prospect of being stripped naked of the armour which had always
protected her, she was like a lost animal, he could even see that
flutter of her heart under the pale swelling flesh of her bosom, and she
shivered again.
Could he lose everything, Nicholas? He couldn't, could he? She wanted
assurance, but he could not give it to her, all he could give her was
pity. Pity was the one emotion, probably the only one, she had never
aroused in him, not once in all the years he had known her.
What can I do, Nicholas? she pleaded. Please help me.
Oh God, what must I do? You can stop Duncan launching Golden Dawn -
until the hull and propulsion has been modified, until it has been
properly surveyed and underwritten - and until you have taken full
control of Christy Marine out of his hands again. And his voice was
gentle, filled with his compassion as he told her.
That's enough for one day, Chantelle. If we go on now, we will be
chasing our tails. Tonight you know what could happen, tomorrow we will
discuss how we can prevent it. Have you a Valium? She shook her head.
I've never used drugs to hide from things, he knew, that she had never
lacked true courage. How much longer can you stay?
I have a seat on the eleven o'clock plane. I have tonight we'll have
time be back in London by tomorrow morning. The guest suite opened on
to the second-floor balcony which ran along the entire front of the
building overlooking the sea and the private harbour. The five main
bedrooms all opened on to this balcony, an arrangement from fifty years
previously when internal security against kidnapping and forcible entry
had been of no importance Nicholas determined to speak to Chantelle
about that in the morning. Peter was an obvious target for extortion,
and he felt the goose bumps of horror rise on his arms as he imagined
his son in the hands of those degenerate monsters who were everywhere
allowed to strike and destroy with impunity. There was a price to pay
these days for being rich and successful. The smell of it attracted the
hyenas and vultures. Peter must be better protected, he decided.
In the sitting-room, there was a well-stocked liquor cabinet concealed
behind mirrors, nothing so obvious and resoundingly middle-class as a
private bar. The daily papers, in English, French and German were set
out on the television table, France Soir, The Times, Allgemeine Zeitung,
with even an airmail version of the New York Times.
Nicholas flipped open The Times and glanced quickly at the closing
prices. Christy Marine common stock was at 532P, up on yesterday's
prices. The market had not sniffed corruption - yet.
He pulled off his silk roll-neck, and even though he had bathed three
hours previously, the tension had left his skin feeling itchy and
unclean. The bathroom had been lavishly redecorated in green onyx
panels and the fittings were eighteen-carat gold, in the shape of
dolphins. Steaming water gushed from their gaping mouths at a touch.
It could have been vulgar, but Chantelle's unerring touch steered it
into Persian opulence instead.
He showered, turning the setting high so that the stinging needles of
water scalded away his fatigue and the feeling of being unclean.
