Authors: Anne Styles
James was amazed at the difference in Sarah that evening. She went willingly into the scene, and, since Cress stayed out of the set, she was totally uninhibited in her actions. This time it was Sarah who was gaily winding James up, and making Lenny sweat even more. 'Beats wearing that costume,' she giggled, pulling straw out of James's hair as they paused for a few minutes. 'Where are we eating tonight. Nick?' she asked. 'I'm starving.' The other three couldn't understand why Nick roared with laughter. 'Honestly, I'm just hungry!' she said wickedly.
'Then you'd better get your act together, James,' Nick told him.
'Talk about screw to order!' James grumbled, rolling Sarah over and making her squeal as her bare back hit the scratchy straw instead of the rug they were lying on.
Nick knew they were working well together, and so confident was he of his hold on Sarah that he found he didn't mind at all this time. He included Lenny and Dave in the invitation to dinner afterwards, and it was a fairly lively evening in a noisy restaurant. Inevitably the conversation turned to their next projects, since they had less than a week to go, and the next job was always foremost in any of their freelance lives.
James was going straight to Pinewood for a month, on a new spy thriller, and then into another costume drama.
'So I'll be able to keep milady in style for a bit - until the Inland Revenue catch up with me!' he commented, smiling at Cress.
She laughed. 'With all your expenses, I think I'll be safer working!' she retorted. 'Even if Tamzin is supposed to be getting married again!' Tamzin had been a drain on James's resources for some time, as Sarah had suspected.
'And I'm going to play a Barbara Bentley heroine!' grinned Sarah. 'Imagine, I get to keep all my clothes on!'
'And one chaste kiss at the end?' joked James. 'I bet Nick chose that script!' Lenny was booked for their Portuguese perfume commercial shoot, as was Ronnie. Nick always tried to use the same people, and rarely worked with new technicians if he could help it. NGA helped in that department, since he could always offer work in between films to his favourite staff. He would be editing and tied up with this film for weeks ahead, but his next project was well on in development too, hence the trip to Monte Carlo to see Seth Waterston.
With weeks ahead of being back with Nick, Sarah was content with life, only the animosity on the set spoiled things for her as the days passed. The other girls' taunts grew worse as the time passed, and she began to dread going to work. Protected in the past by the nature of her work, she was not used to that kind of treatment, and she took it to heart far more than others might have in her situation. James tried to protect her, but if anything he made it worse. Cress was furious, and took Sarah to task over it.
'Stick up for yourself,' she told her firmly. 'Give Helena a taste of her own medicine, or tell Nick.'
'Shut up, Cressida. It's nothing to do with him. Helena is sniping at me over James as much as Nick.'
'Then I will sort out Miss Stafford, never fear!' Cress retorted. 'But if you're too scared of Nick to tell him I'm surprised at you!'
'I'm not scared. I'm just not telling him.' Sarah was determined, and she stuck it out to the bitter end.
Her relief was obvious as Nick drove away from Cambrai, on their way south. Only then did she tell him.
He didn't seem at all surprised.
'It's a very thin line you're treading by sleeping with me,' he told her. 'You'll just have to get used to it, I'm afraid. I can help you, and I will, because I believe you're worth it, but there will always be those who'll hate you for it.' Privately, he knew that Helena would suffer in the cutting room, but he didn't tell Sarah that. He wanted to put the film behind them. They were both exhausted, and desperate for the five days ahead of them with nothing to do except please themselves. He had schemed very hard to get them.
'Have you been to this hotel before?' Sarah asked tentatively as they drove into Beaulieu the next day.
'La Reserve? Not with Diana, if that's what you mean.' He laughed. 'I came once, with my mother after my father died, and I sometimes come on my own after a film, or to work, so you're quite safe from my memories!' Beaulieu was a small, pretty town clustered around its harbour filled with expensive boats, their lines clacking against the metal masts in the breeze. The hotel, long and low above its rocky beach, was beautiful in the afternoon sun, with its flowers, and balconied towers overlooking a sea as blue as the cloudless sky.
