The Sweetness of Liberty James (55 page)

Liberty took his arm. ‘You have only been at the helm for a few weeks. He had it for years. He also took it over at a time when he was engulfed in inheritance tax, the land was haemorrhaging money and the Labour government was doing its best to destroy the upper classes. He had nothing to lose; you, on the other hand, have taken over the finished article. It was much easier to start with nothing than to start with everything and every expectation. Give yourself time; remember, you have already started and run a very successful company of your own.' She had done some research into ECOCapital and discovered that, despite many misgivings from larger venture capitalists, Edmund had raised vast amounts of capital and enabled many
new ecological ventures to start up. With his clever eye for channelling good ideas, most of them were succeeding, and becoming profitable.

‘You need to have the confidence that we all have in you, and Jonathan simply wouldn't have handed the damn thing over if he didn't think you could handle it.'

Edmund hadn't thought of it that way before, and being hundreds of miles away, watching the evening sun shining on the sea in the distance and with the promise of an amusing time away from it all, beside the woman he adored, he felt immediately better. ‘You are a kind and loyal friend, thank you,' he said, as Liberty completed her tour of the gardens.

Returning to the merry group on the now chilly terrace, Liberty and Deirdre asked Paloma if they could go to their rooms to change and freshen up.

‘Aah,' replied Paloma. ‘It's fortunate that your parents have finally realised they should be together, as we will be rather full, what with Savvie and Khalid here. No, no, I won't hear of you staying anywhere else,' she added as Khalid volunteered to take his lot to a hotel. ‘But Liberty and Edmund?' this was asked with a somewhat sly look. ‘Would you two consider sharing a twin room?'

At both their furious blushes and splutterings, Paloma knew she was on to a good thing, but Deirdre, for once oblivious to others' matchmaking, piped up, ‘Liberty can share with me and Alain with Edmund.'

Paloma glared at her friend, who seemed intent on spoiling her plan and replied, ‘We are all adults, and they can manage, I am sure. No point in separating the engaged couple.' So two very embarrassed people agreed to share a room, saying it would be just fine. Liberty was grateful she had brought a nightdress, and Edmund was exceedingly pleased Mrs Goodman had packed pyjamas and left out his old teddy bear, which she normally smuggled in.

The baptism was to be held at ten o'clock the following
morning, so would be sandwiched between breakfast and a late lunch.

The domestic arrangements settled, they all sat down for a fabulous supper, while Yves slept in a Moses basket by the table, oblivious to the raucous laughter of friends and family celebrating his life, and Deirdre and Alain's engagement. Rabbit confit was followed by grilled turbot and a dessert of apple tart. After plenty of burgundy and brandy, they all wobbled up to bed.

Edmund used the bathroom first, to allow Liberty to undress, then planned to pretend to be asleep when she came out. However, the vision of the beautiful woman in a silk negligee, her full breasts only hidden by intricate lace, was not conducive to sleep, or even the pretence thereof.

As she sat on the edge of her single bed, she squeezed out some cream on to her hands and started to rub her feet. A hefty chuckle emitted from the lump of duvet in the neighbouring bed.

‘What?'

‘I'm sorry,' said Edmund, lifting himself on to his elbows, exposing a very 1950s pair of pyjamas buttoned right up to the top, ‘but it's funny. I've spent my life fighting off glamorous females, who only wanted me because they knew I was going to inherit a large estate, and the one I've lost my heart to can sit on her bed, comfortably rubbing foot cream in as though nothing could be further from her mind.'

‘What did you say?' gasped Liberty.

‘Foot cream!' And with that, Edmund rolled over into a fuzzy, brandy-induced slumber, dreaming of a vision in silk cuddling up to Digby, his old teddy.

Liberty sat listening to his gentle snoring. Had he said lost his heart? Really? She lay back, both sobered and startled. Was it the drink? Had he meant it? Was it just the surroundings and all the love in the air? And how dare he say that then go to sleep so easily?

Eventually she fell into a dreamless sleep, hoping that morning would bring clarity. But instead it brought a pot of strong coffee and a demand that she got her lazy ass out of bed as everyone was waiting for breakfast – that was Savannah, of course.

