Page 29 of A French Adventure
‘Mmm, true. But I have to tell you she’s on your case already.’
Thierry shrugged and smiled. ‘It’s not a problem for me. I’m just trying to shield Olivia a little from her mother’s unnecessary matchmaking.’
‘Good luck with that,’ Maxine said. ‘See you back at L’Abri tomorrow.’ But she couldn’t help wondering, as she and Vivienne left him, whether Thierry was fonder of Olivia than he was admitting.
Leaving Maxine and Vivienne to make their own way to the station, Thierry turned and made for the Quai Antoine 1er, where he hoped Olivia would meet him soon. Twenty minutes later and the two of them were mingling with the crowds walking along the quay.
‘How much time have we got before you have to leave?’ Olivia asked. ‘Or are you in town over tonight?’
‘If you remember, Papa and I always used to stay after the Grand Prix,’ Thierry said. ‘Felicity has offered me a bed for the night. Said she doesn’t see any reason to change that arrangement.’
‘Of course she doesn’t,’ Olivia said, smiling. ‘My maman will stop at nothing to force me to spend time with any man she thinks suitable in the hope that she can marry me off and, I’m sorry, but she clearly thinks you’re a suitable candidate. Providing a bed for you for the night is no problem.’
‘Maxine’s already warned me she’s on the case.’
Olivia groaned. ‘I knew it. Somehow we have to get her to accept that she’s wasting her time. That we’re just good friends, like we’ve always been. I’ll tell her, but she never listens to me, especially when she’s got an idea into her head, so you’re going to have to tell her too.’
‘I’ll tell her not to get her hopes pinned on me,’ Thierry agreed.
‘And I’ll point out that you’re currently unemployed and plan on becoming down and out rather than jumping back on the career ladder and, with luck, she’ll back-pedal so fast, we won’t see her go.’
‘The phrase down and out should do it,’ Thierry said, laughing. ‘But I seriously hope it doesn’t come to that.’
‘Well, if you want a lift back to Antibes early tomorrow morning,’ Olivia said, ‘Daisy and I will be leaving about eight o’clock.’
‘Perfect timing for me, thank you.’
Olivia gave a happy sigh as they walked further along the quay. ‘I love the evening atmosphere after the Grand Prix,’ she said. ‘Everyone is happy and in a party mood. Tomorrow it will all begin to get back to normal.’
‘Thierry. Olivia,’ a voice shouted from the deck of one of the yachts. They both turned and saw a mutual friend, Alexander, holding up a champagne bottle. ‘Come on board. Join the party.’
‘Would you like to?’ Thierry said. ‘We can politely refuse and keep walking.’
‘We don’t have to stay long, but it could be fun,’ Olivia said, waving hello to Alexander.
Five minutes later, they were on board, each holding a glass of champagne. Olivia’s heart sank a little as she realised Alexander wasn’t the only person she knew. There were also a couple of women she went to school with. Women whose mothers knew Felicity and often met up on the ‘ladies who lunch’ circuit. Felicity was sure to be interested in hearing Thierry and her daughter had been at this particular party together.
21
Felicity insisted on giving Olivia and Thierry breakfast before they left Monaco on Monday morning, ignoring Olivia’s protests.
‘We were going to have breakfast when we got back to Antibes.’
‘Well, you can have it with your father and me instead,’ Felicity said. ‘Pierre and Thierry always had breakfast with us the Monday morning after the Grand Prix. Finished the weekend off nicely. They usually stayed on for lunch too. Why don’t you?—’
Knowing what was coming, Olivia interrupted. ‘No. I can’t. Thierry has asked me for a lift back, but if he wants us to stay for breakfast, that’s fine. I’m not staying for lunch.’
Olivia closed her eyes and gave a heavy sigh. Her mother was impossible and totally out of order, but there was zero chance of her taking no for an answer to them staying for breakfast.
‘Breakfast would be great, Felicity, but unfortunately I too have to get back, so lunch is a no-go today. Another time maybe?’ Thierry said, flashing her a disarming smile.
It was an hour before they were able to say goodbye and make for the underground garage.
Thierry placed his overnight bag in the pink taxi and looked at Olivia questioningly.
‘What?’ she asked.
‘I’ve never driven a London taxi. It would be something to put on my new CV.’
