Page 60 of Rendez-Vous in Cannes
Daisy hesitated before answering. Should she tell Marcus what she knew?
‘Not much,’ she said in the end.
‘Did you find out his name?’
Daisy didn’t answer as Marcus looked at her speculatively.
‘Rumour has it that it’s Verity Raymond’s husband, Teddy Wickham. Rumour also has it that his mother is in town,’ Marcus said.
‘I’ve heard those rumours too,’ Daisy said, beginning to gather her things. There was no way she was going to discuss Anna’s business with Marcus.
‘The mother wouldn’t be the woman I photographed placing a flower outside the restaurant, would it? And whose engagement party I covered at the villa – Anna Carson?’
‘I’m sure the truth will leak out eventually,’ Daisy said. ‘But really, is it anybody’s business but the people concerned? The emotional shock for both of them must be huge. I think they have the right to privacy for as long as they want.’
Marcus shook his head at her. ‘You had a scoop right on your doorstep, Daisy, and you ignored it. You’re really not cut out for investigative journalism, are you?’
‘No,’ Daisy said. ‘I don’t think I am. I have to go. See you around, Marcus.’
33
‘Are you sure you don’t want to go to the ceremony tonight?’ Leo asked as he and Anna relaxed on the loungers by the pool, English-language Sunday papers discarded.
‘Quite sure,’ Anna said. ‘Much easier to watch it here on TV. We don’t have to dress up for a start! Rick was glad to have the tickets to give to a client and he’ll be there to represent us ifFuture Promisesshould receive an unexpected accolade.’
‘Nothing to do, then, with having to look at Teddy on stage for an hour?’
Anna shook her head. ‘No. Talking of Teddy, I hope he hasn’t forgotten I want my letter and journal back. We all disappear tomorrow to various parts of the world and I don’t want to lose them – not even to my son.’
‘You could always ring Verity. Ask her to make sure they’re kept safe until you meet up in England.’
‘I think I might do that, if Teddy hasn’t returned them before we leave. I’d been praying that after he’d read them, he’d find it easier to come to terms with what happened and contact me. It’s twenty-four hours now and no word.’
‘I expect he’s been busy,’ Leo said. ‘Jury duties and all that.’
‘Hope that’s all it is,’ Anna said. ‘We might have to stay down here for a few days to meet the notaire again. You don’t have to rush back, do you?’
‘No problem for me,’ Leo said. ‘My next meeting is Friday. What about Poppy though? I expect she’s looking forward to getting the villa back to herself.’
‘I’ll ask her later. We can always go to a hotel – there’ll be plenty of empty rooms in town tomorrow.’ Anna shivered and stood up. ‘I’m going for a shower. The sun’s disappeared and I’m getting cold.’
* * *
Later that evening, as they prepared to watch the festival’s closing ceremony on TV, Leo said, ‘October the tenth is the official start date for the filming ofIn the Shadow of Mrs Beaton, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, provided everything comes together,’ Anna said.
‘So, could we get married in September then?’ Leo asked quietly. ‘September the twelfth would be a good day for me.’
Anna smiled. ‘Maybe the end of September, the twelfth is a bit too close.’
‘September the twelfth,’ Leo repeated, ‘would, I think, be perfect.’
‘Too soon, Leo. It doesn’t give us enough time to organise things,’ Anna said.
‘Book my village church – I’m hoping here that you want a church wedding and not just a civil ceremony,’ Leo said. ‘Reception in a nearby hotel. Honeymoon, my secret. End of story.’
Anna laughed. ‘What about invitations, bridesmaids, best man, ushers, cars, photographers, cake, flowers, food, wedding dress, hair, going away outfit, shoes – and that is just off the top of my head. Even for a small wedding, there’s so much behind-the-scenes stuff to do.’
