David laughed
,
embarrassed, and Sandrine blushed prettily.
In fact, David was delighted with the way Sandrine had fitted in with his crowd. He wished Ellie was as compatible with them. He sighed, wishing that his fiancée would take a leaf out of her sister
’
s book.
When David dropped her off at her apartment, Sandrine leaned over and gave him a kiss. He held her for a minute.
“
I
’
ve had the best night of my life,
”
she told him, her eyes glowing.
“
I can
’
t ever thank you enough.
”
“
I
’
m the one who should be thanking you
,”
he said, sli
ghtly embarrassed.
“
You were brilliant and all my friends loved you. And I really enjoyed your company too
.”
Driving home, he thought that what he
’
d said was true. Sandrine was very good company. He really had been more relaxed tonight, knowing that she was happy to be there among his friends. With Ellie, he was always on edge knowing that she wasn
’
t enjoying herself. Maybe Daniel was right. Maybe he had chosen the wrong sister. Sandrine would certainly make a more suitable wife and he felt a strong connection with her. Oh God, too late to do anything about it now!
Sandrine was unable to sleep. She hadn
’
t been able to resist sending Ellie a text when she
’
d come in
:
You missed a simply fabulous night. Really great! S. She was on a high and flushed with success. She felt like she
’
d belonged there by David
’
s side. He was so wonderful. And as for his friends – it was obvious they
’
d all liked her. More than a few of them had said they thought she
’
d be much more suitable for David than Ellie was – and she agreed with them.
“
I don
’
t think she likes David
’
s friends very much,
”
one girl had commented
.
“
I can
’
t imagine why not?
”
Sandrine replied demurely.
“
I think they
’
re wonderful.
”
“
Men are bowled over by that innocent blue-eyed look
,”
another girl – whose husband was constantly remarking h
ow pretty Ellie was – sniffed.
“
They don
’
t look further than looks in a woman which is not exactly the perfect recipe for a happy marriage.
”
She sounded bitter but Sandrine agreed with her. It was so unfair that Ellie would have this wonderful life when she didn
’
t even appreciate it. Life was cruel!
The following morning Sandrine rang David to thank him for the wonderful evening.
“
Yes, it was splendid,
”
he agreed,
“
and my friends really took to you.
”
“
I took to them too. They
’
re so nice and such good company.
”
“
I wish Ellie felt that way about them,
”
he remarked bitterly.
Before he could stop himself, he found himself saying;
“
Listen, we
’
re all meeting in Kitty
’
s for brunch. Hair of the dog, don
’
t you know!
”
He laughed and so did she
. “
Why don
’
t you come too?
”
“
Oh, David, I
’
d love that. Are you sure?
”
“
Of course. My friends will be delighted to see you again. I
’
ll pick you up at twelve. Okay?
”
“
Perfect,
”
she said.
“
I
’
ll be ready.
”
Gleefully, she ran to her wardrobe to choose a dress that she thought David would like.
“
Yesssss!
”
she cried, as she pumped the air.
She had a wonderful time yet again
and the brunch went on late into the afternoon. Sandrine had never been happier and for the first time in her life felt like she belonged. She was reluctant to end the afternoon and
,
when David suggested that she go with him to see the house in Sandymount, she jumped at the chance. He
’
d just received the keys the day before and was excited to show it to her.
“
Oh, it
’
s gorgeous, just gorgeous,
”
she exclaimed, loving the cool chic neutral colours.
“
I can
’
t imagine Ellie living here though. She hates neutral colours. She
’
ll want red and yellow walls, I
’
m sure.
”
David grimaced.
“
I know, that
’
s what she said when she saw it for the first time, I
’
m afraid.
”
“
No, David, you can
’
t allow her to do that. It
’
s so classy and it will just end up tacky, if I know Ellie.
”
“
Mmmm
. . .”
David said thoughtfully.
“
Ellie and I are not really well suited, are we?
”
“
I
’
m afraid not. I think you deserve someone very special,
”
she said softly, placing her hands on his arms
.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world for him
to reach down and kiss her. Sandrine responded passionate
ly and then, realising with a shock what he was doing, he pulled away
.
