Sea Gem (30 page)

Little sparrow sensed she was going to win if she kept her nerve. The two hundred pounds was a good price so if she could squeeze more out for a ridiculous valuation it only went to show how
much Madam wanted her premises.

‘No!’ she said slowly. ‘My first price stands,’ and the tiny head bobbed sideways once more. ‘I do have another interested purchaser.’

Mary only just managed to keep her face calm as she wondered whether this was true.

‘Are the premises freehold and what about taxes?’ she asked, stalling for time, wondering how to attack next. She must have this place. She knew now she should have let James
negotiate for her but it was too late now.

‘You are a tough haggler,’ she said finally, unable to hold back a grudging smile.

‘I’m just a little old widow lady,’ sparrow replied evenly, eyes gleaming as victory moved a step nearer.

‘Oh very well,’ Mary told her, extending her hand. ‘Two hundred pounds plus stock at valuation.’

Sparrow shook the proffered hand and her eyes twinkled as Mary fumbled in her handbag.

‘And here’s five pounds as a deposit which you can pass to your lawyer,’ she said. From what she had learned, she doubted this did hold a price but surely it could be made to
constitute part of the contract? She was worried in case there was indeed someone else sniffing around.

‘Done!’ sparrow agreed. ‘It’s freehold too and all taxes are paid up to date.’

They shook hands again but as Mary left the shop she knew she had not got the best part of the bargain. Not that it worried her. She had the money and already the thought of owning something
private was as exciting as a toy to a child.

After she had taken Tante back, giving her a detailed account of the shop, she went into a huddle with Raoul. She would let him find a girl to serve in the shop once she had changed from
groceries to what she had in mind. Raoul would also clean and decorate the premises to her standard and she bubbled inwardly. During that week she thought it odd that only a few short days ago her
life had seemed set on quiet tracks. Since meeting James, everything had turned upside down. She admitted to herself she had fallen into a placid rut and it was pleasurable to have a new venture
because she was determined the shop would pay its way.

‘It will do for excess greenhouse produce,’ she explained to Raoul carefully, ‘and it will also be a place where I can keep my private accounts and if ever I want a night in
town, I can stay there,’ she told him tongue in cheek.

Raoul did not have a curious nature and accepted her statements at face value. It had long been agreed that Amelia would stay at the house on the rare occasions when Mary should be late home now
that Emily had retired. With their own two sons, often joining the Noyen children, they made a boisterous herd and he could understand the mistress wanting a quiet retreat.

Exactly a week later, Mary drove over to the shop again, having left a message she wished to call to measure up for curtains to the upstairs windows. When she entered, listening to the
old-fashioned bell ting, she did not realise someone else was there. A man stood at the counter to one side and it was only when he turned and moved that she gasped.

‘Victor!’ and her lips parted. How long was it since they had last talked? Her heart gave a ridiculous thump-thump and she knew her face broke into a sincere smile though her eyes
were wary. He was dressed casually in grey flannel slacks with a short-sleeved shirt of fawn. A sports jacket was slung over one shoulder held by the little finger from the left hand. My God, she
thought, he gets more handsome as each year passes. He held his head high and jaunty, feet slightly apart, a wide grin on his face while his eyes lit with pleasure at seeing her and she relaxed a
fraction.

Damn her, Victor thought. She gets more attractive with each year and he knew his feelings for her were as strong as ever. He let his eyes dwell for a few seconds on her swelling breasts beneath
a soft green shirt-blouse and green trousers. It crossed his mind to wonder whether the slacks’ pocket was empty; he could not detect any slight bulge but he had a shrewd idea she never went
anywhere without her protector. Emil would lay eggs if he knew of her pistol but Victor knew he would never talk.

It was true there had been the most almighty uproar when he had returned home. Nicole had, for once shown sharp fangs of concern. It had taken all his considerable charm to calm her down, dodge
her questions and maintain a casual indifference, which he had certainly not felt at the time. He carried a small scar and often let his fingers slide around this when he bathed, wondering,
imagining, shaking his head and muttering soft curses coupled with downright admiration. His resolve had not weakened. One day, somewhere, somehow, she would be his. He respected Nicole now and had
done so for years, which allowed a decent relationship to grow between them.

They shook hands and Mary knew her smile was wide and delighted, then she became aware of sparrow watching, head inevitably tipped to one side.

‘We have known each other a long time,’ Mary explained, quickly moving a pace away from him but highly aware of his powerful masculinity.

