obviously amused.
'We've always appreciated our French origins, though,' Sebire continued, 'and I'm pleased to say our associations have never been relinquished.'
'I gather you do not have the same warm feelings towards the Germans.'
'Ah, different thing entirely,' Platnauer voiced gruffly. 'Their wartime occupation is recent history and with their pill-boxes and damn coastal fortresses all over the place, it's hard to forget. Having said that, there's no real animosity between us now; in fact, many veterans of the occupying forces return as tourists nowadays.'
'It's rather strange how attractive this island has been to man from far, far back,' said Sebire, indicating his preference for the souffle, too. 'In Neolothic times, he made his way here to bury his dead and worship the gods. Massive granite tombs still survive and the land is practically littered with megaliths and menhirs, those standing stones they paid homage to. Aimee, why don't you show Edouard around the island tomorrow? He returns to Marseilles on Monday and hasn't had a chance to take a really good look at the place since he's been here. What do you think, Edouard?'
'I should like that very much,' replied the Frenchman.
'Unfortunately Jon and I have made plans for tomorrow.' Amy smiled, but there was a coolness in the look she flashed her father.
'Nonsense,' Sebire persisted, conscious of her annoyance, but undeterred. 'You see each other all the time at the college, and most evenings, it seems nowadays. I'm sure Jonathan wouldn't mind releasing you for a few hours considering how little time our guest has left.' He looked amiably along the table at Childes, who had been engaged in conversation with Vivienne Sebire, but whose attention had been drawn at the mention of his name.
'I, uh, I guess it's up to Amy,' he said uncertainly.
'There you are,' Sebire said, smiling at his daughter. 'No problem.'
Embarrassed, Vigiers started to say, 'It really does not matter. If-'
'That's quite all right, Edouard,' Sebire cut in. 'Aimee is well-used to helping entertain my business visitors. I often wish she had chosen my profession rather than teaching; she would have been a remarkable asset to the company, I'm sure of that.'
'You know I have no interest in corporate finance,' said Amy, disguising her chagrin at having little choice but to accept her imposed role as tourist guide. Jon, why didn't you help me? 'I enjoy children, I enjoy doing something useful. I'm not criticising, but your way of making money wouldn't be fulfilling enough for me. I need to see some tangible evidence of success for my efforts, not just figures on balance sheets.'
'And you find this with your students?' asked Vigiers.
'Why, yes, with many.'
'I'm sure with most, with you as their tutor,' Sebire put forward.
'Daddy, you're being patronising,' she warned menacingly.
The two men laughed together and Grace Duxbury said, 'Pay them no mind, Amy dear. They're both obviously of that near-extinct breed who imagine that men still rule the world. Tell me, Monsieur Vigiers, have you tried many of our restaurants during your stay? Tell me how you found them compared to some of the excellent cuisines of your own country.'
While the conversation went on, Amy glanced over at Childes. She tried to convey apology for the next day in her expression and he understood, shaking his head imperceptibly. He raised his wine glass, tilting it slightly in her direction before drinking; lifting her own glass, Amy returned the toast.
Helen had returned to the kitchen and was already loading the dishwasher with plates and cutlery from the sink. She was pleased for her mistress that the dinner party appeared to be going so well.
Miss Amy was lucky to have two men in attendance and Helen wondered how she could resist the smooth, cultured Frenchman,
'We've always appreciated our French origins, though,' Sebire continued, 'and I'm pleased to say our associations have never been relinquished.'
'I gather you do not have the same warm feelings towards the Germans.'
'Ah, different thing entirely,' Platnauer voiced gruffly. 'Their wartime occupation is recent history and with their pill-boxes and damn coastal fortresses all over the place, it's hard to forget. Having said that, there's no real animosity between us now; in fact, many veterans of the occupying forces return as tourists nowadays.'
'It's rather strange how attractive this island has been to man from far, far back,' said Sebire, indicating his preference for the souffle, too. 'In Neolothic times, he made his way here to bury his dead and worship the gods. Massive granite tombs still survive and the land is practically littered with megaliths and menhirs, those standing stones they paid homage to. Aimee, why don't you show Edouard around the island tomorrow? He returns to Marseilles on Monday and hasn't had a chance to take a really good look at the place since he's been here. What do you think, Edouard?'
'I should like that very much,' replied the Frenchman.
'Unfortunately Jon and I have made plans for tomorrow.' Amy smiled, but there was a coolness in the look she flashed her father.
'Nonsense,' Sebire persisted, conscious of her annoyance, but undeterred. 'You see each other all the time at the college, and most evenings, it seems nowadays. I'm sure Jonathan wouldn't mind releasing you for a few hours considering how little time our guest has left.' He looked amiably along the table at Childes, who had been engaged in conversation with Vivienne Sebire, but whose attention had been drawn at the mention of his name.
'I, uh, I guess it's up to Amy,' he said uncertainly.
'There you are,' Sebire said, smiling at his daughter. 'No problem.'
Embarrassed, Vigiers started to say, 'It really does not matter. If-'
'That's quite all right, Edouard,' Sebire cut in. 'Aimee is well-used to helping entertain my business visitors. I often wish she had chosen my profession rather than teaching; she would have been a remarkable asset to the company, I'm sure of that.'
'You know I have no interest in corporate finance,' said Amy, disguising her chagrin at having little choice but to accept her imposed role as tourist guide. Jon, why didn't you help me? 'I enjoy children, I enjoy doing something useful. I'm not criticising, but your way of making money wouldn't be fulfilling enough for me. I need to see some tangible evidence of success for my efforts, not just figures on balance sheets.'
'And you find this with your students?' asked Vigiers.
'Why, yes, with many.'
'I'm sure with most, with you as their tutor,' Sebire put forward.
'Daddy, you're being patronising,' she warned menacingly.
The two men laughed together and Grace Duxbury said, 'Pay them no mind, Amy dear. They're both obviously of that near-extinct breed who imagine that men still rule the world. Tell me, Monsieur Vigiers, have you tried many of our restaurants during your stay? Tell me how you found them compared to some of the excellent cuisines of your own country.'
While the conversation went on, Amy glanced over at Childes. She tried to convey apology for the next day in her expression and he understood, shaking his head imperceptibly. He raised his wine glass, tilting it slightly in her direction before drinking; lifting her own glass, Amy returned the toast.
Helen had returned to the kitchen and was already loading the dishwasher with plates and cutlery from the sink. She was pleased for her mistress that the dinner party appeared to be going so well.
Miss Amy was lucky to have two men in attendance and Helen wondered how she could resist the smooth, cultured Frenchman,
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