Chapter 7
They arrive at the hotel in Calais.
Bond pulls the luggage from the car and places it on a trolley and man whose resemblance to M's late husband is uncanny, walks towards them.
Taller but definitely M's brother-in-law. Marshall Mansfield wraps M in a hug and kisses her cheeks then continues to hold her shoulders at arm's length while he looks at her.
"Olivia my dear, you never age."
"And Marshall, you never stop flirting."
"How can I stop...damn younger brother found you first. Nigel always had the most incredible luck and you are still the most beautiful woman in the world."
M laughs as Marshall wraps his arm around her shoulder as they walk into the hotel. Bond follows at a discreet distance as M checks in while talking to her brother-in-law.
Mansfield still has not released her...Bond notices Mansfield's hand slide down her side and is now resting on her hip. The older gentleman is attractive...more so than that idiot Blake. Taller and likely a muscular man in his youth.
M makes no introductions between Bond...the chauffeur and her brother-in-law...yet.
"Too bad about Judi not being able to make it at last-minute. I was wonder where your date was my dear...you RSVP listed a guest...Josephine was beside herself is hopes that you found a new man. Have you?"
"Oh...yes...Bond. This is James Bond my escort and driver from work."
Marshall frowns for a second as he looks at James and then smiles. "Good to meet you young man. It is so nice that work provides you with a driver my dear."
"Yes it is."
"I think Joe was more hoping that you had found someone, special...a new romance."
"Really? I was seeing someone but it didn't work out."
Bond lets loose a small noise from his throat at her remark.
Marshall's mobile buzzes. "I have to go my dear. We will meet up in the bar later...reconnect after the wedding party finishes the rehearsal at the chapel."
Marshall kisses her again...this time surprisingly on her lips. Marshall's fingers caress her face for a moment.
"Still such a beauty Olivia."
M laughs. "Still such a flirt Marshall."
Marshall winks at her and walks away.
Bond follows M into the lift.
"What...what was that?"
"What?"
"Your brother-in-law wants you M."
"What!"
"Come on...he never let go of you from the moment he saw you...and that kiss...was that his normal hello?"
"Really Bond...come on."
"No you can't deny that your brother-in-law...wants more than just a kiss from you. I've seen that look directed at you far too much for my liking."
"You are imagining things. I don't think it's all that frequent."
"You just dismiss it that's why...you flash a smile or glare and dismiss them as if they're underlings at work. It works on us in reverse...we find you even hotter as a result."
M crosses her arms looking at him questioningly.
"M just because you dismiss something that you do not like, nor consider possible does not make it go away. Hence I am your current driver oh wait...I'm more than that..."
"Give it a rest Bond."
They walk down the hall and Bond opens their door.
"And when were you going to tell me that I was your plus one for this?"
"I didn't think I needed to spell it out for you. I need a bodyguard and you will stay quiet about the rest."
"You implied that you had an escort."
"Maybe I do and he…"
KNOCK...KNOCK.
Bond frowns and open the door. The curly-haired young man from her flat New Years eve stands on the other side.
"Oh...Is this not Mrs. Mansfield's room?"
Bond frowns and M calls out from behind him.
"Darling! You made it."
The man moves in past Bond and wraps M in an embrace picking her up off her feet and kissing her.
M still wrapped in his arms turns to Bond.
"This is Mr. Bond my driver and he is about to return the trolley to the lobby."
Bond growls. "Yes ma'am."
Bond leaves the room, red-faced and fuming.
First an overly flirtatious brother-in-law and now her boy toy escort made it after all...damn it!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Mum was that your escort?"
"Yes Ryan...he is my driver, bodyguard...yes I know...as your sister would lament... why can't I just be a normal mother, but they insist. Bond is one of my best but he takes things a little too seriously at times."
"He looked downright pissed off that I was here."
"Oh that...he thinks that you are my young lover...he hasn't figured out yet that you look just like your dear father. It will kick in when he sees you with David and Marshall...you all look so alike."
"Why would he care if I was your young lover?"
"Well...he is...it's just that...Bond takes this job…"
"Oh my god! That man has a crush on you doesn't he?"
Ryan has rarely seen his mother at a loss for words, or her face flush red this fast before.
"And here I thought I was going to spend all my time running interference to keep uncle Marshall's hands off you by myself."
"What!"
"Dad...he always told me to make sure never to leave you alone long with uncle Marshall."
M frowns. "When did he tell you this?"
"My whole life mum...Judi and I use to take turns in the room should he be around. You of all people should have noticed that."
"Your father had you doing that as children?!"
"Well it was never often...he never came by much and it was only ever until dad came home or was in the room himself."
"What on earth was he thinking...making you children do that. I can bloody well look after myself. Marshall never...ever…"
"No because we were always there. Dad told us to keep it quiet or your temper would get the better of us all and the two families would be at war should it come to that. As it was you were never very civil to aunt Joe."
