Perfume of Provence by Kate Fitzroy

Author:Kate Fitzroy [Fitzroy, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472095220
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

It was Monday morning and Rosie was in her office by eight a.m. She walked around her desk, clutching a cup of coffee. Never, she decided, had it ever been more of a Monday morning. She had slept fitfully, missing Jean-Michel more than she could dare think about and now… Now it was raining. She walked across to the long window that overlooked Gordon Square. And never, she decided, had it ever looked drearier. When she had taken on the lease for the office premises she had been so thrilled to have a view at all. Excited to establish her own business in the heart of the capital, only a short walk from her flat and the tube, she had jumped at the opportunity to sign the contract. Now she rested her tired head against the glass and watched the drops of rain trickle slowly down the pane, making paths in the grime of London pollution. She closed her eyes, and dreamed up the memory of Jean-Michel standing next to her in the beach shower as the water ran down his tanned chest… Her dream broke suddenly as she heard a door open and Maisie’s cheery voice called out.

“Good morning…rather wet out there!”

Rosie pulled herself back to reality and forced a smile.

“Morning, Maisie. You’re bright and early. There’s some hot coffee in the machine!”

“Great! I could do with it. I thought I’d get in early as there’s so much to do. Actually I came in on Saturday morning as I hadn’t finished the final copy for that new hat designer!”

“Oh, my God, I’d put Richard right to the back of my head. This Provence perfume has taken all my time. I’m truly grateful, Maisie. I know I haven’t really pulled my weight recently. Let me have a quick look at your text and, when you’ve had coffee, you could look through the work I’ve brought back from the weekend. The new perfume is to be called ‘Perfection’. Here, I’ve brought you a sample but don’t spray it around. It’s still at the deadly secret stage!”

Rosie unwrapped the tissue around a plain glass phial and passed it to Maisie, who opened it and carefully dabbed some on her wrist.

“Mmm…it’s gorgeous…light and flowery…not what I think of as a typical French perfume…more like a beautiful olde-worlde, English country garden…but sort of more vibrant… What is that? Something so familiar?”

The perfume wafted across the office towards Rosie and suddenly all her senses were tingling. Roses and lavender…and what for her could now only be the unmistakable perfume of Provence and making love with Jean-Michel.

“I know what you mean,” Rosie said dreamily. “It’s the lavender and roses that are so English-garden style but underlying there is the heat of Provence.” She once more pulled herself back to cold reality and continued, “I want you to come with me next time I go, Maisie. The place has to be seen to be believed. You’d love it!”

“You don’t need to convince me of that! I can see what it does for you.

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