Madam Martell’s expression changed to relief. ‘Oh! I’m so glad!’ she cried brightly. ‘So you’ll understand.’

Mary looked at the widow and wondered why she should feel a prickle of warning touch her spine. She turned to Victor, a frown puckering her forehead.

‘Understand what?’ she asked both of them.

Victor grinned at her. ‘I’ve just bought this shop,’ he explained casually. ‘Nicole has been wanting one for a long time. She wants her own little business and fancies a
haberdashery.’

Mary’s eyes opened wide with horror then she glowered at sparrow. ‘You can’t!’ she snapped decisively. ‘We shook hands on a deal and you took a deposit which can
make part of the contract!’ She was not at all sure this was true but she was desperate for these premises.

Sparrow almost twittered as words tumbled out. ‘That kind of deposit has no force in law, not where property is concerned and this gentleman has made me a much better offer. Here!
I’ll give you your money back!’ she said opening the till, removing a large note.

Mary backed a pace, glowering angrily. ‘I’m shocked you go back on your word!’ she cried hotly. She flung a furious look at Victor who stood silently, a grin on his face. It
was if he was watching some theatre play. ‘This shop is mine!’ she snapped.

Victor shook his head slowly. ‘No, it’s
mine
!’ he said with a chuckle. ‘Just what Nicole wants too. I’m buying it for three hundred pounds.’

‘What!’ Mary shouted. ‘That’s daylight robbery!’

He knew she was right but that did not change the facts. ‘Nicole has a friend who lives down the road a piece,’ he explained reasonably.

Mary knew she was on the verge of losing her temper. It would have to be him of course. He looked so smug and sure of himself and it flashed through her mind he was enjoying the situation,
taking his revenge.

‘I don’t care if the king lives down the road!’ she shot back at him.

‘Now, now, Catherine,’ he whispered, face crinkling with amusement, ‘don’t show yourself a bad loser!’ he mocked.

‘A deal is a deal!’ Mary flung at him hotly, and little sparrow became uneasy for the first time. She had been thrilled with the highest offer but Madam Noyen’s temper was
awesome and well known. Then her jaw hardened. She owned the shop; it was hers to sell for whatever price she chose to accept, not for one of the wealthy Noyens to take because it suited them.

‘I’ve accepted Mr Le Page’s offer and that is all there is to it!’ she said coldly.

‘Be reasonable,’ Victor told her in a low voice. ‘There are other shops around.’

Mary knew there were no others so well suited as this one. Also she could not stand being beaten by him when he wore that smug expression. She went to argue when the door opened abruptly and two
men entered in working clothes. They looked at the odd scene before them, then moved to the counter.

‘Twenty Goldflakes please,’ one said.

‘I’ll have twenty Players.’

Mary felt a surge of panic and for a second lost the ability to think straight. She quivered with mortification and knew she had gone scarlet with anger. Then her mind started to work again.
Something said to her long ago resurfaced in her mind and she knew what she had to do.

The two men picked up their cigarette packets, took their change, turned and prepared to stroll to the door.

Mary sprang forward, blocking their path. ‘Stop!’ she screeched making everyone jump. With all eyes now on her, Mary fell to her knees, lifting her hands high in supplication. She
took a deep breath and prayed her memory would not let her down.

‘
Haro! Haro! Haro!’
she cried slowly while the four spectators went stiff with shock. ‘
A mon aide, mon prince! On me fait tort!’

Mary concentrated upon the two workmen as witnesses. They gazed back goggle-eyed, their mouths agape. Sparrow had stopped twittering and leaned against the counter, not believing her ears while
Victor stood thunderstruck and frozen to the spot.

Mary started to speak slowly and distinctly as she recited the Lord’s Prayer in French. She need not have worried. Her good brain and superb memory did not let her down and when she had
finished there was silence as Mary blessed Sam’s lessons all those years ago. Slowly she stood and, with uplifted eyebrows, waited for the witnesses to speak.

‘Well!’ drawled the Goldflakes man. ‘I don’t know what all this is about but there’s a halt to it whatever it is until the court sits!’

‘That’s right!’ Players agreed. ‘My! That’s the first time I’ve ever head the
Clameur de Haro
used and I’m island-born and fifty years
old,’ he marvelled.

‘Damn your eyes!’ Victor swore at her. She had outfoxed him very cleverly; it had never entered his head she even knew about the
Haro
. Sparrow slowly sat on her stool and
looked from one face to the other with shock.

