darling. I most certainly indeed was fairly tired. But I am fine now, quite rested. I slept very well. Have you eaten breakfast?’
‘No, I am just out of the bed. I slept the sleep of the dead, Ralph.’
‘Good, we shall breakfast together,’ he said, heading us down to the kitchen.
I could smell the delicious fry and hot bread as we walked in. ‘Yum! Lovely,’ I said, sitting myself down, feeling starving after last night. The amount of grub I polished off had opened up my belly, making me get hungry faster. Mind you, they give you tiny portions, only about a spoonful. No wonder I had to keep asking for more, I thought, feasting my eyes down on the hot plate of cheese and mushroom omelette Madame put in front of me.
‘Oh, that was scrumptious,’ I said, finally lifting my head after polishing off half of the table.
‘Have you eaten enough?’ Ralph said, looking at my empty plate and grinning at me.
‘Yes, thank you. Merci, Madame!’ I said, turning to see her nod at me, looking very pleased all her efforts are not in vain. I eat everything she puts in front of me, then go back for more.
‘You have put on some weight, darling. You have filled out quite nicely, and in all the right places,’ he said, suddenly moving his hands gently up and down my waist, feeling my shape growing. ‘But I am surprised you have not gained more. You must have a very vibrant metabolism. It is certainly effective in keeping you looking trim,’ he said, letting his eyes rest on my body, taking in my lovely newly acquired curves. ‘Yes, you are looking very well,’ he said, bending over and giving me a kiss on the lips. ‘Now, do you have plans for today? What would you like to do? I suggest we take a walk together, perhaps in an hour or two. When you are prepared. What do you think?’
‘Oh, lovely. I would really like that, Ralph. We have never done that together.’
‘Good, I shall see you later,’ he said, standing up and taking his morning paper with him as he headed off to his study.
‘Oh, we are back!’ I gasped, catching sight of the entrance gate as I dragged my feet, getting pulled along by Ralph.
‘Thank heavens,’ he sighed. ‘I have almost carried you the last three miles.’
‘What? You’re lucky you got me that far, Ralph Fitzgerald! When you said “a walk”, I didn’t know you meant a marathon,’ I snorted.
‘Oh, darling, it is good for you to stretch yourself!’ he said, raising the eyebrow at me and grinning.
‘How far did we walk? Was it sixty miles?’
‘Oh, Martha, you do exaggerate. Perhaps half of that.’
‘No, it was not. We have been gone for at least eight hours,’ I snorted, seeing the evening drawing away as the night closed in.
‘To be precise, we have been away for . . . seven hours,’ he said, looking at his watch. ‘Not bad, good guess actually. You do have a sense of time,’ he said, grinning at me.
‘Well, I’m starved, my feet will never walk again, me arse is creaking and my belly is starting to eat itself alive from the hunger,’ I huffed, trying to keep my breath.
‘Darling, we have eaten something. You had two pastries and looked like you were settling in to demolish more! Only I felt we should keep moving. We still had quite a distance to cover,’ he said, trying to make it all sound so reasonable.
‘Well, if there had been a bloody taxi to hail, I would have leapt in, high tailed it back here, Flash Gordon, and left you to get on with your little walk!’ I snorted.
‘No! WHAT?! You would have abandoned me! Miles from the nearest civilisation! Left me to find my own way home! Is that what you are saying?’
‘Yes, of course!’ I said, looking astonished he would even question that fact.
He took in a sharp breath, saying, ‘I think that deserves a golly good punishing! Be prepared this night, my lovely, I intend taking you to task.’
‘Ohh, looka poor little me, I’m quakin in me skin!’ I said, rattling me head and shaking my hands.
‘You will be!’ he laughed. ‘Just you wait, my little cherub!’
‘Shall we take the back door?’ Ralph said, grinning at me as we neared the front door.
‘NO! Use your key. I’m collapsed here, you’re just trying to torment me, Ralph Fitzgerald! I’m about to lose the rag,�
� I warned, hanging on to the doorknob.
He put the key in the lock without saying another word, pushing the door wide open. Then suddenly he swooped and lifted me into his arms. ‘Come along then, you poor invalid,’ he said, kicking out his foot and slamming the door shut with a bang. Then the kitchen door whipped open and Madame put her head out the door, then brought the rest of her as she stopped dead, taking in the pair of us. Her hand went to her chest as she started talking rapidly, sounding worried.
With that, Ralph dumped me on the floor, waving at me and snorting at her. She listened, then looked at me, laughing. Then she disappeared back into the kitchen.
‘What did you tell her?’ I said, looking at him suspiciously.
‘Oh, I simply told her you were a lazy hound, and if we were to eat this night, then I must resort to bloody carrying you!’ he said, giving me a slap on the arse, then hanging up his coat.
‘I intend taking severe measures against you before this very night is out,’ I warned, then headed me way for the stairs, thinking, I might have permanent damage, my body has seized up! Bleedin English public schools and their obsession with sport and exercise! That’s where he gets all this carry-on from! I like walking in the countryside, but only at my leisure. That was like a preparation for the army. Come to think about it, they did all that sort of army training at his school, he told me. Naturally he was the commander, or whatever he called it. He would have been! He’s very bleedin bossy!
‘Darling, dinner will be served in one hour,’ he said softly, coming up behind me and pulling me up the stairs.
