was telling her. That is how a man wants his woman—
flirtatious, flattering, attentive.
Mrs. Lillitos rose soon after Marc had gone, and said
that she was going to her room to rest.
“I will come with you, Maman,” said Helene, slipping
an arm around her. “We have so much to talk about, you
and I.”
Marie-Louise yawned. “I might as well have a nap
myself. If Marc is going to be boring, I might as well not
have come.”
Sam and Pallas stood up, too, as Mrs. Lillitos walked
slowly out of the room. Pallas said, “A game of tennis,
Sam?” and Sam nodded.
Kate was taken back to find herself thus left alone
with Jean-Paul.
“You are also going to sleep?” he asked her, as she rose
instinctively.
She shook her head, smiling. “I think I’ll take a stroll
in the garden. I’ve been ill for a few days and I need the
fresh air ”
“May I come, too?” he asked, head to one side,
scrutinising her.
“Why not?” she returned politely, and they went out
into the garden.
They walked beneath an arched trellis, hanging with
vines, out on to the lawn. The cypress trees and flower
beds gave a quiet grace to the little garden, which was
framed in a close-set hedge.
“Tell me about yourself,” said Jean-Paul. “A
schoolteacher, Marc said—how did you come to meet