Chapter 12
“Sure you want to do this?” Savitri asked as she helped Amanda pack up her few belongings.
“For now, yes. You know, I’ll actually miss this place.”
“Why would you? Arnaud’s place is gorgeous!”
Amanda grinned. “You know what I mean.”
“And what if it doesn’t work out?”
Amanda finished wrapping her box with tape. “Then what will be will be. Sav? I thought you’d be happy for me.”
“I am, luv. I am. It’s just that... well, are you sure this isn’t just a case of rebound? I get why you’re falling for this guy, but... this just isn’t you, this impulsiveness. I mean, sheesh! You map out your days, weeks, and months on an Excel spreadsheet. It’s obscene!”
“There’s nothing wrong with organizing things on an Excel spreadsheet! But you’re right. It is impulsive, isn’t it? And you’re right. I am a little nervous. But it’s Paris!” Savitri rolled her eyes. “Ok, so that was corny. Look, I’m happy, alright? Everyone, especially you, have been going on about me being such a depressing creature. Well I’m not depressed anymore.”
“And the wife?”
Amanda shrugged. “If you can call her that.”
“What!?”
“Ok, that wasn’t nice given the condition she’s in. But that’s just it.”
Savitri shook her head. “Explain to me again why he can’t just divorce her?”
“Guilt, partly. But the real reason is that his family’s wealth and business interests are so tied up to hers that...” Amanda shrugged. “They have different rules, these people. A divorce could cost thousands of people their jobs, not just here in Europe, but all over the world. I don’t want to be responsible for that.”
Savitri sat down on the bed and bit her lip. “I have a confession to make.”
“Well that was a quick change of topic. What’s wrong?”
The Anglo-Indian woman shook her head. “Doesn’t it strike you as odd that you’ve been attacked twice? I mean, most of us have never gotten mugged even once.”
“What’s your point?”
“Richie went to the hospital while you were in.”
“And you never told me!?”
“Gave him a massive telling off, I did. Then I called the police on him, but they let him go. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, but I didn’t want to worry you.”
Amanda shook her head and described her earlier meeting with her ex. “But he’s never been the violent sort.”
“That we know of.”
“I’m not worried about him, Sav. Alright?”
Savitri nodded, but she looked distracted as she got up to pack more stuff.
“Look, Sav. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll have a new roommate till I find a new place. Won’t that be fun?”
Her friend groaned. “Meaning we’ll try to fit in thirty square meters while I provide a free shoulder to cry on.”
“Exactly! It’ll just be like old times.”
“What joy.”
“Hey! I thought you wanted to stuff my face till I got so fat I couldn’t fit through a door?”
“I realized that I wouldn’t then be able to fit another man in, either.”
“Ah.”
*****
“Oh my dearest!” Duncan crooned as he greeted Amanda. “I’m so glad to see you’re alright! And don’t you dare walk out this time, do you understand?”
She chuckled. “I promise I won’t.”
She was back at Duncan’s compound only because Arnaud had sworn not to leave her this time. Unfortunately, he did just that. He’d also sworn that it would be a small gathering. Fortunately, he kept his word on that one. The meal wasn’t on the roof deck because of the weather, this time. It was in a large dining room with a table set for twelve.
Seeing her look, Duncan explained, “Now don’t panic, dear. You’ve already met Camille and Sylvie. The rest are old friends.”
“That doesn’t help, Duncan. How will they react to seeing...?”
“Arnaud’s girlfriend? Why, I expect they’ll be positively delighted. It’s been such a long while, you understand?”
“Thanks. I was about to say mistress, but girlfriend will do.”
“That’s not a four-letter word here, in France. But don’t be ridiculous. Everyone knows about the poor state that Sophie’s in and would be delighted to see Arnaud up and about again.”
At her questioning look, he continued, “He doesn’t really go out much, our Arnaud. Since his marriage to her didn’t work out, he got married to his work, instead, ha ha! But a little birdie named Marie tells me he’s been taking more and more time out lately, and that he’s been leaving the office early. I’m assuming that’s because of you, hmmm?”
“Who’s Marie?”
His eyes widened in a guilty. “Oh, eh... excuse me, my dear. A host’s job is never ending!” And off he puttered to greet some people who’d just walked in.
Amanda wondered if she had to go and introduce herself to be polite, but she needn’t have worried. Arnaud reappeared with an apologetic look and began introducing her to some more people.
“So you’re Amanda!” gushed the woman with an Australian accent. “Arnaud’s been raving about...”