‘The sale of this shop and premises is frozen,’ Mary stated firmly.

‘I only wanted the best price for my old age,’ Sparrow said miserably.

Mary turned to her adversary, her lips tight, her eyes flashing a challenge. Victor felt a wild urge to grab her and shake her until her teeth fell out but he stood frozen. What she had done was
perfectly legal as the two witnesses could confirm. Now it meant bringing in the lawyers and he knew to whom she would go. James would be a devil to beat on this one and his anger swelled. First
the shooting and then this. What came over her whenever she saw him, he asked unreasonably?

Mary saw his eyes had changed from violet to blue. They always did when he went into a passion, then something flashed through her mind; what James had said. ‘Do nothing to draw attention
to yourself!’ he had ordered and already she had disobeyed. She knew she must go and see him straight away and he must also represent her in court about this. Her heart sank a little as she
studied Victor’s face. Why was it that whenever they met something awful happened leaving them at each other’s throats?

She turned to the smokers. ‘May I have your names and addresses please for my lawyer who is James le Canu?’

The Goldflakes man grinned. He was thoroughly enjoying the situation which would enliven a few pub evenings yet to come. ‘I’m Jack le Marquand!’

‘And I’m Bob Ogier!’ Players introduced himself, shaking her hand.

Mary jotted their names down, then handed the pocket diary over for them to add their addresses.

Victor scowled moodily, looking over at the widow and shrugged his shoulders eloquently.

‘Thank you,’ Mary said as they finished, carefully replacing her diary. ‘You’ll be hearing from Mr le Canu, no doubt,’ she smiled generously at them, ducking her
head the tiniest fraction.

‘You really are a—!’

‘Don’t say it, Victor!’ Mary turned on him. ‘I might just have to repeat it in court,’ she pointed out acidly.

She threw a piercing look at Madam Martell, glanced at Victor then, with great dignity, opened the door and left, taking pains to shut it very quietly. She was thoughtful as she drove home but
decided not to tell Tante yet. She was quite sure Victor would do this on his next visit. Suddenly she felt smugly pleased with herself; the last vestiges of English rearing had vanished. The only
qualm she felt was in James’ reaction. Then she copied Tante with a colourful sniff. All was grist to the mill.

* * *

James was both annoyed and amused but long ago he had trained his features not to register emotion. He kept Mary waiting deliberately for the first time. When she did enter his
room and sat facing him she was not able to hold eye contact at first.

Mary felt embarrassed. How was it James could show annoyance without saying a word? She wriggled on the chair feeling like a naughty little girl.

‘I know what you’re thinking, James and I’m sorry but the circumstances did indeed get out of hand. You see James, this particular shop and flat are perfect and I do dislike
being cheated. A bargain is a bargain when there’s a handshake to boot,’ she said, in a hurry to get her defence in first.

‘That cuts no ice in law,’ James stated frostily. He knew it was unnecessary to say any more. He was conscious she had agreed to work for them of her own free will and hammering a
point too much removed its accuracy. She would not do it again. On the other hand, he silently applauded her quick reaction to the situation and his amusement arose from information he had, as yet
unknown to her.

‘I’ve had the widow’s lawyer on the phone and he states his client is very upset with your
Haro
,’ he began smoothly.

‘Well, that’s her fault for breaking her word!’

‘This can go to court, but I would not be very pleased if it did. The
Haro
is not used all that often so when a case does arise, there is mass publicity,’ he told her icily.
‘Also a buyer is entitled to get the best price for a sale.’

Mary weighed up his words, not missing the sharp barb and hesitated. Indeed such a case would be the talk of the island and what if somehow she lost? She knew enough about the law now to know
very few cases were cut and dried. If Madam Martell’s lawyer was also clever, James might be hard put to swing the decision for her. Deep down she felt a guilty, little niggling feeling that
Sparrow was right. She could ask for what she thought she could get from another party because the deposit was not enough in conveyancing. If only it were someone else involved and not Victor. It
was not that she minded too much about yielding except she had a sneaking feeling he might become a trifle unbearable. Mary also had a suspicion the whole story would provide a good laugh for Tante
for weeks to come. Was she really being a bad loser, she asked herself honestly? Then lifted her head to become aware James’ eyes held a barely suppressed twinkle. It flashed through her mind
he knew something she did not and she was not going to like this either.