‘I haven’t had time.’
‘Bastard!’
A mischievous glint entered his eyes. ‘That’s only partially the truth. Although I have been swamped with business, I really haven’t wanted to sleep with anyone but you.’ He pushed his face into her hair, murmured against her ear, ‘You’ve really got my number, babe.’
She laughed at this remark, which was so unlike anything he would normally say, slithered off the bed, padded into the bathroom. She reappeared with a large towel, paused to turn on the ceiling fan, glided back to the bed. Clambering on to it she dried his body with the towel, then wiped her own.
‘It’s so warm in here, we’re both covered with perspiration,’ she said. ‘You don’t mind the fan, do you? I thought it would cool us off.’
‘It won’t cool me off, babe, not when you’re around,’ he replied, giving her a cheeky, boyish grin.
A secretive, knowing smile slid onto Camilla’s face. She crouched next to him, began to flutter her hands over his body as he had done to her earlier. And slowly, joyously, she began to make love to him with her hands and her mouth, until his breathing became shallow, harsh. And when he could no longer stand her ministrations, thought he was going to explode, he moved onto her with speed, braced himself over her body, and took her again.
***
‘Am I too heavy?’ Maxim asked.
‘No, I like to feel you on top of me.’
Nevertheless, after kissing her cheek, he rolled off her body, and fell back against the pillow. ‘Is there a bottle of water up here, Cam?’
‘Yes, I’ll get it. I’m thirsty myself.’ Camilla went to the chest near the window, opened the bottle, poured two tall glasses, and brought them back to the bed, handed one to Maxim.
He said, after a moment, ‘I’ve a confession to make.’
‘What?’
‘It wasn’t Stubby’s idea to come here to visit David. It was mine.’
‘Oh.’
‘I was in Paris at the end of June. I kept phoning your apartment, before I flew down to Monte to pick up the yacht. I tried for several days. Finally I got your maid. She told me you’d gone to Tangier, that you were staying at the El Minzah. So I phoned the hotel, only to be told by them that you’d checked out. I pressed them for a forwarding address, and they said you were staying with David Maines.’
‘Why were you looking for me?’
‘Surely you know.’
She did not answer him.
He said, ‘You can’t deny there’s a strong sexual attraction between us.’
‘Is that why you came then?’
‘Yes.’
‘Sure of me, weren’t you?’ she remarked, staring at him sharply.
‘Not really. But I’m forty-seven years old, and so are you, and we’re not children. There is a tremendous sexual bonding between us. In fact, leave us alone together for a few minutes and we inevitably end up in bed these days.’
She continued to stare at him without uttering a word.
‘Admit it, Camilla. You know very well how much we turn each other on, satisfy each other in bed.’
‘Yes,’ she said at last. But she was in love with him. That was the difference between them. Still, she had no intention of telling him how she felt about him. Obviously he did not love her. Oh, he was fond of her, she knew. But that was all.
‘There was another reason I was trying to find you. I wanted to invite you to join us on the cruise.’ He reached out, slid a finger along her cheekbone, gave her an affectionate smile. ‘Will you join us for the next couple of weeks?’
‘Why?’
‘I need you, Cam.’
‘But for how long will you need me?’
‘I just told you, we’ll be sailing around the Med for two more weeks.’
‘I didn’t mean that, and you know I didn’t, Maxim.’
He nodded. ‘I understand what you’re getting at.’
‘I told you earlier, in the garden, I won’t become your mistress.’
‘It’s marriage you want, I realise. I can’t promise you that… let’s go slowly, see what happens, how we get on in close proximity for two weeks on the yacht. So, will you come?’
‘I’ll think about it.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re maddening,’ he muttered, bending over her, bringing his mouth to hers. And slowly, expertly, he made love to her again.
FIFTY-THREE
‘I’m very glad you came with us on the cruise, darling girl,’ Stubby said to Camilla one morning, as they sat having coffee in the boat deck lounge. This had become a daily ritual with the two of them, since they both wanted to avoid the glaring morning sun, preferred the cool shade of the lounge.
