Page 55 of Summer on the French Riviera
Clovis handed them both a brochure. ‘These are for you to keep. Please take your time looking around. I’ll see you back in the foyer when you’re ready.’
Gabby opened her brochure with its stunning colour photographs of the furnished show apartment and computer-generated photographs of how the pool and the landscaped areas would look once finished. ‘Did you know there is a pool as well?’ she said as she began to wander from room to room. ‘This is a big apartment. The kitchen is a lovely size, a bathroom and a shower room, two bedrooms, a study and this wonderful sitting room. I can just imagine it furnished, but I dread to think how much it would cost to buy.’
‘Gabriella? I have a confession to make.’
Something in the tone of Philippe’s voice made Gabby turn and look at him.
‘There is no open day for locals. I – we – are here as prospective purchasers.’ He took a deep breath. ‘What would you say if I asked, do you think you could live in this apartment with me?’
Gabby stood stock-still. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Never more so.’
‘You are able to buy something like this?’
Philippe gave her an enigmatic smile. ‘Yes, I am, but I wouldn’t – not without you wanting to share and live in it with me.’
‘I’m stunned.’ Gabby shook her head. ‘Can I think about it? Can we have a proper talk about it later?’
‘Of course.’
Gabby wandered around the apartment again, looking at the bathroom with its marble and gold fittings, the kitchen with its hand built units. ‘It’s truly a beautiful apartment,’ she said. ‘It’s even got a few Art Deco fixtures from the old building around the ceiling.’ With one final glance, Gabby completed the tour of the apartment. ‘I think I’ve seen enough,’ Gabby said. ‘I’d quite like to leave now and find somewhere to sit and have a serious talk.’
‘D’accord.’
They rode the lift back down to the foyer in silence. Gabby acknowledged Clovis with a smile and an absent wave as Philippe went over to the desk to the receptionist.
‘We’ll be in touch. Thank you.’
Once outside, they made their way slowly down to La Pinède, where Gabby headed over to a bench in the shade under a pine tree. She needed to sit down and gather her thoughts.
Philippe sat down beside her and together they sat in silence for several moments, each deep in their own thoughts, until Philippe took a deep breath. ‘Gabriella, there was another question I wanted to ask you back there in Le Provençal, one I intended to ask you first, but I was so anxious about you liking the apartment, I got the order of speaking wrong.’ He took hold of her hand. ‘I long for us to live together in the Provençal apartment, but I want it to be as man and wife. Gabriella Jacques, will you please marry me?’
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Gabby looked at Philippe, shocked. ‘You want to marry me?’
‘Yes, don’t look so surprised,ma cherie. You must know how I feel about you. And I think you’re quite fond of me too?
Gabby nodded. ‘Yes, of course I am, but I never dreamt…’ She shook her head. ‘At our age you think it’s not…’
‘Think it’s not what, Gabriella? Not possible to find love again? Life is what you make it and you’ve made me happier in the last year than I’ve been for a long time. I want us to be happy together. And yes, I do love you. Very much.’’
‘Before I give you my answer, I have to tell you something,’ Gabby said. ‘That text earlier? It was from Colette. Ten days ago, she couriered the brush pot to an auction house in Paris. Remember a year or two ago, there was an old Japanese vase found in an attic in Brittany that turned out to have religious significance and it sold for millions?’
Philippe nodded.
‘Well, my old Chinese brush pot, whilst not of religious importance, has turned out to be a very rare item. It was auctioned today and sold for two million over the estimated price, which was much more than I ever expected in the first place.’ Gabby rubbed her face with her hand. ‘I can’t quite believe it.’
‘Do you have any plans for the money?’ Philippe asked quietly.
‘Nothing definite, but obviously Harriet and Elodie will benefit and I was thinking of setting up some sort of charity foundation but…’ she shrugged. ‘No idea what though. It will all have to sink in first. It’ll be a week or two anyway before any decisions can start to be made.’
‘Why did you want me to know about it before you gave me your answer?’ Philippe asked.
‘Mainly because I want to be open and honest with you about everything and I thought you ought to know about such a momentous happening. Having so much money is bound to change our lives – it’s like a lottery win.’
‘So you’ve told me. We are prepared for our lives to change. Now please tell me – are you going to marry me? And do we get to live in the Provençal? Or would you prefer somewhere without the memories?’