“No he’s not,” her partner cut in. “You’ll have to forgive Sheila. She tends to exaggerate. But she is right. Arnaud’s been... uh, more relaxed lately.”
As the couple moved off, she turned to Arnaud. “Why does everyone know about me?” He responded by nodding to Camille who was talking to several people. “Oh. Ok, so maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Why? I want my friends to know about you.”
“Don’t you find it sort of awkward?”
“Not at all. We live together now, and,” he grinned, “I want to show you off. Please, Amanda. It’s not a problem. Everyone here knows the situation, so relax.”
Camille walked up to her with a sheepish smile as she shooed her nephew off. “Amanda, you must hate me so much. I did so want to speak with you before tonight’s dinner. If only you could forgive me for letting my mouth run away like that the other night.”
Amanda shook her head. “It’s alright, really. I was bound to find out sooner or later.”
The woman wrung her hands. “It’s just that I assumed you knew. And that you understood.”
“I’m not sure that I ever will. But he has been very good to me and,” she sighed. “If that’s what being a mistress is about, then I’m willing to give it a shot. It feels weird saying that out loud.”
“That’s not something to be ashamed of. Everyone here knows about Sophie. And everyone approves.”
Camille was apparently correct. Dinner turned out to be easier than Amanda had thought. Everyone seemed eager to tell her something about Arnaud, something he suffered with good humor. She started to relax and laugh along with everyone at his expense, feeling better at being here.
With dinner over, they began breaking up into small groups. Arnaud was cornered by two men, but Amanda didn’t mind. She knew everyone’s names, by then, and was feeling more comfortable.
Sheila came up to her and guided her to a sofa. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself?”
She nodded. “I’m glad I came.”
“It must seem very strange, all this,” Sheila waved around the room. “Oh, I forget. You’re British. We have nothing this historical back in Australia. No. I meant, it must be strange, you and,” she gestured toward Arnaud.
She took a deep breath. “I’m getting used to it, Sheila.”
“I just want you to know how happy I am for you. And for him. He needs you, I think. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him this... well, Carl likes to say ‘relaxed’ but I’d prefer the word happy.”
“It’s mutual.” At the other woman’s questioning look, she added, “I’ve had a bit of bad luck with relationships, myself.”
“It’s scary, isn’t it? Putting your heart out there and taking another risk. But I think you’ve made the right choice. I certainly think he has.”
“It’s just,” she heard Arnaud laugh with another group and smiled. “It’s just that I never thought I’d ever be someone’s mistress.”
Sheila smiled. “In a perfect world, as they say.”
“Here’s to an imperfect world,” she offered her glass to the Australian.
“And to making the best with what we’ve got,” Sheila replied as she toasted Amanda’s glass.
More people approached Amanda, drawing her into similar conversations, so much so that she became suspicious. When Arnaud finally joined her, she had to ask, “Did you put your friends up to this?”
“Up to what?”
“Telling me not to mind being your mistress?”
“I would never do such a thing. And you’re not my mistress.”
Amanda raised a brow at him, noting his possessive tone of voice. “Is that so? Then what am I?”
But another group corralled her and insisted on giving her a tour of the premises. Duncan, meanwhile, seemed to be doing everything in his power to avoid her. As she walked away with his friends, she gave Arnaud a look that said, this isn’t finished yet.
Only Camille saw her nephew silently mouth words as the beautiful, green-eyed redhead was led out of the room by a gaggle of laughing people. It was in French and made up of three words but pronounced with only two syllables. It spoke volumes regardless of the language it was spoken in: je t’aime.
Camille’s eyes hardened as she clenched her fists and made up her mind. She’d been putting it off for some time, but it was clear that she could no longer do so. She therefore vowed to do everything she could to put a stop to it.
Arnaud had to be protected, even from himself. She’d made that vow to his parents before they died. The family’s future depended on it, after all.
Despite Duncan’s protests, she left the building.
*****
Richard sat in his car and watched the old lady step into her limo. He vowed to get rich, some day, so he could own one, as well. But it wouldn’t just be a limo, oh no. He’d get Amanda and himself a gorgeous mansion, some day. Given the exchange rate, he could probably get them one in Spain or some Eastern European country, eventually.
He frowned. Given the plummeting value of the British pound, perhaps in India or some former British colony. But at least it’d be a mansion! Yes! That’d get that Frenchman out of her head, it would.
He was a patient man, he was. Amanda would come around soon enough, and together, they’d begin the future that he’d so mistakenly jeopardized. He’d spend his entire life making it up to her, he would.