‘So am I,’ Camilla replied, smiling at him. ‘The last two weeks have been marvellous for me.’
‘You’ve certainly done Maxim good. I’ve noticed he’s much more relaxed when you’re around. He’s been lonely since the divorce, Camilla. You’re very attentive to him, to his needs, you make him feel good, I can tell.’
‘I love him,’ she blurted out before she could stop herself, then sat back in the chair, shook her head. ‘Oh dear, I do have a big mouth, don’t I? I didn’t mean to tell you that, Stubby.’
‘Oh, but I knew, I’ve known for years. You’ve been in love with Duke since 1959. Right?’
Camilla was slightly startled by his remark, asked swiftly, ‘Has it been so obvious?’
‘Not at all. But you were never interested in me in those days, certainly not sexually, when we were… er… er… stepping out, shall we say? You were forever asking me questions about him. One day the penny dropped. But your secret’s safe with me.’ Stubby grinned, squeezed her arm. ‘You’re a good kid, Camilla.’
‘Some kid,’ she laughed.
‘Anyway, I hope you’re going to stick around.’
‘I’m not sure what you mean by that, Stubby?’
‘After the cruise. There is life after this, you know,’ he pointed out with a chuckle.
‘David wants me to star in the film he’s writing—’
‘I know,’ Stubby cut in. ‘He tells me so every day at lunch. And I’ll say this for him, he’s very dedicated, even on the cruise. Locked up in his cabin all morning, every morning, hard at it. However, I was actually referring to Maxim… what I meant was, I hope you’re going to stay with him.’
‘I have no idea… I don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Stubby looked at her carefully. ‘Stay with him, Camilla. He needs you.’
Camilla gave her old friend a hard stare, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Eventually she said, ‘I wish I knew what he truly felt about me. Maxim is very close; he doesn’t reveal his feelings.’
‘He has great affection for you, anyone can see that,’ Stubby reassured her. ‘The two of you seem to be very compatible and you obviously enjoy being together. Look here…’ Stubby leaned forward, fixed his pale-blue eyes on her, ‘… if two people are still on speaking terms, after close confinement on a yacht for two weeks, then they’ve got it made, in my opinion.’
‘I notice you haven’t mentioned the word love, Stubby.’
‘Don’t quibble. You’re not seventeen. Neither is Duke. You’re both forty-seven. And, actually, I think you’re damned lucky to have what you have together, in this lousy world we live in. The two of you do have a lot going for you, which is more than I can say about most couples I know.’
‘Hasn’t Maxim ever said anything about me to you? Mentioned the way he feels?’
‘No,’ Stubby fibbed. After a moment he cleared his throat, and said, in all truthfulness, ‘Maxim is a very private man, he’d never confide anything like that, discuss in detail the intimate side of his life. He’s a gentleman, you know.’
Camilla nodded, drew closer to Stubby, murmured, ‘It’s just… Frankly, Stubby, I don’t want to end up being his mistress. As much as I care for him, that role’s not for me.’
‘I understand. Still, I do think y
ou ought to stick around. If not for Maxim’s sake, then for another excellent reason.’
‘What’s that?’
‘For your own sake, Camilla. He’s very good for you too. You’re looking wonderful, better than I’ve seen you in years, and there isn’t an ounce of strain left in you. In fact, you’re positively blooming. Ask David. He agrees with me.’
‘Oh, so you’ve been talking about me behind my back, have you?’ she exclaimed, but there was a hint of jocularity in her voice.
‘And very fondly.’
Camilla smiled at him but made no response. She sat quite still, staring through the door towards the deep-blue Mediterranean, admitting that Stubby spoke the truth. Maximilian West was good for her. She had never felt as happy in her life. From the moment she had stepped on board Beautiful Dreamer, Maxim had treated her affectionately, and with respect, had shown her every consideration. His gallant treatment of her aside, they laughed a lot, talked endlessly about a variety of things, thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. And then there were their nights of passionate lovemaking. His desire for her had not waned—in fact, he did not seem able to get enough of her. She felt the same about him.
