Martine The Beginning (Cruising to Love, The Prequel) (16 page)

 
“How much for the dress and the jacket?”

 
“Neighbor’s price?  Two hundred.  Or, that sweet little watercolour you have in the window this morning…the one of the ducks…”

  Martine nodded.

  “Trade you.”

 
“Done.”

  The women shook hands.  Lillian said she
’d wrap the dress and jacket and pop over with it when her assistant was free and pick up the painting.

  Martine got back.  Belinda was filing her nails. 
“Nobody came in.  Penny phoned and said that she and John would pick you up in a taxi at seven, so be ready.”

“Thanks, Belinda.”

 
“Didn’t you find anything?”

 
“I did.  Lillian is bringing it over later.  I wanted to get straight back.  Didn’t want to take advantage of you…”

 
“Er, Martine…”

 
“Yes, Belinda.”

 
“This fiancée of Lucas’s…is she pretty?”

  Martine smiled. 
“Lucas thinks so.  He thinks she’s beautiful, as a matter of fact.”

 
“Ah…do you know how old she is?”

 
“About twenty, I think…”

 
“Ah…do you think he’s really serious about her?  I mean, a lot of men get engaged just for convenience, and then move on.”

 
“I don’t think Lucas is like that, Belinda.  How do you know Lucas is engaged, Belinda?”

 
“He told me.”

 
“Oh, he did, did he?”

 
“Ummm…because he’s very sexy.  I quite fancy him, don’t you?”

 
“I think a woman would have to be half dead not to fancy Lucas,” agreed Martine.

 
“I would think he would be very good in bed…” smiled Belinda…”very good in bed…”

  Martine climbed into the window and came out with the watercolour for Lillian.

  “Don’t you think he would be very good in bed, Martine?” persisted Belinda.

 
“Yes, Belinda, exceptional in bed…” smiled Martine, hoping she didn’t start blushing.

 
“He must be a very exciting lover…”

 
“Very exciting, Belinda, very exciting.”  Martine went into the store room and came out with another watercolor, a winter scene this time, and climbed back into the window.  She hung it where the ducks had been.

 
“I’m going to do my best to get him into bed…” Belinda looked dreamy.

 
“Oh, are you?”

 
“Ummm…wait till you see the dress I bought for the One Woman Show…and I’ll have a beautiful tan from Jamaica.  I tan so easily, with my complexion.”

 
“I wonder what it would be like to kiss Lucas,” Belinda continued.

 
“Electric, passionate, sensuous…” Martine smiled.

 
“Would you like to kiss Lucas, Martine?” asked Belinda.

 
“As often as possible,” murmured Martine dreamily.  “As often as possible.”

  Belinda looked at her sharply.  Martine looked like she was in another world.

  The phone rang.  Martine reached over, “Martine’s Art Gallery of Notting Hill…hello, darling…no, not at all…it‘s fine…yes, but I‘ll tell you later…well, I think it‘s good news…No, darling I was not going to wake you at three this morning when I left, you were sleeping like a baby, and you looked so tired when we went to bed last night…“Martine laughed…”No, baby, I’m

not going to wear that flannel nightie tonight
…it’s fine, darling.  I slipped into Lillian’s and got a dress…black, backless….yes short so you can admire my legs…I love you too …bye”.

  Belinda stared at Martine. 
“I didn’t know you have a lover!”

 
“I do have a private life, Belinda.”

 
“Is it one of the students? Two or three of them were panting after you at that last party, but I thought you brushed them all off.”

 
“No, he certainly isn’t a student.”

  Just then David, her part time delivery boy, and Belinda
’s nude model/lover came in.  “You’ve got some pictures for me to deliver, Martine?”

 
“Yes, David,” Martine smiled, glad of the interruption.  “Here.  These are the paintings, and the addresses.  Do this one last, please.” Well, Lucy had spent a lot of money with her.

 
”Er she may ask to you help her hang it.  She tips well, I understand.”

  David left, and soon some customers came in.  Belinda, bored, wandered out the door.  Martine breathed a sigh of relief.

  Tom came in and collected his money.  He was very grateful.  Gloria was with him.  She hadn’t been in the Gallery before and looked around with interest.

 
“It would be lovely to work in a place like this, Martine.  I’m looking for a part time job during the day, so if you ever need someone, let me know.”

 
“Thanks, Gloria.  But what I’m looking for is someone to work the occasional evening. Four till seven or eight, depending on the time of year, when I have to go to other galleries for their shows…but if I do find I need someone during the day occasionally, I’ll certainly call you if I may?”

  Gloria smiled.  A very genuine smile. 
“I’d like that very much, Martine.”

  Martine turned to Tom. 
“Now, Tom.  To be frank, and this has to stay between us, I think your show is actually going to be more successful than the January one. For God’s sake,

don
’t say that to anyone, I don’t want Belinda in a fury…but I am thinking I need at least forty paintings from you, the more romantic the better.”  She paused and smiled, “and if you have any nudes hanging about, bring them over…”

  Gloria turned scarlet, Tom turned red.  Martine looked from one to the other
…”Ah…so you do have a nude in the works?”