Dressing quickly in a mint-green Yves Saint Laurent suit, she ran downstairs to find them indeed all sitting round hungrily looking at the baskets of pastries. Edmund was sipping a cup of black coffee and avoiding her eyes.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting. I took a while to get to sleep, then of course I overdid it.'

‘Well, dig in, then we had best be off. Come, sit next to me,' said Savannah, who was holding baby Yves while trying to get her own daughter to drink hot chocolate without dunking her croissant in it.

‘It's OK,' said Paloma to her kindly. ‘You will find all the children in France do that.'

‘See, Mama,' said little Sasha, gazing up at her mother with vast brown eyes. ‘I'm already French!'

And the table laughed collectively.

47

The baptism was beautiful – magical, really – and reminded everyone why they should go to church, if only for the ambience. The calm atmosphere and the beautiful altar piece with its Madonna and child, a few offerings left by locals and a couple of flickering candles, made the gathering serene, and even little Yves only gurgled quietly. The open font was the only indication that anything special was taking place; Evangeline and her parents had politely refused Paloma's offer of flowers, saying they would like all attention focused on the ceremony. Infused with the scent of incense, the tiny chapel gave a feeling of grandeur beyond its status, while the sun shone through the small, plain windows, highlighting the fairy dust twinkling through the air. Yves, dressed in generous lengths of lace, waved his chubby arms and chirruped happily at the priest and then at Liberty, his godmother, and Claude's old school chum who was standing as godfather. Blessings and prayers were said, and although some of the congregation spoke no French, it mattered little as it still sounded lyrical and they all knew why they were there.

Once the service had finished, photographs were taken outside under a brilliant blue sky. Locals who had joined the congregation offered their congratulations and prayers, and now wandered off to collect baguettes and stroll around the vegetable market that had been set up in the Place des Lices. Everyone staying at Paloma's gave lifts to those without cars, or those unwilling to drive after what was bound to be a good party. As she went upstairs to change and freshen up, Liberty
mulled over the thought that had been nagging at her; Edmund was avoiding her. He had sat right at the back of the chapel, and now was wandering around the gardens with the children rather than going upstairs to their room. But she realised that maybe, just maybe, in a small way he could have meant what he said the previous night. And her cheeks glowed with pleasure.

Meanwhile, Edmund, despite the children's chattering, was turning things round in his mind. How could he have been such an ass? All right, so he had drunk too much, something unusual for him, but it had been such a fun evening. He had been amazed then frustrated that such a glamorous and attractive woman felt so disinclined sexually towards him that she could sit as though on her own and rub cream into her feet instead of, as he had hoped, emerge from the bathroom all scented and fresh with the intention of sitting on his bed and enchanting him. Even rubbing his feet would have been better! But how had he let those rash words escape from his mouth? He knew exactly how. The moment she bent over a foot, he realised he had no hope. If she was so relaxed and able to treat him like a brother while he lay in bed within touching distance of her, it was obvious that nothing could come of his passion for her, and he had simply said what he had to release him from his dream and get it all out of his system.

Instead, in the sober light of day, it had embarrassed her, made him feel like a fool and ruined his chances completely. Worse, it hadn't ended his love for her. In fact, it was increased, as he had almost hoped she would run down to breakfast and announce to her family that she loved him – instead of which, she had merely avoided him. What a mess!

Jonathan could see his eldest son from his bedroom window. ‘I'm going into the garden to have a word with Ed, I'll see you at lunch, my love,' he said to a slumbering Paloma, who had just enjoyed the masterful fingers of a very unstuffy Englishman.

‘Tell him to get on with it,' she murmured, and Jonathan asked himself what the amazing woman was mumbling about.
How happy she made him, but how confused! He had forgotten what it was like to spend time around a woman's mind; very distracting and not at all practical.

Finding Edmund alone, the children having escaped to the walled garden to build dens, and sipping a Bloody Mary, Jonathan questioned his eldest.

‘Is it really that bad?'

‘Oh, Pa, you have no idea,' was the reply.

