“Why didn’t you say so to begin with?”
“To make it a surprise. Besides, you probably would have quibbled, and I just feel like eating a decent steak.”
He opened the door and invited her to take the wheel.
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea,” said Alice. “The last time I drove, the streets were completely empty.”
“I promised you a second lesson, didn’t I? I always keep my promises. Besides, we might have to do some driving in Turkey, and I don’t want to be the only one behind the wheel. Go on. But wait for me to get in before you start the engine.”
Daldry walked around the back of the Austin. Alice paid close attention to his instructions, but she braked in the middle of every turn until she was sure there was no oncoming traffic.
“At this rate we’re going to be overtaken by the people on the pavement. I invited you to lunch, not dinner.”
“You can drive yourself if you want. I’m doing my best.”
“By all means, continue doing your best, but also remember to keep accelerating through the corners.”
Eventually they arrived, and Daldry told Alice to pull over. A uniformed valet hurried over to the passenger side before confusedly hurrying back to the driver’s side when he saw that Alice was behind the wheel.
“Where on earth have you brought me?” asked Alice, uneasy to be the object of so much unexpected and obsequious attention.
“To a restaurant,” said Daldry with a touch of exasperation.
Once they were inside, Alice admired the elegant dining room. The walls were decorated with carved wood paneling and the tables were perfectly aligned, covered in fine white linen and set with a greater variety of knives, forks, and spoons than Alice had ever seen in her life. The ma?tre d’h?tel led them to a cozy mirrored alcove and pulled back the table to allow Alice to sit on the banquette, from which she had a commanding view of the room. As soon as he had left, the headwaiter presented them with the menus. Before the sommelier had the time to offer any advice, Daldry immediately ordered a 1929 Chateau Margaux.
“What’s wrong now?” Daldry asked once the sommelier had left. “You look furious.”
“That’s because I am furious!” hissed Alice under her breath, not wanting to be overheard by their neighbors.
“I don’t understand. I take you to one of London’s finest restaurants and order wine of the rarest delicacy, a mythical vintage—”
“Look at me! You’re in a suit and a perfectly laundered shirt. I look like a schoolgirl waiting to be taken down the street for a bottle of pop. You might have had the courtesy to tell me about your plans, so I could have at least put on some make-up. All the people here must think—”
“That you’re a ravishing woman and that I’m lucky you agreed to have lunch with me. What man in his right mind would waste time judging your clothes when your eyes alone could captivate anyone? Please stop worrying, and try to enjoy what we’re about to be served.”
Alice looked skeptical, but when she tasted the wine she was impressed. It had a silky texture—she had never tasted wine like this.
“You weren’t flirting just now, were you, Daldry?”
Her comment caught him off guard, and he choked.
“By offering to accompany you on a search for the man of your life? A curious technique for courting, don’t you think? If we’re going to be business associates, we ought to be honest with one another. We both know we’re not each other’s type. That’s the very reason I was able to make you this business proposition without the slightest ulterior motive. Well, almost . . .”
“Almost?”
“I asked you to lunch because there’s one last detail in the terms of our association I’d like to go over with you.”
“I thought we had come to an agreement over the percentages.”
“Yes, but there’s a final favor I’d like to ask.”
“I’m listening.”
Daldry refilled Alice’s glass and invited her to drink.
“If the fortune-teller’s predictions hold true, I’m the first of the six people that will lead you to the man of your future. Like I promised, I’ll take you to the second person. Once we’ve found him, as I’m sure we will, my mission is complete.”
“What are you getting at?”
Daldry tsked. “You always have to get a word in edgewise, don’t you? Once my part of the mission is finished, I’ll return to London and leave you to continue on your own. I certainly have no intention of hanging around and being the third wheel when you finally meet him. I do possess a certain amount of tact, after all. But, of course, your journey is financed until it reaches its end, according to the terms of our agreement.”
“And I’ll pay you back to the last penny, if I have to work until the end of my days to do so.”
“I’m not talking about money.”
“Then what?” Alice’s heartbeat quickened.
“Well . . . While you’re gone, however long that may be, I’d like your permission to work under the skylight in your flat. You won’t be there or have any use for it, and I promise to keep the place up, which, between you and me, won’t do it any harm.”
“You wouldn’t happen to be taking me thousands of miles from home and abandoning me in a distant land just to paint under my skylight, would you?”
“You may have beautiful eyes, my dear, but they hide a twisted mind.”
“Fine, but only once we’ve met this supposed second person, and only on the condition that they give me good reason to pursue the hunt.”
“Naturally!” Daldry lifted his glass. “Let’s make a toast to it.”
“We’ll toast on the train,” said Alice. “I’m leaving myself an escape route. This has all been very rushed.”
“Speaking of which, I’m going to see to our tickets and accommodation this afternoon.” Daldry put down his glass and smiled at Alice. “You look happy,” he told her, “and it’s most becoming on you.”
“It’s the wine,” she said. “But thank you.”
“It wasn’t intended as a compliment.”
“And that’s not why I was thanking you. You’re being very generous. I promise that once we’re in Istanbul, I’ll work day and night to create a perfume that will make you a proud investor. I won’t let you down.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m as happy as you are to leave gray old London for a while. In a few days we’ll be under the sun, and when I see myself in the mirror behind you, I realize it will do me some good.”
Alice turned and looked in the mirror. Daldry’s eyes met hers and she made a face. The idea of traveling such a distance made her head spin, but for once in her life she opened up and let herself enjoy the giddy, drunken happiness without holding back. Still looking at Daldry in the mirror, she asked him how she should break the news of her decision to go on a trip to her friends. He told her the answer was in her question. She just had to tell them she had made up her mind and that she was content in her decision. If they were really her friends, they would understand and support her for having done so.
They both decided to forego dessert. Alice suggested that they take a walk. As they strolled through the fashionable neighborhood around the restaurant, Alice couldn’t keep her mind off of Carol, Eddy, Sam, and especially Anton. How would they react? She came up with the idea of inviting them to her house for dinner. Once they were softened up after a few drinks, she would tell them about her plans.
They passed a phone box, and she asked Daldry to wait for her a moment.