Twenty-two
D aniel had had to go to a brief appointment after lunch that day, but he’d come back just in time to meet Emma and Liz when they’d arrived at the stand. Arielle was glad he’d been there. Not because there was anything awkward about speaking with the two women, quite the contrary, but because she’d hoped that Daniel hadn’t felt hurt by her snapping at him earlier about Vella. It wasn’t like her to be so short-tempered, and he certainly hadn’t deserved it. The business with the Grandiers had already rattled her, and Vella’s stupid attempt at intimidation had simply made the cup of stress overflow. And poor Daniel had been there when it splashed out. But when she tried to excuse herself again after he returned from his appointment, he just smiled and said, ‘It’s quite okay. I completely understand.’ She could see that he absolutely meant it.
Vella left them strictly alone for the rest of the day, not even casting a glance towards them. He’d been cowed all right, but for how long, Arielle didn’t know and didn’t particularly care right now. A few more customers came, mostly French tourists this time, but it was during a lull in the crowd that Emma and Liz had appeared. Arielle had thought the young woman was particularly lovely that day. Silhouetted against the pink and blue flowers, in her simple pink dress, with that beautiful wave of ash-brown hair, its soft gold sheen picked out by sunlight, and her almost periwinkle-blue eyes, Emma looked, Arielle thought, like an Impressionist painting of May herself, and she wasn’t surprised when Liz asked to take her photo against the display. ‘I can send it to you afterwards,’ the older woman told Arielle, via Daniel. ‘For your social media. You have Instagram or something, right?’ She didn’t raise an eyebrow or look surprised when Arielle told her it was the boss’s daughter who maintained the account. Instead she said, ‘What a great arrangement! She feels important, and you don’t have to do the tedious work but can concentrate on what’s really important.’
‘Yes, exactly,’ said Arielle, smiling.
‘I’ll post it then, and tag your stand, so your boss’s daughter can access it,’ Liz said, and later Arielle saw she’d been as good as her word, and that Romaine had wasted no time in reposting the photo.
Yes, it had been an enjoyable conversation with them, and though she hadn’t angled for an invitation to the garden to meet the creator of that lovely map, she was certainly happy that Emma had offered. After the two women had left, Daniel stayed on, helping with the rest of the afternoon’s customers, who weren’t anything as entertaining as Emma and Liz, but nevertheless were pleasant enough. By 5 pm, the trickle of customers had ebbed away completely and they were able to pack up early and close up bang on time. To her surprise, when Arielle glanced at Vella’s stand, it was already closed. Yet he liked to claim that he was almost always the very last person to shut up shop, as if that was some kind of special achievement.
Daniel saw her frown and asked, ‘What’s up?’
She was going to say nothing was up but changed her mind and told him.
‘It’s a change in pattern, that’s what you mean?’ he said.
She nodded. ‘It’s out of character. He likes to feel important, and being the last to leave is a way of saying nobody works harder than him.’
‘Perhaps you had more of an impact on him than you thought,’ Daniel said, ‘and he felt ashamed so decided to skulk off home.’
‘Maybe,’ she said, unconvinced. She hadn’t thought Vella capable of shame. Embarrassment and annoyance at being caught out, yes. ‘Anyway, let’s not waste another instant’s thought on that man. How about we go and have that drink you suggested before I have to head off home?’ She’d already told Pauline she might be a bit late.
Daniel’s eyes lit up. ‘Absolutely. Let me introduce you to my favourite bar.’
It wasn’t on the island, but across the bridge, on the Right Bank, not far from a Metro station with a line that would take her to her stop without having to change. Arielle suspected that it wasn’t his favourite bar, but that he’d chosen it so it would make it easier for her to make her way home afterwards. He was such a thoughtful man.
They had seated themselves and ordered a couple of drinks—a mojito for her, a red wine for him—when he said, ‘I got a message from Franck, that beekeeper in the Chevreuse who I mentioned in my talk at Cluny the other day, you remember?’
She nodded. ‘The one who was going to set up his apiary based on what you’d gleaned from medieval texts.’
He smiled. ‘The very same. Anyway, he’s invited me to visit him on Wednesday to see the results of his endeavours, and I wondered if you might like to come too.’
‘Oh, I’d love to! But I’ve already got the day off tomorrow’—she’d explained earlier that it was the anniversary of Ludo’s death and that they always marked it with a special outing in his memory—‘and I can’t ask for the next day off as well.’
He looked sheepish. ‘But this wouldn’t be during the day. It would be after work as I can’t get away before 5 pm either. And Franck’s going away on Thursday.’
‘Okay. But how far is this place?’ she asked.
‘That’s the thing,’ he said. ‘The farm is about an hour and a half from Paris. And Franck will want to give the grand tour, so it might be quite late when it finishes. Plus, driving at night isn’t my favourite thing. So I was thinking of staying overnight in a nearby village, there’s a great hotel there, and coming back to Paris early in the morning, to be back in time for work.’
Arielle liked the sound of the bee farm, but it was the thought of spending a night alone with Daniel in a charming country hotel that sent her pulse racing. She longed to say yes. But what about the children? If she told Pauline, her sister would say that Arielle must go, that she herself could look after the children overnight no problem, that it was more than time that she had some fun as a woman, not just as a mother. All of that was true. And yet, with the menace of the Grandiers still hovering, Arielle couldn’t help hesitating.
Daniel saw her expression. ‘No need to decide now, Arielle,’ he said, gently. ‘Let me know on Wednesday morning. And don’t worry about upsetting me if you decide you can’t come. I promise I will not be offended one iota. I would completely understand, and we could always go together there another time, when Franck returns.’
‘How long will he be away?’
‘Two or three weeks, I believe. Some long-delayed family holiday. His neighbours will be looking after the bees.’ He looked directly into her eyes ‘But don’t worry, Arielle. Let me know when you are ready. I’ve waited a long time for you,’ he added, softly. ‘I can wait a little longer.’
Arielle’s body tingled. But I don’t know if I can wait , came the unbidden words welling up from her heart, though she didn’t voice them. I want you soon , very soon. Two or three weeks! That feels like an eternity right now . Aloud, she said, ‘Thank you for giving me the space to think, Daniel.’ She reached for his hand and kissed it. ‘I promise I won’t keep you in suspense for too long.’