"To keep the peace...damn him...I am so sorry that he tossed that responsibility to you and your sister at such a young age. It would barely have made sense to you at the time."
"Dad explained it better when we were older. ~Marshall is the most flirtatious man in the world and your mother is his most desired target.~ He then mumbled about it being a contest they had when they were young...something about an Alice and then ~damn it...just watch over your mother.~"
"Alice...oh my...my ...the Alice." M chuckled, "oh so that's why."
"Care to explain?"
"It may taint your perception of your father but Alice was a girlfriend of your uncle Marshall's...your father got caught on the sofa with her and Marshall swore revenge."
"Dad cheated with his own brother's girlfriend!"
"Yes and that is why Marshall was always so flirtatious with me."
"That is all well and good but that is the past and dad is gone...mum if it was an act for dad's benefit only, Marshall would have given up on it long ago."
"You would think so but old habits die-hard. There is little you need to worry about in that regard this weekend. Do you have your own room or do you need to stay here with me. Bond can take the sofa and you can have the other room."
"Good...I was going to ask...I can take the sofa...I feel bad for intruding and the hotel is full. David and Isabel are sharing a double as it is. They have been hounding Judi and I for the last two weeks to come so that we can spend the weekend getting silly as Isabel says. Sarah had to work so I came alone...figured I could be your plus one and you mine."
"I will call down and have a cot put in my room or you can just snuggle up to your old mum like you use to as a child."
"Mum...I snore...Sarah can barely sleep with me and we're married."
"Ok you can have the sofa."
"This way I can make sure uncle Marshall doesn't sneak past me or that handsome bloke you bought as arm candy."
M swats her son's arm affectionately. "To bad your sister couldn't make it or we could have had a sleep over...make up for Christmas."
"You know her...she never stops begrudging our upbringing...even if dad explained it to us...no...no...don't glare at me like that...not the details...never anything specific. Please don't have your agent whack me and hide the body."
M swats her son on the shoulder gently.
"Enough out of you young man. Where is your luggage?"
"In David and Izzy's room. I will get it….oh what do you want me to call you...in front of the staff?"
"Olivia...and I will call you darling."
"He is going to think we are lovers still."
"Bond deserves it if he cannot see the obvious family resemblance."
"I will pop in later with the luggage. David, Isabel and I are getting ready to go for drinks...I will take you to dinner while they are all at the rehearsal. Marshall wants us all in the pub after for drinks."
"I will go rest up...here is a keycard to bring your luggage in."
"Bye mum…I mean Olivia."
Bond is in the hall about to open the door when the man appears.
"Sorry. I will see you later Bond."
"Yes."
Bond enters the room but M is in her room. He goes and knocks on the door. There is no answer. He's concerned so turns the knob and walks in. The bathroom door is ajar and the water is running.
M suddenly enters the room in a dressing gown. "Bond! What on earth!"
"You never answered and there was a man in the suite...I needed to check on you for security reasons ma'am."
From out in the suite Bond hears a voice.
M's escort arrives with a smile on his attractive face as he brings his bags in and dumps them on the floor of her room.
"Ah...Olivia… I will let you get some rest and see you for dinner...you two Mr. Bond."
M almost has to smile at the look on Bond's face...serves him right...Ryan has her eyes...of all things for him to not pick up on.
"I will see you later darling."
"Bye."
Ryan leaves a fuming Bond standing in his mother's room. That man has it bad. Judi would be beside herself in shock and outrage at their mother's new...friend.
Olivia Mansfield is old enough to make her own choices and if she likes them as young as Judi then all the power to her. She's not married and it is none of his business. Judi has alway been more volatile...the two of them are just so damn alike but alway butting heads.
Bond stands still breathing heavily and clenching his fists as M moves about the room getting ready for her bath.
"What is it Bond?"
"Ah...so your escort is staying?"
"Yes...I told you I had one for this wedding...for a moment he thought he couldn't make it but he did."
Bond become quiet and she can see the anger radiation off him. He speaks at her through a clenched jaw very slowly.
"I see. Call me if you need any assistance...I will be in the bar downstairs."
Using this tone would scare most people but M just shrugs it off like his feelings mean nothing to her.
"Fine but don't overindulge...we may need you to drive to the restaurant."
Bond leaves and takes the lift downstairs.
That bitch! She knows how to twist him into knots that's for certain. She almost agreed to consider a relationship with him in the car and now her lover shows up and that flies out the bloody window!
Bond orders 2 martinis and sits down fuming. He glances around the bar to find a woman to pick up to work out some frustrations with.
It would serve M right...he will bring her back to the suite and...who is he kidding...he would never do that to M. He would never ever have a chance with her after that.
Bond stomach is in ropes...empty but churning with alcohol induced rage over this...this woman can twist him into knots and he cannot bring himself to just walk away from her.
An older woman sits beside him and begins talking to him. Bond decides to flirt back.
