Only then does he look at Rose. ‘We’re going now,’ he says grandly.
She nods pleasantly at him.
‘Where is Grazia?’ Bernard becomes aware that his wife has not followed him, and he doesn’t get into the limo, staring into the foyer of the hotel as if strength of determination alone can magic her beside him.
India and Keera appear along with Dianne, who is holding on to her phone checking messages.
Bernard appears uncomfortable in this small crowd.
‘Goodbye to you all,’ he says stiffly, surprised to see them all assembled. ‘I trust we won’t meet again.’
‘That’s very rude,’ says Keera.
She is standing beside Dan, and Rose watches her pat him on the arm.
‘You looked a bit ropey on the beach, Dan,’ says Keera. ‘How are you now?’
India is clearly still ignoring him.
Rose had noticed that India didn’t so much as look once at Dan when they were on the beach.
He hurt India; there’s no doubt about it.
Rose watches Dan leave his place beside Keera, walk over to India and take her hand.
India begins to pull it away and then stops.
She might let him speak.
‘I have to apologise, India,’ he says so quietly that Rose has to move closer to hear. ‘I behaved badly. I am really sorry …’ he stops.
The group are all pretending not to listen.
‘I feel bad about running off on you,’ he says finally.
India says nothing for a beat.
‘It was very hurtful,’ she says.
‘Chauvinistic,’ says Keera loudly.
‘I know,’ says Dan, ‘but I didn’t mean to hurt you.’
Finally, India pulls her hand from his.
She can do without this complicatedI’m-just-not-into-youconversation.
Just then, Grazia appears and everyone turns.
She’s dressed in a golden swimsuit with an expensive silk cover-up floating around her body. She’s not holding her usual little handbag, although she has her cigarettes and lighter in one hand. She looks beautiful and is smiling as if she’s just been given a huge prize.
‘Where are your things, Grazia?’ demands Bernard. ‘Why aren’t you ready?’
‘Because I’m not going yet,’ she says, moving closer to him, a waft of silk slithering behind her.
‘Why not?’ he asks.
‘You know why,’ Grazia says flatly. Her gaze burns all over him.
