LONDON ALERT by Christopher Bartlett

Author:Christopher Bartlett [Bartlett, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: OpenHatch Books
Published: 2015-04-01T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

What Did You Expect?

The Grill and Lounge Bar, where Consuela had reserved a table right at the front, overlooking the sea towards Cannes, was a wonderful, relaxed locale, with the setting sun adding to the romantic feeling. They started with a cocktail recommended by Consuela. Holt ordered crab with Japanese wasabi dressing, followed by a superb roast from the trolley, while Consuela opted for a summer vegetable dish followed by turbot meunière with young leeks and caviar, amongst other things. All accompanied by fine red and white wines. They could not resist the great desserts brought to them on a trolley.

Though the service was impeccable, key to the whole setup was how relaxed, unpretentious, and laid-back everything was. Holt pointed this out to Consuela, who told him that in the highest circles, where everybody is somebody, there is no need for pretensions.

After some exceptional champagne in the Eden Roc Champagne Bar, overlooking the sea, they made their way to their bedroom, with Holt feeling very merry but not weak-kneed as he had been at The Loughty. Consuela was the first to go to the bathroom and to bed.

‘It’s your turn in the bathroom now. Don’t take too long. I don’t want to fall asleep waiting – for what, I am not sure.’

Holt did not take long – just a quick shower and so on and he was soon out, bedecked in the elegant bathrobe supplied by the hotel. Not knowing what to do, he stood hesitatingly at the side of the enormous bed, which seemed to have grown even larger, leaving ample room for him to sleep on his own. She had told him she was thirty-two, an age at which, according to some, women are reaching their prime.

‘What are you waiting for?’

‘Maybe I should take off my bathrobe.’

‘That would be a start.’

‘Right then,’ replied Holt in a hesitant voice.

‘This is beginning to sound like The Graduate, with you the eighteen-year-old virgin son of H’s best friend rather than a twenty-four-year-old. This is not meant to be an initiation test. That’s for later, and nothing to do with me.’

‘You hit the nail on the head. To be honest I am worried about that initiation test. Will I have to parachute out of a plane – I can’t stand heights – or worse still, harm someone?’

‘Your only hope, Jeremy, is to keep me sweet so I put in a good report. Unfortunately, it won’t be just what happens tonight. The people you will be meeting on the mega-yacht in two days’ time may be reporting on you too. The Owl might even be there, who knows?’

‘You’re dead right.’

‘Forget about him. We only live once. To tell you the truth, I really like you. You’re a breath of fresh air, and I should thank the Owl for giving me the chance to meet someone like you, outside my normal circle yet intelligent. So get in before I have second thoughts and get bored with this Mrs Robinson routine.’

Feeling embarrassed, Holt divested

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