She had quickly begun to realise that she had never really known Maximilian West properly. Their friendship over the years had been rather superficial. He had been a married man, not in the least interested in her, and so she had carefully buried her feelings for him. Then again, during the three months they had been involved in New York last year, their time together had been limited. Snatched moments, a night or two a week, Sundays. The chief reason for the infrequency of their meetings was their conflicting hours. She was starring in a hit Broadway play; he was running a billion-dollar empire. As he was going to bed, she was walking off a stage, ready to go out to dine and relax. They had always been out of sync somehow, as far as time was concerned.
But in the two weeks they had been cruising around the Balearic Isles and Sardinia, they had been together constantly, hardly ever out of each other’s sight, except when Maxim worked in the mornings, and early evenings before dinner. In consequence, she had acquired a better understanding of him. She had always been in love with him; now she genuinely liked him, saw his many qualities as a human being—his kindness, his integrity, his compassion for people. He was a good man. She was aware that he could be tough and hard-nosed about business, perhaps even a bit ruthless. Nonetheless, he was a man of character and honour, and she admired him.
Maybe Stubby is right, Camilla now thought. Maybe I should stay with Maxim. He wants me to, he’s said so several times. And what’s wrong with being his mistress? The gossip, she thought. I don’t want to cope with the gossip, the publicity. Oh, to hell with all that… who cares what the rest of the world thinks? I can’t live my life for the world. I must be true to myself… I want to be with Maxim…
‘Penny for your thoughts,’ Stubby said.
‘You can have them for nothing.’ Camilla flashed him a lovely smile. ‘I was thinking that perhaps… Well, I might take your advice, and stick around. After all, who cares what the world thinks?’
Stubby was momentarily startled by this comment. His brows knitted. ‘You’re too mature to worry about that sort of nonsense, love. Too big. And far, far above it. Besides, Maxim hasn’t compromised you in any way on the yacht. You have your stateroom, he has his own cabin—’
‘Speaking of that, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you,’ Camilla interrupted. ‘Maxim moved out of his stateroom when I came on board and gave it to me. Which was lovely of him, very considerate. But I don’t understand why he doesn’t have a stateroom of his own. I thought there were three on this yacht.’
‘There are. You have one. Marcia and I have the other. The third is kept permanently locked.’
‘Why?’
‘It belongs to Anastasia. Only she uses it.’
Camilla stared at him, perplexed. ‘I still don’t understand.’
‘When they got divorced, Maxim said she could have anything she wanted. The house in Mayfair, the villa in Beaulieu, the Fifth Avenue apartment, this yacht. Literally anything. Everything, if she so desired. But the only thing she asked for was her stateroom on the yacht. To use when she came on board to go cruising with Maxim and the children. She also told him she would prefer it if no one else used it. He respects her wishes. It’s locked. Unless she’s around, of course.’
‘Why only the stateroom? Why didn’t she ask for the yacht?’
Stubby leaned forward, said in a confiding voice, ‘Anastasia didn’t want anything from Maxim, except enough money to live on comfortably. None of the grand homes, nor this yacht. She didn’t divorce him because she hated him, you know. She divorced him because she loved him far too much, so she wasn’t out to skin him alive. Actually her love was rather obsessive, possessive. Anastasia built her life around him, made him the be-all-and-end-all of it, the centre of her existence.’ Stubby pursed his lips, shook his head sadly. ‘Not healthy. For anyone concerned. She eventually realised this, and she left him, to save herself, in a sense.’
‘But Maxim loved her. Surely she knew that,’ Camilla ventured.
‘She did. However, she couldn’t cope with his life, his business, his work schedule. He’s not a nine-to-five man, and he never has been. He’s driven, ambitious, and brilliant at what he does—’
‘Why does he do it? Why does he keep acquiring more and more companies, expanding his business?’
‘He’s an empire-builder by nature, the maker of a dynasty. And he can’t help the way he’s made, Camilla. He’s brilliant at it, as I just said.’
‘But surely he has enough money by now. He’s a multi-millionaire.’
Stubby half smiled. ‘It has nothing to do with money. It has to do with his need to create, the excitement of wheeling and dealing, of meeting immense challenges, plus the satisfaction he derives from what he does. Listen, it’s rather like asking me why a mountaineer wants to climb Mount Everest.’
