SO English!

Part 2 of 4

Richard is puzzled, "He's certainly charming when he isn't destroying the scenery… HALF a mo'!" He crosses his arms, giving her a mock stern look, "Only the SECOND man? And WHO was the first?!"

She kisses his cheek, smells his fresh clean scent and begins dreamy plans for later, "Why, you, of course. My lawfully wedded husband. To have… and to hold… for better and for…"

He holds up a weary hand, "Never mind finishing that statement. I know where this is leading and I surrender completely in order to save time later." He puts an arm around her still trim waist and whispers in her ear, "Besides, I'm rather looking forward to 'the worst'. Nowhere in our wedding vows did it say 'kinky', 'inventive', or 'downright outrageous'."

She pats his cheek, "I told you we should have written our own vows."

The look on his face is priceless. "And WHAT would your mother have said about THAT?"

Her sly smile told him more than he wanted to know, "Chéri, she offered to help write the script." He groans. Better to quit while he is behind. TWO French women versus one lone Brit, it just wasn't fair!

Two days later, a big black car pulls up outside 'La Kaz' and Sir Jonathon wafts in, surprising Richard and Camille at lunch, "Ah, so delightful to meet you again. My man Bough suggested I partake of the cuisine at this establishment. He could not accompany me, poor man. He's having a lie down. He's not very strong, you know. Sometimes I wonder if he shouldn't take a sabbatical somewhere nice. Here, perhaps? To regain his strength?"

Richard smiles and conjectures, "Was there more mayhem at Government House today?" He thinks he detects a slight pause in Sir Jonathon's response.

"Nothing much. A broken window, some crockery in the driveway and a small fire. A mere trifle." He waves it off with a languid hand and a cautious glance.

Camille leans over to whisper into Richard's ear, "I wish I was there to see how THAT happened."

Sir Jonathon sees this intimate moment and clasps his hands and smiles indulgently, "Ah, young love! How wonderful. You are so very lucky to find your soul-mate, my boy. I remember my youth. Ahhh, the ladies!" Here he rolls his eyes and sighs, "But! Leave the past in the past, I always say. Discretion is my byword. The Queen demands no less."

"I'm sure," Richard manages. Seeing Catherine, he motions her over, "And may I introduce my wife's mother. Sir Jonathon English, Catherine Bordey. Catherine Bordey…" He stops. Something isn't right.

Sir Jonathon is gazing with swimming eyes at Catherine, a goofy smile slowly covering his entire face. Whirling, Richard looks at Catherine. She is looking back with alert speculation.

Sir Jonathon slowly takes her hand, leans forward and brings it to his lips, "Enchanté, most highly esteemed lady." Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

Richard nudges Camille. Camille looks. Freezes. "Maman!"

Catherine holds up her free hand to command silence, "Hush, my child. I am meeting this most handsome man at the moment." Her careful look morphs into something very intimate.

Still holding her hand to his lips, Sir Jonathon murmurs, "How very gratifying. Thank you. My special friends call me Johnny." He straightens up. Catherine takes his arm and leads him away to the reserved table, leaving Richard and Camille sitting dumbfounded.

"What just happened?" they ask each other.

The rest of their lunch is a bit distracted what with them trying so very hard to eavesdrop on the reserved table without being too obvious and all. Camille is outraged at the body English… um… the subliminal non-verbal communication… that she is SURE she is seeing! "Richard! If I'd flirted with you like that, you would have arrested me!" she informs her bemused spouse.

"Darling, if you had flirted like that with me, I would have joined you in the cells… so stop rubber-necking and give them some privacy. We English are rather shy at courtship… as you well know!"

"Well, SHY isn't the first word that comes to mind! Honestly!"

He doesn't think more than a moment or two before offering, "Are we talking about him or her?" His prediction is right on as this gets him a very hot response that he is sure he will pay for later… if he is a VERY good boy. How he loves to wind her up!

Before returning to work, they stop at the reserved table to take their leave. Catherine is smiling, "Ah, my darlings, Johnny has invited me to tonight's soiree at Government House. Isn't that terribly gallant?"

"But, Maman, do you have anything to wear to such a function? It's rather short notice!" She gives Sir Johnathon a withering look that is completely wasted on him although her Maman stiffens.

Sir Jonathon pats Catherine's hand where it rests on his forearm, "Nonsense, young lady. A beautiful woman looks good in anything..." He turns to Catherine, one eyebrow slowly rising, "… and in nothing."

Catherine raises an eyebrow in reply and it is Richard's turn to stiffen. He recognizes that look. He gets it often enough from his wife and it always led to wonderful things. He casts an eye to Johnny, cocks an eyebrow that sends a message, Be careful, mate, you're dealing with fire here! Much to his surprise, Johnny beams back by eyebrow, Oh, don't tell me something I don't already know! The two men share a conspiratorial smile, chap to chap and all that rot.

Camille has caught most of this non-verbal byplay and Richard catches her before she can rocket out of his grip and marches her away, whispering, "Be calm, dearest. It's like watching an avalanche in slow motion. Fascinating is its inevitability."

"What is she THINKing? What is she DOing? I thought YOU were English but he… he… "

Richard nods thoughtfully, "Yes, he really IS English."

END part 2