‘What do you mean, darling?’ Didi was beginning to look perplexed.
‘Oh, nothing really. I was just saying how awkward it can be trying to unite different backgrounds…’ Lord, now she was beginning to sound as though she came from a different planet.
‘It’s easy to let small pitfalls turn into insurmountable obstacles,’ Didi said thoughtfully, ‘but sometimes the pitfalls are what make us stronger people…sometimes they can cement love into something truly lasting and unshakeable…’
Georgie grunted. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a waiter approaching them, thank heavens. She crossed her fingers and hoped that the temporary diversion as they ordered food would rescue her, but as soon as the wine was poured and the waiter had disappeared Didi returned to the conversation, waxing lyrical now about the compromises needed for a relationship to survive and the shocking ease with which young people seemed to get married only to divorce a few years later, as though the marriage contract were little more than a piece of paper that could be chucked in the fire the minute the going got tough.
Georgie now felt almost as if she were one of those paper-chucking-into-fire people, while Pierre, sipping his wine, was somehow pure as the driven snow. She gulped down a generous mouthful of wine and clenched her fists on her lap, safely out of sight underneath the starched white linen tablecloth.
‘I agree—’ she struggled to bring things back on track ‘—absolutely. It’s just that Pierre is so…’ she gave him a smile and hoped it summed up exactly how she was feeling ‘…exciting and ambitious and well travelled. I just worry, darling, that you won’t get bored with little ole me…’ She reached out and gave his hand a little squeeze and then left it there, with her nails digging into his palm. Typically the gesture backfired as he brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her fingers, every inch the besotted lover who clearly had no idea why she was making such a deal of something as insignificant as a few miles.
‘I’m flattered that you find me so fascinating,’ he murmured, tweaking her description just that bit so that he was elevated a couple of notches. ‘I assure you I could never find you boring.’
Georgie wriggled her hand, which he now firmly placed in his so that their linked hands were on the table, making a nonsense of her feeble suggestions that the miles between them, the vast difference of their personalities, were dramatic problems lurking in the wings, ready to pounce at any given moment, and Didi, ever the incurable romantic, had no trouble in falling for the phony gesture hook, line and sinker.
‘The opposite,’ Pierre murmured lovingly. ‘Your every move is unpredictable. You’re spontaneous and utterly impulsive. Wouldn’t you agree? The times you’ve surprised me in London…showing up literally out of thin air! Prepared to do anything on the spur of the moment…’ He stroked her hand with one of his fingers and it sent a red hot current shooting through her. ‘Hardly the sort who could ever be boring!’#p#分页标题#e##p#分页标题#e#
‘Opposites do attract,’ Didi mused thoughtfully.
‘I hope you’re not implying that I’m the boring half of this relationship, Didi!’ Pierre laughed. ‘Because if so, you’re in a minority of one considering this hussy next to me finds me scintillating.’
Hussy? Was he referring to her behaviour that morning before? Making fun of her because she couldn’t possibly defend herself with Didi sitting there, smiling contentedly at them?
‘And so you are,’ Didi agreed with an indulgent chuckle. ‘What a shame you have to dash back up to London so soon. Just when…when…’
Georgie snatched her hand free. ‘I know. Shame. But work calls! Perfectly understandable! I never understood the compulsion to work every hour of every day, but I certainly have learnt to respect that side of you, Pierre!’ She turned to Didi. ‘Compromise and all that!’
‘And far too much of it!’ Pierre returned, allowing a pregnant silence as the waiter placed starters in front of them.
‘Which,’ he announced with satisfaction, ‘is why I have contacted my office and informed them that I will be taking the next week off! I did say that this country life’s beginning to get to me. Do you know, it’s been years since I had any kind of holiday from work? I think I deserve it. Especially when I have such temptations waiting here for me!’
Georgie couldn’t help it. Her mouth dropped in sheer, horrified amazement.