She was just as glad that her nightdress was pretty and that she had put no cream on her face.
She had in point of fact not troubled to take off her make-up.
Her lips were brightly scarlet, and with the reading light behind her she well knew that she did not look her worst.
But she answered ironically.
‘If you think that because you’ve given up your compartment to me I’m going to let you sleep with me, you’re mistaken.’
‘Just as you say, of course. But why not?’
‘I’m not that sort of terribly attractive woman.’
‘What sort of woman are you then?’
‘A faithful wife and a devoted mother.’
He gave a little sigh.
‘Very well. Then I’ll say good night to you.’
He crushed the stub of his cigarette on the ashtray and took her hand and kissed it.
He slowly ran his lips up her arm.
It gave Julia a funny little sensation.
The beard slightly tickled her skin.
Then he leant over and kissed her lips.
His beard had a somewhat musty smell, which she found peculiar; she was not sure if it revolted or thrilled her.
It was odd when she came to think of it, she had never been kissed by a man with a beard before.
It seemed strangely indecent.
He snapped out the light.
He did not leave her till a chink of light through the drawn blind warned them that day had broken.
Julia was shattered morally and physically.
‘I shall look a perfect wreck when we get to Cannes.’
And what a risk to take!
He might have murdered her or stolen her pearl necklace.
She went hot and cold all over as she pictured to herself the danger she had incurred.
He was going to Cannes too.
Supposing he claimed acquaintance with her there, how on earth was she going to explain him to her friends?
She felt sure Dolly wouldn’t like him.
He might try to blackmail her.
And what should she do if he wanted to repeat the experience?
He was passionate, there was no doubt about that, he had asked her where she was staying, and though she had not told him, he could certainly find out if he tried; in a place like Cannes, it would be almost impossible not to run across him.
He might pester her.
If he loved her as much as he said it was inconceivable that he should let her alone, and foreigners were so unreliable, he might make frightful scenes.
The only comfort was that he was only staying over Easter, she would pretend she was tired and tell Dolly that she preferred to stay quietly at the villa.
‘How could I have been such a fool?’ she cried angrily.
Dolly would be there to meet her at the station, and if he was tactless enough to come up and say good-bye to her she would tell Dolly that he had given up his compartment to her.
There was no harm in that.
It was always best to tell as much of the truth as you could.
But there was quite a crowd of passengers getting out at Cannes, and Julia got out of the station and into Dolly’s car without catching a glimpse of him.
‘I’ve arranged nothing for today,’ said Dolly.
‘I thought you’d be tired and I wanted to have you all to myself just for twenty-four hours.’
Julia gave her arm an affectionate squeeze.
‘That’ll be too wonderful.
We’ll just sit about the villa and grease our faces and have a good old gossip.’
But next day Dolly had arranged that they should go out to luncheon, and they were to meet their hosts at one of the bars on the Croisette to have cocktails.
It was a beautiful day, clear, warm and sunny. When they got out of the car Dolly stopped to give the chauffeur instructions about fetching them and Julia waited for her.
Suddenly her heart gave a great jump, for there was the Spaniard walking towards her, with a woman on one side of him clinging to his arm and on the other a little girl whose hand he held.
She had not time to turn away.
At that moment Dolly joined her to walk across the pavement.