“
I
’
m so sorry, Sandrine, that was unforgiveable,
”
he said
,
embarrassed.
“
No, it
’
s what I wanted too, David
,”
she whispered, looking up at him
. “
I
’
ve wanted it for a very long time.
”
“
Oh, Sandrine
!”
he cried, anguished
. “
What can we do?
”
“
Don
’
t worry. We
’
ll work it out,
”
she replied, moving back into his arms. She was jubilant as he kissed her once again.
71
Sam arrived at Ellie
’
s hotel just after noon on Sunday. Ellie and Marie-Noelle greeted him warmly. He had hired a car and drove them to Josette
’
s house which was just outside the city. To their surprise she had gathered all the relations together and there were about thirty various cousins waiting to welcome Marie-Noelle and her daughter into the family fold. Sam got a warm welcome also.
It was a beautiful sunny day and the tables were set out in the garden, under the pergola of overhanging vines. Ellie felt so at home and was delighted to see her mother so happy. She was enjoying herself enormously with all these new cousins and Sam had all the females from five to ninety eating out of his hand. He was so easy
-
going and charming and of course his sultry good looks didn
’
t hurt either.
Marie-Noelle watched him as he chatted to her ninety-year-old grandaunt who was actually flirting with him. He was extremely good-looking but seemed to be totally unaware of it. He had a way of looking at you intently with his laughing eyes that women of all ages found irresistible. When he was speaking to you he made you
feel like you were the only person in the world. What woman didn
’
t
love that? Marie-Noelle thought, smiling.
“
He
’
s really got a way with women, hasn
’
t he?
”
she remarked to Ellie who had come and plonked down beside her.
“
Yeah, he
’
s a dote but he gets on really well with men too. He
’
s great fun.
”
Ellie looked over to where Sam was laughing at something her great-grandaunt had said. He caught her eye and winked at her.
Marie-Noelle caught the glance between them. She noticed too that Ellie was positively glowing. She had never seen her daughter as happy as she
’
d been today. She wondered if it was Sam that was the cause of it.
There was obviously a lot of affection between them.
Later a couple of relatives brought out a guitar and an accordion and started playing and all the young ones got up to dance. Ellie
’
s granduncle pulled her up and as she tried to waltz with him Marie-Noelle saw Sam
’
s eyes following her daughter.
“
You
’
re very fond of her, aren
’
t you?
”
she asked him as he came to sit beside her
.
“
Yes, she
’
s terrific. I love her joie de vivre. It
’
s infectious.
”
“
She
’
s always been like that, ever since she was a little girl. I do hope she
’
ll be happy with David
.”
A frown creased her forehead.
“
Do you not think she will be?
”
he asked
,
alarmed.
“
I don
’
t know.
Lately
I
’
ve been thinking that perhaps Da
vid is not the right man for Ellie.
”
She blushed, surprised that she
’
d voiced her fears to Sam, whom she
barely knew
.
“
Funny you should say that. Sylvia who works in the office with Ellie has said the same thing to me.
”
Marie-Noelle looked at him, eyebrows raised.
“
Really? God
,
I hope we
’
re both wrong or
,
at least
,
if we
’
re not
,
that Ellie discovers it in time.
”
Sam patted her hand.
“
Don
’
t worry! I
’
ll have a chat with her if you like.
”
“
Would you
,
Sam? I don
’
t want to be seen to be interfering. Ellie can be very stubborn, you know.
”
“
Who are you telling!
”
They both laughed aloud.
It had been a fabulous day and they finally took their leave at ten o
’
clock that evening.
“
Some lunch!
”
Ellie laughed exhilarated.
“
That
’
s lunch French-style,
”
Sam assured her.
Sam and Ellie left early the next morning to drive to the Haut Medoc where they would meet with his producers. Marie-Noelle waved them off, looking forward to pampering herself in the hotel spa for the next few hours
.
Ellie was fascinated with what she saw in the wineries they visited and bowled over by the passion for their wines that each producer displayed. They in turn – true Gallic gentlemen – were charmed by the pretty young Irish girl who spoke fluent French and who was so very interested in everything. One after another she had them eating out of her hand.