Page 33 of Rendez-Vous in Cannes
A couple of council workers were preparing to erect some temporary barriers across the road and gesticulated to them to walk through quickly.
‘Despite the unrest and the protests, it was a lot easier to get close to people in those days. Security was very low key, virtually non-existent. I saw – and in some cases even met – people like Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Philippe introduced me to several up and coming stars too. Bridget Bardot was here that year and Orson Welles.’
Anna paused as a group of Japanese tourists threatened to run them down in their eagerness to pass along the street before the barriers were in place.
‘It was when somebody high up in Paris tried to sack the popular Henri Langois, head of Cinématèque Française, that the festival itself erupted into disarray. Suddenly everyone was protesting and boycotting things, jury members were resigning, and there were calls for the festival to close – which, of course, it did.’
‘I found an archive photo of Geraldine Chaplin pulling the curtain across at a screening,’ Daisy said. ‘Was that the end of the festival that year?’
Anna nodded. ‘End of the festival, yes, but the national strikes made it impossible for people to get away. I couldn’t leave for another four days.’
‘What did you do?’
‘Spent most of the time with Philippe. We talked for hours, planning our careers, our lives for the next few years.’ Anna was quiet for a moment, remembering the intensity of those days.
Anna gave Leo another quick glance.
‘The words “Life without Limits” was the phrase on everyone’s lips that year. Philippe and I promised ourselves that would be the way we’d live our lives together.’
‘Together?’ Daisy said.
Anna gave her a sad smile.
‘It didn’t happen. Philippe was already under contract to work in America for a year. Once the strikes were over, I went back to England and lived another life. A life that has been good to me on the whole and one that has now given me Leo,’ Anna said, catching hold of Leo’s hand and squeezing it. Telling Leo about the baby had been the right thing to do but it was too soon to tell anyone else the secret she’d kept all these years – especially after the events of the last few days.
‘The future is looking good,’ Leo said, drawing her towards him and, oblivious of the sudden crowd of people entering the street, kissing her gently.
‘Shall we try to make our way to rue d’Antibes? They seem to have closed this road completely for some reason. Can’t think why. It’s not really anything to do with the festival,’ Daisy said, trying not to envy them their closeness and still thinking about the implications of that word ‘together’.
‘Think maybe that’s your answer,’ Leo said quietly, moving closer to Anna and watching as a large black hearse drew up behind the barrier in front of the ornate entrance to a church. He tightened his hold of Anna’s hand as he felt her tremble.
‘Philippe’s funeral cortège,’ Anna whispered. ‘I’d forgotten it was taking place this morning.’
‘We’ll go this way,’ Leo said decisively and led them into a small alleyway. ‘Hopefully we’ll come out by the station and we can carry on with our tour.’
18
‘Look what I’ve got for us,’ Daisy said, emptying a carrier bag onto the kitchen table in front of Poppy. ‘I had a quick mooch around the shops and the market after I left Anna and Leo this morning. See what I found for us to wear tomorrow evening. What d’you think?’ she said, slipping a velvet and pearl headband around her head. ‘Very 1920s? I thought you’d look great in this hanky-hem dress,’ she said, shaking it out and handing it to Poppy. ‘I offered to buy Anna and Leo lunch, but they said they had some shopping to do and then planned on having a sandwich in the garden. Are they back yet?’ Daisy asked, glancing out across the garden towards the villa.
‘About half an hour ago. Anna went straight indoors and Leo is down by the pool sunbathing,’ Poppy answered, holding the dress against herself. ‘This is so pretty, thank you. Did Anna remember anything useful?’
Daisy nodded. ‘Enough, but it came to an abrupt end shortly after we saw Philippe Cambone’s funeral cortège. Anna couldn’t seem to concentrate after that.’ Daisy slipped a black beaded jacket over her shoulders. ‘I love this.’ She glanced at Poppy. ‘You remember Anna saying she couldn’t help me with reminiscences about Philippe Cambone? Well, this morning she admitted she did know him and I’m convinced that there was more to their relationship than she’s saying publicly. You should have seen how white she went when we saw the funeral cars. Leo was so protective.’
‘I have to go across later to finalise some of the arrangements for tomorrow.’ Poppy said. ‘Hope she’s all right. I like Anna.’ She glanced at her sister. ‘But first there is something I have to tell you.’ Poppy hesitated. ‘I’m afraid when Nat came to collect Tom to play with Cindy, Ben came up in the conversation.’
‘How?’ Daisy took the jacket off and looked at her sister.
‘Oh, Nat said something about you being a journalist and I flippantly said yes, if she doesn’t jack it all in to join Ben in Australia. Which seemed to throw him. I take it you haven’t mentioned Ben to him?’
‘No. It never seemed to be the right moment somehow.Oh, by the way I’ve got an ex-boyfriend in Sydney who unexpectedly wants me to join himisn’t easy to drop into the conversation.’
‘Doesn’t sound that difficult to me if you like someone. Telling them the truth from the beginning is the best policy,’ Poppy said.
‘Yes, well. It’s not a big deal. I’ll tell him soon. Promise.’ Daisy folded the jacket and put it in the bag. It was one thing giving Marcus the wrong idea, but Nat was different, she really liked him. ‘I’ll take this lot upstairs and then I’m going to do some work on my laptop, after that I’ll be free to help you with things. Okay if I work under the loggia? Don’t want to be in your way.’
‘I’m going to start doing a few table decorations and the flowers before Tom gets back,’ Poppy said. ‘Could do with a hand when you’ve finished. Oh, what about the cake?’
‘I’ve ordered one from the supermarché near the market. We can collect it in the morning,’ Daisy said. ‘So no worries there.’
