The Deal Collection (Deal Series Book 1) by Simon Fairfax

Author:Simon Fairfax [Fairfax, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Simon Fairfax
Published: 2020-10-11T20:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5.

August, Deauville.

The delightful Normandy coastal town of Deauville was generally acknowledged to be the holiday destination for the Parisian elite. The town with its cobbled streets; quaint half timbered architecture; and the quay side harbour, which rolled gently up from the sea, flanked by multi-coloured houses which would then open on to elegant piazzas. There was a discreet, but evident, smell of money about it.

The August heat was tamed and diluted by the refreshing sea breezes, drifting up from the English Channel: in short it was the epitome of chic. It was also the final leg of the 'High Goal Circus' before the polo cabal returned to Argentina for the winter. Some would drift across to Australia and New Zealand or even India, but this was the last glamorous location in the polo calendar. The 22 goal competition was attended by all the Argentinean contingent up-rooted and moved on from England. The whole entourage arrived en-masse and enhanced the carnival atmosphere of the town.

The famous casino was the focal point for the town, along with the Hotel Barriere, racecourse and numerous boutiques. Unusually, polo and racing met here, as the two pitch club was situated in the centre of the town surrounded by the racecourse, which could be very distracting. This day was the opening ceremony and the polo teams had, as tradition dictates, paraded through the town on horseback, lauded as gladiators by the knowledgeable crowd. Champagne flowed, without recourse to cost or quantity consumed. Even the players who would one day be censored, were known to go on to the pitch 2 or 3 three glasses of champagne up and play perfectly happily. It was still the province of the gentleman professional player.

A talented amateur, Vicomte Luc de Patenaude, was the product of an old French aristocratic family. The generations had made good on their inherited fortunes in pharmaceuticals and industry. He was therefore able to adopt a playboy lifestyle, from his base in Paris, which included him playing the High Goal as a patron. Alcohol was the poison of choice for the polo crowd, but the Vicomte demanded something more exotic. He had found a supplier for his Parisian habit and he had found it here at Deauville. The supplier was of an unexpected source, but had assured him that the product was very pure and of good quality.

A week later, De Patenaude had just finished his game and had been knocked out of the tournament at the quarter finals. He was not happy; his capricious temper was boiling over and he had stormed off from the team marquee. Long, sun bleached hair flowing, rubbing a day’s growth of stubble on his chin, still in his polo whites and boots, he strode to his Alpha Romeo Spider. It was a beautiful car, a rare model Beaute, of which only 120 were produced specifically for the French market. It was liveried in two tone white and blue, with white leather seats. Another beautiful model was at this time running after him: his long suffering girlfriend, Elise.

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