Stephanie Read Free Page B

Errol for lunch. He was better but his normal friendly yet devilish smile was tight-lipped and, she thought, forced.
    â€˜Have they gone?’
    â€˜They’ve gone.’
    â€˜Sorry I crashed in. I’d no idea.’
    â€˜Neither had I.’
    â€˜Who was the new man?’
    â€˜Just a colleague.’
    â€˜I didn’t think he liked me.’
    â€˜He’s only interested in business.’
    â€˜Well, I certainly didn’t like him.’
    They walked down the hill and through the hotel to one of the outside restaurants looking directly over the sea. They hadn’t spoken on the way down.
    When a waiter had taken their order she said: ‘Is he the sort of boss?’
    â€˜Who?’
    â€˜Mr Erasmus, of course.’
    â€˜He’s the head of the South Asian division of our group. That’s all. We’re only loosely associated.’
    â€˜He gave me the creeps.’
    â€˜Oh, lay off it. He’s all right. In a business like ours you have to meet all sorts.’
    â€˜Your business?’
    â€˜The travel business, of course. We’re expanding all the time. You have to be international these days if you want to move on.’
    His voice was abrupt and unfriendly. He was clearly still out of sorts. They hardly spoke then for a time, but a bit later he rounded on the obliging young waiter who had not brought quite what was ordered.
    When the man had gone scuttling away Errol said: ‘They’re too slow. It does them good now and then to get a kick up the backside … I see you don’t agree.’
    â€˜Well … a lot of famous men have done it, I know, but …’
    â€˜Done what?’
    â€˜Been rude to waiters. It always seems to me unsporting because they can’t answer back. Of course if they’re really inefficient or rude to you …’
    â€˜Which he wasn’t? Maybe you’re right. But you know with these cluster headaches I get very irritable, my dear.’
    â€˜These what?’
    â€˜Cluster headaches. It’s a form of migraine. Due, I’m told, to changes in my indole-peptide metabolism. Haven’t you noticed?’
    â€˜Should I have?’
    He laughed. ‘ Probably not. Except that I kept blowing my nose and scratching my head last night.’
    â€˜So what can you do for it?’
    â€˜Not much. Pain killers. But it’s soon over – usually less than a day. And not serious … Does it put you off?’
    â€˜Put me off ? Why ever should it?’
    â€˜My mother could never stand people with ailments. Said it made her feel unhealthy to mix with ’em.’
    In fact she rather warmed to this confession of physical weakness in a man so dominant. No doubt it explained his brusqueness today and the lack of that impish humour she found so engaging.
    She said: ‘Sorry I blundered in this morning.’
    â€˜Sorry I glowered. I assure you they were no more welcome! I just wanted to lie in the dark!’
    â€˜You’re better now?’
    â€˜Yep. Did you see the cash on the table?’
    â€˜What? Cash? Yes. It’s not my business.’
    â€˜Nor is it. But you see we’re thinking of opening a theme park in Agra, and –’
    â€˜Ugh! … Sorry …’
    â€˜It isn’t as bad as it sounds. Just a development. The Indians themselves are in favour of it.’
    â€˜But that surely means big money.’
    He laughed. ‘ Today we were only dealing with their commission. In India transactions can’t be arranged any other way.’
    After lunch they dozed for a while in a couple of the chaises longues, the Caryota palms and the banana trees wafting sun and shadow over them as the fronds moved in the breeze. Presently he threw his paperback down and said he thought he’d like to see Krishna again.
    â€˜He was looking for you this morning.’
    â€˜I’ll bet.’
    She went with him; the sun was still hot as they strolled