They talk back and forth and Bond points out that she is married...he sees the rings.
She smiles at him, "in name only darling."
The woman tells him she is the grandmother of the bride.
Bond chokes on his drink. He explains that he is the driver for Mrs. Mansfield.
The woman laughs...obviously tipsy. "I'm Mrs. Mansfield...does this mean you are my driver?"
"Olivia Mansfield."
"Oh...Olivia? Damn her she always does have to make an entrance. With you on her arm there will be no one looking at my lovely green gown."
"I assure you there with be plenty looking at you ma'am."
Josephine is older than Olivia but tall and slim with dyed red hair and a haughty air. He has been hit on by older women before but to have Josephine Mansfield the subject is amusing to him. Just to piss M off he will lay on the charm.
Maybe M will be jealous, unlikely she treats him with the same level of amused disdain regardless of what he does.
He's been celibate for months...she berates him for not seducing marks.
He rids her of a possibly abusive man...she bitches because of the work required to cover it up.
He lays his soul bare for her on this trip trying to gain a foothold in her thoughts and she wraps a young lover in her arms and calls him darling.
He refrains from breaking her brother-in-laws hand that trails down her curves to rests on her hip and she says he is not flirting. Mansfield is a dangerous possible lover that reminds M of her dear dead husband.
The young man will quickly move on once the money stops flowing but Mansfield...obviously wants her. It will be like battling a ghost and his marriage is obviously over if his wife is any indication.
Josephine Mansfield continues to flirt with Bond...he buys her another drink as Olivia's escort walks into the bar with another man...he looks similar but older.
Josephine straightens up as the two men walk over.
"Mother...we were looking everywhere for you! Father is practically pounding on doors to find you. We have the rehearsal to go to."
"I'll bet the old dog is pounding on your mother's door the hardest eh Ryan? You are a dear for making it after all...and now your mother has two handsome escorts to the wedding. David this is your endlessly lucky aunt Olivia's driver...yes...I know...that is what she's calling her male companions these days...ha...ha."
David just looks confused at his mother's derogatory statements and he shakes Bond's hand.
Bond has a huge grin on his face as he looks at...Ryan... Mansfield in sudden understanding.
Josephine and David move off to the side of the bar in deep in conversation. Ryan sits down to have a chat with his mother's suitor.
Bond smirks into his drink. "That minx."
Ryan laughs. "Serves you right! She told me...and I agree, you're an idiot for not seeing the family resemblance."
Marshall walks into the pub with a serious look on his face as he comes to collect his gin soaked wife.
"We will see you lads later...after the dinner rehearsal. Please have your mother here around 9:30 Ryan."
Ryan and Bond nod at the older man who does look just like an older David and Ryan. Ryan orders a beer.
"So you figured it out...now you don't have to make me disappear."
Bond frowns. "You were with her New Years Eve."
"Yes how did….Christ...you were watching us. Whatever you do, never let my sister find out. I can tell you like...Olivia...I saw the expression on your face. I saw that face in my teen years, mirrored on a few of my friend's faces after they met my mother."
"Really?"
"Yes...I had to punch a few of them."
"I bet. Did she realize?"
"Yes and no...she is very observant but she never really understood why the boys found her attractive...guess that hasn't changed much."
"No...we all find her attractive...but she scares the living hell out of most of them."
"But not you?"
"No...never me. I love her."
It presented with ease and a certainty that must have done something to convinced her son. Ryan smiles at Bond and nodded his approval from what Bond can tell of such things.
Ryan wonders if his mother truly understands how stressed out she makes this man with her teasing...something tells him he is not the type you do that to.
"It is none of my nor my sister's business anyway but don't break her heart."
"I won't...unless I die before her and that is entirely likely in my line of work."
"Death wouldn't crush her, it's not like being used or lied to."
"I won't...I swear on my parents graves. I have, and would...do anything for her."
Ryan's mobile rings...he answers. "Jude...yes...really...OK that's great...see you soon….bye."
"This could be trouble...you will get to meet my dear sister anyway Bond...she will be here shortly and she needs to stay in my room...mum is going to get that Christmas sleepover after all. This should make for a very interesting weekend."
So much for time alone to seduce the lovely Olivia Mansfield. Well at least he doesn't have to kill or drug her young lover to keep him away from her. Now he just has to keep the older Mr. Mansfield's hands off her.
"Our suite is going to get crowded."
Bond starts to laugh...Ryan joins as they clink glasses.
"Yeah sorry about that Bond...well not really. It is not likely I like the idea of you attempting to hooking up with my mother in a hotel room anyway. All the same...have fun getting to know my crazy extended family Mr. Bond."
"Call me James."
"Fine but if you ever manage to convince her to see the truth of it all...whatever this is between you...I will not ever...ever call you dad."
Ryan looks Bond in the eyes….how could he have missed it...his eyes are the same as hers.
To be continued...
