The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,16

say anything because I didn’t have a clue.’

Christian remained silent, keeping his eyes on the road. As the family chauffeur both by car and boat, it was impossible not to imagine that he knew more than he was saying.

‘You know what?’

‘Not until you tell me, Electra.’ Christian offered me a glimmer of a smile.

‘When I was in all that trouble at school, and you’d come and collect me, you and your car became my safe space.’

‘And what is a safe space?’

‘Oh, it’s therapy-speak for somewhere you can be in your imagination or in a remembered reality that makes you happy. I often dreamt about you arriving outside to take me away.’

‘Then I am honoured.’ Christian gave me a genuine smile this time.

‘Did you just apply for the job with Pa?’ I probed again.

‘Your father knew me from when I was a young boy. I lived . . . locally, and he helped me – and my mother – a lot.’

‘You mean he was a father figure to you?’

‘Yes,’ Christian agreed after a pause. ‘He was.’

‘Then maybe you are the mysterious seventh sister!’ I chuckled.

‘Your father was a very kind man and his loss is deep for all of us.’

Was Pa kind or controlling? Or was he both? I pondered as we hit the outskirts of Paris and joined the autoroute to Geneva. I reclined my seat and closed my eyes.

‘Electra, we are at the jetty,’ whispered a soft voice into my ear.

I came to and blinked in the bright light, which I then realised was the reflection of the sun on the glassy surface of Lake Geneva.

‘I slept for four hours solid,’ I said in surprise as I got out of the car. ‘Told you you were my safe place,’ I grinned at him as he opened the trunk. ‘I just need the holdall – you can leave the rest in there until tomorrow.’

Christian locked the car then walked ahead of me to the pontoon where the speedboat was moored. He offered me his hand to help me aboard then went about doing whatever he needed to before we could set off and I settled myself on the soft leather bench at the stern. I thought how, on the way to Atlantis, I always felt excited at the prospect of arriving. And then on the way back, how I normally felt relief that I was leaving.

Maybe this time it’ll be different, I told myself, then sighed because that was also something I always felt.

Christian fired up the engine and we began the short journey to my childhood home. For a late March day, it was warm and I enjoyed the feeling of sun on my face, and my hair streaming behind me.

As we approached the peninsula on which Atlantis stood, I craned my neck for an early view through the trees. It was a spectacular house – a little like a Disney chateau because it was so pretty. And very unlike Pa, I thought to myself. He’d had a minimal wardrobe; to my knowledge he’d only ever worn the same three jackets: a linen one for the summer, a tweed one for the winter, and another of indeterminate fabric that he wore in between seasons. His bedroom was so sparsely furnished it looked like something a priest would inhabit. I’d wondered whether he was secretly doing penance for some crime he’d committed in the past, but whatever . . . As we approached the jetty by Atlantis, I reflected that his wardrobe and bedroom sure were a paradox when compared to the rest of the house.

Ma was already standing waiting for me, waving excitedly. She was dressed immaculately as always, and I noticed her bouclé skirt was one from Chanel that I’d managed to sneak from a sample rack because I knew she would love it.

‘Electra! Chérie, what an unexpected surprise!’ she said as she reached up on tiptoe and I bent down so she could kiss me on both cheeks and put her arms around my shoulders. Then she stepped back and appraised me. ‘You look as beautiful as always, but I think you are too thin. Never mind, Claudia has the ingredients ready to make you your favourite blueberry pancakes, should you wish. Did you know that Ally is here with her new baby?’

‘Yes, Christian said. I can’t wait to meet my nephew,’ I said as I followed her up the path and through the gardens that fronted the house and led down to the lake. The smell