‘But I thought it was what you always wanted,' said his father.

Edmund looked up sharply, coming back to his senses. ‘Oh, yes, the estate. It's fine. I'm getting the hang of things now, nothing to worry yourself about. I was bound to tread on a few toes. Mrs Goodman always makes me feel better. I've never been great at people skills, and it's really like running a family – quite hard to do when you haven't had experience of that.'

The jigsaw was fitting into place in Jonathan's mind. So that was what the clever woman had meant!

‘So, what's your problem? Who's eating your brain out?' he said, sitting next to Edmund on the stone seat. ‘Liberty?'

‘Is it that obvious?' Jonathan smiled to himself. At least he had got his son to admit it.

‘As typical Englishmen, I doubt we would even be having this conversation back home. But I suggest you grab her while you can. I can only say how happy I have been these last weeks. Gray has found what he wants, Savannah is so changed by knowing she is loved, and anyway, it's obvious you are crazy about her!' said Edmund's father, trying to sound wise, but thinking how love indeed changed everything. He had forgotten the strange ability of people, once in love, to love more of everything; life itself bloomed and blossomed through the eyes of the enamoured. Edmund looked at Jonathan: the proud, stiff gentleman, telling him to get a love life. Had the world turned on its head? The thought made him smile, and he felt instantly better.

Family and guests were congregating in the dining room. The restaurant had taken few bookings, apart from regulars arriving
to hand over gifts and congratulations for the newly baptised Yves. Liberty was due to fly home after lunch. She was sad to be going but somewhat relieved.

Savannah and Khalid promised to catch the Eurostar over for the fete, and they all talked about Gray's new-found major.

‘Do you think he will persuade Gray to stay in Bangladesh?' asked Deirdre.

‘I'm not sure,' replied Edmund. ‘The major's posting was not permanent, but as he's doing such a good job they keep on extending it, and were grateful for his skills when the floods came – although I am hearing this through Gray, and he would have him able to part the seas and walk on water whilst juggling, so it's hard to tell. I have read a little about him, and have learned he is incredibly bright, top of his year at Sandhurst, and that he was chosen for this kind of work because he never loses his temper. He is very good at keeping calm in unimaginable situations. He was able get one of the top chaps in the Taliban, some heads of government and some UN people around a table, all at the same time, to talk when he was in Afghanistan. Quite something.'

‘So he would fit right in here,' said Savannah, laughing.

Liberty had spent most of the day cooing over baby Yves and asking anyone what she should do to be a good godmother. Most people had replied that it meant sending expensive presents, but one elderly lady had wisely said, ‘Lead by good example, listen to the child, and above all, notice when the parents are not able to perform to their best, and stand in.' Having said her goodbyes to most, except Edmund, as she was confused and aware that in this highly charged emotional gathering she could embarrass herself, she went upstairs to fetch her bags. The taxi was waiting, and she knew she was cutting it fine to catch the flight back to Gatwick.

The door opened behind her and Edmund walked in. She had her back to him, and breathed in deeply, holding the breath, willing him to say something. He did, but it wasn't what she hoped to hear.

‘I'm sorry I laughed last night. It was inappropriate. I had too much to drink and I regret it. I hope you can forgive me.'

She turned, fixing him with her direct gaze. Her heart was pounding with unspoken desire for this handsome, funny, clever man. Could she, by brain waves alone, persuade him to leap at her? The thought that she could do the leaping never crossed her mind; she was very out of practice when it came to romance or lust and her body just felt incapable, her mind unconfident. Edmund drew himself up to his full height and looked at her sternly. Internally, he was searching for the right words, the right thing to do. His body was telling him what he wanted to do. Christ, every cell of his body was screaming at him to take hold of her and kiss her till they could breathe no more. Outwardly, however, he looked as serious and distant as he used to. There was an awkward moment while they both deliberated what to do, then, just as Edmund thought he might as well throw himself at her moisturised feet, Liberty broke the silence.

‘Of course I forgive you. It was a fun evening, and we all felt a bit giggly. I'll see you back home.' She grabbed her bag before he could offer to help and half stumbled, half ran out of the room.