Perhaps it’s helping me, this reaction to him. Perhaps it’s allowing me, enabling me, to start what I know I must do. What he himself has told me I have to do. To accept that the life I have known till now is ending. Perhaps he can help me accept that.
Perhaps,the thought came now and with it a kind of sweet, poignant sadness,he can be my swan song…
Let her say goodbye to her home with something other than bitterness and anguish.
Something sweeter than that.
Lycos glanced at his watch. It was a favourite possession, bought in the first flush of his wealth. One of the many signifiers of that wealth that he had purchased since he had transformedhimself into what he was. Right now, though, it was telling him something that had nothing to do with his wealth.
‘We should probably make a move,’ he said. ‘The hens will be getting hungry for their supper. Speaking of which…’ he looked across at Arielle, ‘…what do you say to a picnic-style supper for ourselves? Save on cooking. Do you know a good delicatessen hereabouts?’
She did, it seemed, and they made their way there, his purchases lavish. Then, leaving Arielle to go into a nearbyboulangerie,he spotted a shop opposite that interested him. He emerged before Arielle did and waited for her on the pavement. They headed to where he’d parked his car, then drove along the narrow streets to leave the town. As he returned to the open road, changed gear and sped up, he relaxed back. He was glad to be heading back to themas. He glanced across at Arielle beside him. Her hands were folded in her lap and she was looking out of the windscreen.
She looked effortlessly lovely.
He drove on, musing as to what his feeling was. It was strange to him. Then he identified it.
It was contentment.
A novel feeling. Strange to him indeed. A welcome one. A pleasant one.
And one that came with another. His glance went to Arielle again.
Anticipation.
He felt the feeling merge and mingle, uniting in him. Different from anything he’d known before.
But it felt good.
Better than anything he’d known before.
‘Shut your eyes a moment.Et voilà!’
Arielle did as she was bid, then opened her eyes again. They widened even more as she saw what Lycos was holding out.
‘Oh, how beautiful!’ she exclaimed.
‘Isn’t it?’ he agreed smiling. ‘I saw it in the little shop across from theboulangerieand couldn’t resist it. Here, let me try it on you.’
He stepped forward, the beautiful gossamer shawl, in myriad hues of blue and threaded with silver, was swirled around her shoulders. He stepped away again.
‘Perfect,’ he announced with satisfaction. ‘I knew it would be. It matches your eyes. Do you like it?’
‘Who could not?’ Arielle replied. ‘But I can’t possibly keep it.’ She started to undrape it, but he stopped her.
‘Of course you can,’ he said. ‘It’s a present.’
She looked at him. ‘Why?’
‘I am your guest,’ he said. ‘A guest should always give their hostess a present.’
Her lips pressed together. ‘I’m not your hostess and you are not my guest. If anything, I am yours.’
‘Don’t be argumentative. And don’t take off the shawl. The evening is a little chilly. Besides, I like to see you in it.’
His eyes rested on her and Arielle found she could not meet them. Found, too, that her pulse had quickened. There was no reason, none, for Lycos to give her anything at all. Let alone what was clearly a pricey gift, for she knew that little shop he’d got it from and it only stocked expensive items.
‘Now…’ he was continuing, drawing back her chair at the table as the dusk gathered, ‘…we shall toast our highly enjoyable outing today and plan what to do tomorrow.’