‘Why does he?’
‘Because it’s there to climb. To conquer. Maxim has to conquer, too.’
‘But didn’t Anastasia understand that?’ Camilla asked softly, raising a brow.
‘I think she did. But understanding didn’t make it any easier to accept. At least not for her. I’ve always felt she has a very fragile psyche… I think a woman’s got to have a streak of toughness in her to cope with Maxim’s way of life.’ He paused, then added, ‘You could do it. You could cope.’
‘Are you saying I’m tough?’ she exclaimed, throwing him a challenging look.
‘I hope to God you are! Yes, you do have a certain toughness in you, Camilla, you’re a survivor. Please don’t misunderstand me. When I say toughness I mean resilience, strength, the will and the capability to bounce back. Don’t confuse the word tough with the word hard. There’s a big difference. A woman who has a bit of toughness in her can also be emotional, feminine, sensitive, soft and loving. All the things you are—’
‘Thanks for those nice words, Stubby.’
He smiled. ‘On the other hand, a hard woman is totally without emotion, or feelings. Hard-bitten.’
‘What you’re saying is that Anastasia wasn’t resilient enough to cope with the pressures and stresses of Maxim’s life, the demands his business makes on his life.’
‘Exactly. Plus his total dedication to it, his absorption in it. But look, that’s all water under the bridge. As you probably know, Anastasia had a nervous breakdown just before the divorce, but she’s much better now, making tremendous strides.’
‘They’re friends, he told me…’
‘Yes. She still loves him, worships the ground he walks on actually. But it’s an arm’s-length friendship. I think that’s the only way she can handle it, loving him the way she does. I’m sure she doesn’t want to expose herself to his lifestyle again.’
Camilla nodded, remained silent. She was longing to ask Stubby if Maxim was still in love with Anastasia, but she held her
tongue. She preferred not to know what his feelings were about his former wife.
David Maines suddenly walked into the boat deck lounge, exclaiming, ‘Good morning! Good morning!’ and so curtailed any further conversation about Anastasia.
David said, ‘Phew! It’s bloody hot out there this morning. Blistering. Mind if I join you for a cup of coffee? Or is this a private confab?’
‘Of course it isn’t,’ Camilla replied; rising, she went to the sideboard, poured a cup of coffee for David and brought it to him. She placed it on the table next to him, and he said, ‘Thanks, darling.’
‘How’s the script coming along?’ Stubby asked.
David raised his thumbs. ‘Pretty terrific. I’ve discovered I like writing on a yacht. There’s a splendid isolation about it, no distractions.’
At this moment, Maxim appeared, stood framed in the doorway, holding a sheaf of documents in his hands. He lolled against the door frame nonchalantly. ‘Good morning, chaps. I’m just off to do a few hours’ work, but before I disappear I wanted you to know I’m considering extending the cruise for another ten days. Who’s game?’ Although he addressed them all, his brilliant dark eyes were levelled on Camilla as he spoke.
‘I am, darling,’ she said at once with a loving smile.
David said, ‘Count me in, Skipper.’
‘What a splendid idea, Duke!’ Stubby exclaimed. ‘Marcia and I would love it.’
Maxim beamed at them. ‘The Lanes and the Turners are disembarking tomorrow, as planned, to fly back to London and the States respectively. So it’ll just be the five of us.’
FIFTY-FOUR
The ten days became two weeks.
Beautiful Dreamer sailed down to Sicily, went on to Malta, and ventured into the Ionian Sea, where she dropped anchor at several Greek islands. Eventually she turned around and cruised back the way she had come, heading in the direction of Tangier.
Now that the other guests had left, it seemed to Camilla that Maxim was even more relaxed and at ease. Furthermore, much to her delight, he was spending a great deal of time with her, did not seem able to get enough of her company. Although he worked every day during the week for a few hours, he was attentive, considerate of her needs, full of warmth. At night, in the privacy of her stateroom, he was as passionate as he had been a month ago when he had first arrived in Tangier looking for her.