She didn't notice how Nick had signed the register until the receptionist called her Madame Grey and she laughed with amusement - and not a little regret - as they followed the porter up to their room. Nick too was amused. 'But I hope the Unicorn are not camped out in the next room!' Sarah told him.
'At these prices!' Nick raised his eyebrows. 'Why do you think I chose this place?' Where the chateau had been crumbly and quaint. La Reserve was elegant and luxurious. Their balcony over- looked the sea, and the marble-floored room was beautifully furnished. Sarah was glad she had bought new clothes recently, even if Nick preferred her without them, she would need them here.
After two weeks together, night and day, they were very comfortable with each other, and to onlookers the attractive couple seemed obviously very much in love - even if they rarely spoke of it between themselves.
There was only one moment of dissent, when Sarah began putting on some emerald earrings Charles had given her in New York when they were dressing to go up to Cap Ferrat to visit Seth Waterston. At the time she had argued furiously with him, but had been obliged in the end to take them for the sake of peace.
'Those are pretty,' Nick commented idly. He was used to her wearing her mother's good jewellery, but this time he picked up one glittering piece and whistled in surprise. 'These aren't your mother's, are they? And they certainly aren't paste!'
'No,' Sarah shrugged and tried to sound casual. 'Charles gave them to me for my birthday.' 'That's not till next month.'
'It was an early present.' She took the earring from him and put it on. She could see he was annoyed and rather wished she had left them in her jewel case.
'You realize Charlie is trying to lure you into his bed?' he snapped. 'Are you sure he didn't try anything in New York?'
'No, he damn well didn't! And I would've said no if he had! Stop being silly, Nick. I'll take them off if they upset you so much.'
'No, leave them,' he relented. 'They do go beautifully with that dress.' He had to admit, reluctantly, that Charles had very good taste, even though he resented it. 'It's important that you look your best for Seth,' he added placatingly.
'Between you and Charles I feel like a dressed up doll!' she complained. 'All you ever want to do is show me off!' Nick seized her by her shoulders and shook her. 'I want you to meet Seth, amongst others, looking as beautiful as you do now.'
'I'm sorry. Nick.' She leant against him. 'I'm used to doing my own thing, I'm not used to all this dressing up and social stuff.' 'Well, you had better get used to it! This is going to be your life from now on.' He kissed her gently. 'I love you, Sarah. I want the best for you.' Sarah felt trapped. Painted and unreal. But her body stirred at his touch, then, and her qualms were put aside.
'I won't let you down, darling, I promise,' she said con-tritely. She finished her hair as Nick tied his bow tie and slipped into his dinner jacket.
'In that dress,' he commented as she stood up, 'I think you'd better be careful how you sit down!' The white silk dress was only held together at the sides with thin lacing. They had bought it that afternoon in Monte Carlo. On anyone else it could have looked tacky; on Sarah's beautiful body it was sensational. Nick was jealously aware of all the men's eyes on her as they had a drink in the bar. It made him want her all the more, and he drove up to Cap Ferrat with his hand on her thigh most of the time, feeling like schoolboy with his first date.
Seth's villa was the grand, electronic-gates type, with security guards prowling the grounds with very fierce dogs. Nick casually announced his identity, with the ease of a frequent visitor, and zoomed through the gates.
Their host seemed delighted to see him, and studied Sarah carefully as he greeted her. 'You're very welcome, honey,' he replied to her greeting. 'Now come and meet everyone.' 'Everyone' included a world-famous Hollywood star and his wife, who lived next door, an archduke and duchess and a Parisian dress-designer with his boy-friend. The designer eyed Sarah's dress and smiled. 'You have very good taste, Mademoiselle. That's from my new range!'
'And you are very clever, Monsieur.' Sarah smiled back at him and, despite his glaring boyfriend, he was hers for the night.
With a casual confidence Nick left her to it, and she charmed them all. It was Charles's New York party all over again - except this time she had Nick to turn to, and his smiling eyes on her when she needed reassurance, where Charles had calmly left her to cope while he talked endless business.
