Daphne Clair: Lovers' Lies

As the doors closed again Joshua said, ‘I really did wonder if we’d met somewhere. The way you looked at me in the lobby this morning...perhaps I misinterpreted?’

‘You remind me of someone I used to know,’ Felicia prevaricated. “That’s all.

He nodded, his eyes uncomfortably alert and assessing. If he asked who, she was going to have to chance a direct lie. But when he spoke he said mildly, ‘If I’d been trying to pick you up I’d have thought of something slightly more original. Like—if you’re going to eat before this early night you say you need, would you care to join me?’ His mouth curved invitingly, and his inquiring eyes gleamed with humour.

‘That’s original?’ Felicia asked dryly before she could stop herself.

He laughed. ‘At least it’s less hackneyed than “Haven’t we met before?” The Bamboo Grove on the ground floor serves a buffet of mixed western and Chinese food. I thought I’d try it tonight.’

The elevator halted at her floor, and as the doors glided apart he said, ‘So, may I meet you there?’

‘I’m really not very hungry.’ She stepped out into the corridor.

He held the door. ‘If you change your mind I’ll be there at seven-thirty.’

By the time she turned to tell him she wouldn’t be, the doors were closing again.

CHAPTER TWO

FELICIA showered in lukewarm water to cool herself, then dressed in fresh undies and a loose, short-skirted dress. Her excuse of being in more need of sleep than food hadn’t been entirely specious, but by the time she’d unpacked a few things that she hadn’t had time earlier to take from her suitcase, and studied the material provided about the hotel services and the city of Beijing, she was surprised to find herself feeling both wide awake and hungry.

She could order from room service.

Menu in hand, she glanced out the window at the tree-lined street, still full of bicycles and people. An old couple wearing woven peasant hats and comfortable pyjama-like garments exchanged greetings with a group of young women in colourful cotton dresses. Rickshaw cyclists cruised by, their vehicles sporting fringed canopies and cushioned interiors.

She was in an exciting, mysterious, ancient country—and here she was contemplating spending the evening sitting in her hotel room because she was reluctant to face a man who had disappeared from her life when she was no more than a child.

Ridiculous, she said to herself. She’d have a quick meal downstairs and venture forth for a little exploration on her own.

It wasn’t until she was approaching the restaurant that she looked at her watch and saw with surprise that the time was just after seven-thirty.

‘Miss Stevens?’ A smiling waiter greeted her at the door, his dark eyes gleaming.

‘Yes,’ she said hesitantly. Service at the hotel was excellent, but surely the staff couldn’t memorise all the guests’ names?

‘This way.’ He beamed at her and led her round the tall circular buffet topped with its own poroelain-tiled roof, and ushered her to a table for two. Joshua rose from his seat as the waiter pulled out a chair for her.

‘Glad you changed your mind,’ Joshua said.

Felicia had stopped dead. The waiter looked at her expectantly. She cast a glance around, saw the dining room appeared to be full, and reluctantly sank into the seat.

‘I will bring a wine list now,’ the waiter promised in faultless English, and bustled gracefully away as Joshua resumed his seat.

‘I thought I’d better grab a table,’ Joshua explained.

Felicia sat stiffly. ‘You told the waiter you were expecting me?’

‘I tipped him well to watch out for you.’

‘I thought tipping wasn’t acceptable here.’

‘In hotels that deal with western tourists it’s probably not uncommon.’

‘I appreciate your keeping a seat for me,’ she said, ‘but... if you don’t mind I’ll ask for a separate check.’

Joshua regarded her thoughtfully. ‘And if I do mind?’ he enquired. ‘After all, I did invite you to eat with me.’

‘I prefer to pay my own way.’

He shrugged. ‘If you insist. Is it necessary to tell you that I don’t think buying you a meal will entitle me to any privileges?’

‘It isn’t necessary at all,’ Felicia assured him coolly, ‘since you’re not buying it.’

‘Hmm.’ He leaned back in his chair, his eyes speculative as they rested on her. The waiter brought the wine list and Joshua took it and murmured thanks without shifting his gaze from Felicia. ‘I hope you’ll share a bottle of wine with me, all the same,’ he said. ‘My treat. Or do you only drink mineral water?’

She was surprised he’d noticed what she was drinking earlier. She’d thought Suzette had been claiming most of his attention. ‘I drink wine,’ she said, ‘sometimes.’ This afternoon she’d felt slightly dehydrated and cool water was the most sensible thing to drink. But a glass of wine with her meal was a decidedly pleasant prospect. The fact that Joshua’s very presence across the table was causing her skin to prickle with antagonism was beside the point.

‘What would you like? White or red?’

‘White—if that’s OK with you.’

He flashed her a smile. ‘Fine. Medium or dry?’

‘Usually I prefer dry, but I’d like to sample something local.’

‘Good. We have something in common after all. Now, let’s see...’

He drew her into the choosing process, making it a discussion, and they settled on a bottle of Huadong Chardonnay. When the waiter offered a menu both opted for the buffet. ‘Miss Stevens would like a separate check,’ Joshua added without a blink.

The buffet was laden with such a variety that Felicia found herself eating more than she had meant to, supplementing delicious Chinese dishes with a small bowl of fluffy white rice and a crisp salad.

And of course it was impossible not to talk. Joshua asked where she lived, what she did. ‘Auckland,’ she said. ‘I’m a partner in a boutique-style shop specialising in bedroom and bathroom furnishings and accessories.’

She kept her voice crisp and emotionless, with no hint of defensiveness. Some men made suggestive remarks when she told them what her business was about, but Joshua just nodded interestedly and asked questions about her target market, type of stock, and supplier base.

‘I’ve been to a trade fair here,’ he said, ‘hoping to open doors for the agricultural machinery my company makes. We’ve been using a middleman in Hong Kong, but I wanted to see something of the country for myself and follow up a few contacts.’

‘Your company? You own it?’ She tried to keep the surprise from her voice, make it a casual query.

“That’s right.

She schooled her face to indifference and bit her tongue on the questions hovering at its tip—how, since when, where had a young handyman with a lawn-mowing round acquired an international business? She said, “There are special tours for business groups.

‘None of them were quite what I wanted, and this one seems a good introduction to the country. Being an independent traveller can be pretty frustrating when you don’t know the language and have limited time.’

They talked for a while of what they’d seen that day, and swapped random knowledge of Chinese history and culture.

‘I’ve read a couple of books,’ Joshua said, ‘but the more I learn, the more I know there is to learn.’

Felicia smiled, surprising herself. The food and wine must have had a mellowing effect. ‘It’s a huge country, with a long, long history. I started reading about it months ago, but it would take a lifetime to learn it all.’