Wanderlust by Danielle Steel Page B

extremely tropical, with his deep tan, dark hair, and green eyes.
    Was she saying something rude again, Aud? He helped himself to the champagne and hors d'oeuvres and turned to admire his wife. My, you look pretty tonight, Lady Vi. You should always wear white, my dear. He kissed her lightly on the lips, ate another stuffed mushroom, and turned to smile at Audrey again. It was nice having her there with them, and now that Charles had arrived, they were really going to have some good times. And by later that evening that seemed an extremely likely prospect. The foursome went to dinner at a small restaurant in Cannes. They drank a great deal too much wine, and laughed themselves silly all the way to Juan-les-Pins, where they went to a party someone had told James about, and they didn't leave until two, after which they moved on, and stopped at another party at Cap d'Antibes, until they finally got home at four, less drunk than they'd been in several hours, and determined to stay up and watch the dawn. James opened another bottle of champagne when they got home and drank most of it himself, Lady Vi fell asleep on the couch, and eventually, singing a rather inappropriate song, James carried her upstairs, which left only Audrey and Charles still on the veranda two hours later when the sun slowly peeked over the horizon and began to come up. As it did, Charles was watching her, with a serious look in his eyes.
    What really brings you here? They had been chatting aimlessly for the past two hours, enjoying each other's company, and speaking of the subjects they both loved, travel to the distant corners of the world ' the summer in Cap d'Antibes ' their friends Vi and James ' but now Charles was looking intently at her, wondering who she really was, as she pondered similar questions about him. It was odd to wonder what quirk of fate had brought them both here, at the same time.
    She decided to be honest with him. As honest as she could be. I needed to get away.
    From what? His voice was a caress in the golden light from the rising sun. But he assumed that she had wanted to get away from a man. She was old not to be married, by the standards of their times. Or should I say from whom? He smiled, and her eyes were candid as she shook her head.
    No ' not that ' or maybe I just needed to get away from myself, and the responsibilities I impose on myself.
    That sounds serious. His eyes never left hers, and he had an insatiable desire to touch her lips with his own, to run his fingertips along her long, graceful neck, but he forced himself to listen to her and quell the rising desire he felt for her, at least for the moment.
    Sometimes it is serious. She leaned back with a sigh. I have a grandfather I love with all my heart ' and a sister who needs me desperately.
    Is she ill? He knit his brows and Audrey looked at him in surprise.
    No ' what made you say that?
    The way you stressed desperately.'
    She shook her head looking out to sea, thinking of Annabelle, and finally allowing herself to think again of all that Harcourt had said to her. She's just very young ' . She looked back at him again. And I've spoiled her, I suppose. It's hard not to. We lost our parents when we were very young, and I brought her up.
    How strange. There was something haunted in Charles's face as he spoke.
    Why do you say that?
    How old were you when your parents died? ' did they die at the same time?
    She nodded, wondering why he looked so intense suddenly. I was eleven, my sister was only seven then ' in Hawaii ' and yes, they died together in an accident at sea ' . It still pained her to speak of it. We went back to the mainland then, to live with my grandfather. I've been running his house ever since, and mothering my sister ' too much perhaps ' at least that's what her husband says. She looked honestly into Charles's eyes. He seems to think I've crippled her, that she can't do anything for herself without my help. And perhaps he's right. He said, she tried to look