Page 62 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 5-8

‘That’s really not necessary,’ she said. Yet she moved to take it anyway.

‘I was taught to be a gentleman,’ he murmured into her ear and relishing the scent of her, sweet and floral. ‘It’s absolutely necessary.’

She sank into the chair as he pushed it in. Was it his imagination or did she sit a little fast, as if her knees wouldn’t hold her up? Not so unaffected as she pretended, then. He grabbed a bottle of champagne from the ice-bucket and deftly opened it with a quiet hiss, pouring a glass for each of them. He’d asked Ricci to leave them alone as much as possible tonight. Seduction couldn’t start with too much interruption.

‘When will we reach land?’

In such a hurry to leave...or perhaps she’d forgotten some things that she needed. They’d left in a little bit of a rush in the end.

He smiled, trying not to take it too personally. ‘Tomorrow, in Nice. Would you like to do some shopping there? Or perhaps in Paris when we arrive? This afternoon I asked my banker to extend you a line of credit, and that’ll be available to you by the time we reach shore.’

Her eye’s widened, gleaming like tropical pools in the soft light. ‘I...thank you. I have my own things. Enough, I think. Though you haven’t told me what might be expected of me.’

Expected? He wondered again about her life, supposing that it would be full of expectations, closely diarised. Whilst that was largely his life too, he still enjoyed moments of freedom with no plans, just going where the mood took him—something else to offer to her.

One of his staff arrived and served them with an entrée of scallops in their shells. Aston was confident she’d enjoy it. He’d asked Ricci to discover her likes and dislikes, her favourite foods.

Ana cut into the tender flesh and took a small mouthful. Her eyes briefly fluttered shut with pleasure. The look on her face...was that how she’d look when underneath him? That same kind of bliss? He hoped so. In fact, he’d ensure it.

‘There’s not a great deal planned,’ he said. Plans would come in time. A new wife for him—a confirmed bachelor known only for short-term relationships—would create a stir. The publicity would be good for Girard. Even his parents would be keen to exploit it. ‘I expect we’ll want to eat out, so a few casual dinners. Meeting my parents. My mother will want to impress, so it’s likely any dinner will be formal.’

He sampled his own entrée, which was as superb, as he’d expected.

‘Your parents?’

Perhaps, with his comment, Ana might think things were moving a little faster than she’d expected. ‘If they “catch wind” of you, so to speak. Should my mother find out I’m living with a woman, she’ll be curious, since I never have before. I’ve no immediate intention of telling her about you, though. You wanted time. I’m giving it to you.’

Ana seemed to relax at that, not sitting so stiffly any longer, and relishing the remains of her scallops. ‘Your father’s from Australia?’

Aston didn’t think too hard about why her knowledge of his family made him pleased. He liked that he interested her too.

‘Oui. He travelled to France to learn old-world wine-making techniques, which is how he met my mother.’

‘That sounds romantic.’

More talk of romance. He was now pleased he’d asked for the table to be dressed this way, and for lights to be strung.

‘They’ve been married over thirty years.’

His grandparents had been sceptical at the time, but his mother was a force of nature, and she wouldn’t listen to their pleas for caution when she told them she’d fallen in love with the Australian boy.

‘Have you been to Australia?’

Aston nodded. ‘My mother’s parents demanded their grandchildren be born in France, so my parents obliged. But my father wanted me to know his country, so I did a lot of my schooling there, spending summer holidays at the beach. Working in my father’s family’s vineyard.’

‘It sounds wonderful.’

They’d been some of the happiest times of his life with his Australian relatives. There was something relaxed about them. He’d gone to school during the week, and at the weekend had worked among the vines. He’d surfed and fished, living an idyllic life in the sunshine.

‘It was. I try to visit as often as I can.’

‘I’ve always wanted to travel there but I haven’t had a chance. There’s been no cause for someone from my family to visit in an official capacity.’

Aston finished his entrée. ‘What about holidays?’

‘My family always take their holidays locally, to support the economy.’

When there was a whole world out there to explore? He couldn’t imagine it. Poor princess.

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