They dined on the terrace overlooking the sea, shaded by the tall cypress trees. The banks of candles flattered the women's faces as music from a string quartet floated over the still, warm summer evening. It was so over the top that Sarah, from the safe haven of her youth, wanted to laugh. But she concentrated on not letting Nick down and on flattering Seth, knowing, as she did so, that the men's eyes were on her body all evening. Nick was putting her on display, she knew, and though she hated it she knew it had to be done if her ambitions were to be realized.
'Come and join us on the yacht tomorrow,' Seth invited as they made their farewells. 'Eleven at the quay in Monte?'
'Love to,' said Nick, his hand flexing in Sarah's, warning her.
'Damn!' he said as he drove back to Beaulieu. 'Last thing I wanted!'
'Hush - remember it's be nice to Seth week,' Sarah laughed. 'I'll wear my new bikini!'
'I want you to myself, not displayed to that randy lot for a second occasion,' he grumbled.
'You have me every night. Make the most of it!' she told him. 'I intend to.' This time she didn't suffer the frustrations she'd had in New York. Nick was with her, loving her, fulfilling every last craving her body had for him.
He lay beside her later, watching her sleep, arms thrown above her head, her hair spread on the pillow a warm gleam in the moonlight, and wondered again what the hell he was doing. Their legs were still entangled after their lovemaking, and he was loath to move, though it made sleep impossible for him. When he touched her, she moved towards him, and he responded just as quickly to her. Even asleep, she was able to rouse him. Her power over him was beginning to frighten him, yet he knew there was little now that would persuade him to give her up.
* * *
Sarah was as good as her word next day, taking with her the new swimsuits she had bought in New York. 'With my own money!' she pointed out firmly to Nick, and delighted Seth and his friends, when they anchored the yacht in a quiet bay, by diving off the side into the sea.
Seth was worried about his potential investment. 'Is she safe?' he asked as Sarah waved to them.
'With the training she's had, I'd trust her with my life in the water,' Nick assured him. 'Come on, Seth, don't let her show you up!' Seth, only ten years older than Nick, was into the Califomian healthy body regime, but even so climbed down the ladder into the water. Nick laughed, and dived after Sarah.
Of the party on board the yacht only the American actor and four pretty girls stayed on the boat. He preferred to keep his toupee dry, and the girls were definitely not swimmers. Sarah found herself playing water polo with a darkly handsome Italian film idol and three executives from Seth's LA office. Vito almost put Nick's looks in the shade, she thought fleetingly, before Vito manhandled her away from the ball with exploring hands. Quite calmly, she ducked him, and left him spluttering with fury. She was a far better swimmer and evaded him with ease after that.
Seth roared with laughter. 'I see what you mean. Nick!' he commented, cheerfully. Luckily, Vito was an old friend of Nick's.
'I need a few minutes on my hair,' Sarah confided to Nick as they went back on board. 'Especially with those girls around. They're so pretty.' Nick looked at the four girls sunbathing on the deck and shrugged dismissively.
'Don't worry about them, they're nothing - dessert, more than likely!' He turned to Seth. 'We'll be a few minutes, Seth,' he called, and led Sarah along the passageway to the cabin they had changed in.
She gave a shriek of amazement as he opened a door in it. 'It's got a real bathroom!' she cried staring at the marble-faced shower and its gold fittings. On Peter's boat there was one basin, and a loo which needed pumping.
'This is a billionaire's pad,' Nick reminded her, pushing her under the shower. 'You should see the main stateroom - it's all mirrors and concealed cameras! I'll get Seth or Miriam to show it to you.' 'Is Miriam his wife?'
'Good God, no! Well, not yet, but she's working on it!' Nick laughed. 'He calls her his secretary. You'll see her at lunch. He divorced his third wife some time ago.' Sarah dried her hair, and Nick made her leave it loose, as she had worn it up the previous evening and when they had arrived. With hardly any make-up, and a vivid sarong tied round her hips, she was a startling contrast to the other girls. Nick was quite aware that the crotch of Vito's shorts was bulging as he stared at her with unconcealed lust.