of his cognac – ‘how are you?’
‘I’m okay,’ I shrugged. ‘How is Ma? And Claudia?’
‘They are well, yes. They are both in good health.’
‘I often wonder what they do with themselves these days, now that we’re gone and so is Pa.’
‘I wouldn’t worry about that, Electra. They keep very busy.’
‘And what about you?’
‘There is always a lot to do on the estate and it is rare for a month to go by without a visit from one or more of your sisters. Ally is at Atlantis now with her beautiful son, Bear.’
‘Ma must be in heaven.’
‘I think she is, yes.’ Christian gave me a rare smile. ‘He is the first of the next generation. Marina feels needed again and it is good to see her happy.’
‘How is Bear? My nephew,’ I added, surprised by the word.
‘He is as perfect as all newborn babies are.’
‘Does he cry, scream sometimes?’ I probed. Christian was another person whom I, along with my sisters, technically employed, yet tonight his deference irked me.
‘Oh, he does sometimes, yes, but what baby does not?’
‘Do you remember when I was at home?’
‘Of course I do, yes.’
‘I mean, when I was a baby?’
‘When you were a baby, I was only nine, Electra.’
Ah! So Christian must be about thirty-five . . .
‘But I’m sure I remember you driving the boat when I was very young.’
‘Yes, but your father was always there to make sure I was proficient before he let me skipper it alone.’
‘Oh my God!’ I put a hand to my mouth as a memory came flooding back to me. ‘Do you remember when I was about thirteen and ran away from school to Atlantis? And then Pa told me I had to go back and at least try again because I hadn’t given it a chance? And I so didn’t want to go, so I jumped off the boat in the middle of Lake Geneva and tried to swim to the shore.’
Christian’s warm brown eyes showed me he did. ‘How could I forget? You nearly drowned – you hadn’t thought to take off your coat before you jumped and you’d gone underwater. For a short time I couldn’t find you . . .’ He shook his head. ‘It was one of the worst moments of my life. If I’d have lost you . . .’
‘Pa would have been mad, all right,’ I agreed, trying to lighten the atmosphere because Christian looked like he was about to cry.
‘I would never have forgiven myself, Electra.’
‘Well, at least the stunt partially worked. He didn’t make me go back to school for another few days.’
‘No.’
‘So how long are you in Paris for?’
‘I leave tomorrow. You?’
‘Sunday evening. I just changed my flight this afternoon, but then my date stood me up,’ I shrugged.
‘Then you should come back with me to Atlantis and meet your nephew. I have the car here so I could drive you. Everyone would be very happy to see you.’
‘You think so?’ I shook my head. ‘I don’t.’
‘Why do you say that? Marina and Claudia are always talking about you. They keep a scrapbook with all your modelling shoots in it.’
‘Do they? That’s cute. Well, maybe some other time.’
‘If you change your mind, you have my number.’
‘I certainly do,’ I smiled. ‘It’s inked onto my brain. When things got bad at school, I knew you’d soon be there to rescue me.’
‘I should be heading back. I’m leaving early tomorrow morning.’ Christian signalled for the bill.
‘Where are you staying?’ I asked him.
‘In the same building where you stayed. Marina’s friend owns it.’
‘Really? I didn’t know that.’ A fleeting memory of my Parisian landlady – an ancient woman whose face bore the hallmarks of a lifetime of absinthe and cigarettes – floated back to me.
‘Anyway.’ Christian stood up. ‘If you change your mind, let me know. I’m leaving at seven a.m. Now, let me find you a taxi.’
As we walked, I enjoyed the fact that Christian was at least as tall as I was. He was also in crazily good shape, his muscled torso outlined beneath his white shirt. As he flagged down a cab, for some ridiculous reason, I felt like I had each time he’d left me at school and I’d watched him drive off, only wishing that I was in the car with him.
‘Where are you staying, Electra?’
‘The Ritz,’ I said as I climbed into the back of the cab.
‘Well, it’s been good to see you. Take care of yourself, won’t you?’
‘I will,’ I called through the window as