 
“Yes, I persuaded Gloria to pose for me…it’s beautiful, Martine.  Just beautiful.  She is so gorgeous.”

 
“When can I see it?”

 
“It’s a charcoal sketch, Martine.  It’s in the car now, actually.  We are going to hang it on Gloria’s bedroom wall.”

 
“Bring it in.”

  Tom went to fetch it.  Gloria was obvious embarrassed. 
“Don’t be embarrassed, Gloria, I see nudes all the time.” Martine said kindly.

  The picture was lovely.  Gloria had a perfect figure and Tom had made her look sensual, yet innocent at the same time.

  “I want it for the show.  If you don’t want to sell it, I’ll put a “Sold” sticker on it.  But it is lovely.  Gloria, you are wonderful.

 
“What I would really love, if the two of you think it’s a good idea, is for Tom to do five or six of these nudes of you Gloria, all different.  They would sell like hotcakes in February.”

  Tom and Gloria looked at each other.
“Alright,” Gloria said.  “I actually quite like posing for Tom…” she gave Tom a very warm smile.  “I wouldn’t like to pose for anyone else, but Tom is

special, and he makes me feel sexy and desirable
…”

  Tom took Gloria
’s hand.  “You are sexy and desirable, Gloria.”

 
“Tom’s a wonderful artist, isn’t he, Martine,” said Gloria, gazing into Tom’s eyes.

 
“He certainly is, Gloria,” agreed Martine.  “And a fast worker,” she added to herself silently. “They only met early this week…” Then she shook her head and realized she and Lucas had been fast workers as well…”

  An older gentleman came in. 
“That watercolour in the window, the winter scene…”

 
“Let me bring it out for you, Sir, so you can have a good look.”  Martine smiled and climbed into the window and got the painting she had just hung.  She placed it on the easel beside her counter.

  The gentleman examined it from all angles.

  “I like it very much, but my budget stops at five hundred,” he told her.

 
“Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s not five hundred,” Martine told him.  “It’s only four hundred fifty.”

 
“Please wrap it up for me.”  Martine was happy to comply.  While she was wrapping, he was wandering. Looking.

 
“You have a very good eye, young lady.  I am presuming you’re Martine?  The owner?”

 
“Yes, I am.  How did you hear of my Gallery, Sir?”

 
“John Brown’s column last Saturday.  I say, would you give me a bit of a deal on that oil of the poppies.  You’ve got it marked for eight

hundred.  Since I bought the other painting, could I have it for seven fifty?
”

 
“I think I could do that, Mr?”

 
“Harrington, Sir Charles Harrington.”

  Even Martine had heard of Sir Charles Harrington, a very well known patron of the arts.  He was Chairman of a large conglomerate and also headed his family
’s charitable foundation which supported theatre throughout Britain.

 
“Eh, Martine.  In John’s article he mentioned you are starting a series of Charity Galas.  What’s that all about?”

 
“I’m doing the first in January, Sir Charles.  For the Friends of Conservation.  I open a new show each month, run it ten days.  So my business manager thought it would be good to turn each opening into a Charitable Gala.  The Gallery gives 15% of our gross receipts to the

Charity, and we have a desk set up where the Charity can accept donations directly as well. 

  “February is Heart Foundation…”

 
“Hmmm…if you haven’t got April booked, I think my Arts Foundation would like that.  April’s Shakespeare’s birthday, you know….”

 
“I’m sure I could do April for you, Sir Charles.”

 
“Good, good.  Here’s my card.  Give it to your business manager and have him call me.  I’ll get our mailing list ready for him, etcetera…what’s his name?

 
“Lucas Langdon, he’s actually my silent partner as well.”

 
“Lucas Langdon, isn’t that amusing?  I do a lot of business with him.  He was up in Glasgow

for us over the last two weeks.  Cleared up quite a spot of bother for us with the Government.
”

 
“Ah…he must have worked hard for you.  He was quite tired last evening.”

 
“He did, young lady.  He did.  I offered him a position with our conglomerate, but he refused.  So I’ll have to be satisfied with having him as a consultant.”

  The door opened at that point and Lucas walked in. 
“Ah, Lucas,” said Sir Charles, “we were just talking about you.  Martine says you’re her business manager and silent partner?”

 
“Yes, Sir Charles, I am.”

 
“Good, good. Look now, I’ve just persuaded this sweet young thing to give my Foundation April for her Gala Night.  She says you’ll handle the liaison, which is excellent since we know each other well…”

 
“Oh, do we have April free, Martine?”

 
“I think so, Lucas.  If not, surely we can move the other charity.  As Sir Charles pointed out, April is Shakespeare’s birthday.”

  Lucas
’s lips twitched.  “I’m sure we’ll accommodate Sir Charles, Martine.”

  Sir Charles looked from one to the other. 
“Now I know why you declined Fred’s offer of a weekend’s shooting, Lucas.  If I had a delectable young lady like Martine waiting for me at home, I’d be coming back to London as well...” He smiled.  “I’ll talk to you Monday morning. Lucas.  Get the mailing list ready for you.  Think we have about six thousand names

to send to
…”

  A little more small talk and Sir Charles left with his paintings.  His chauffeur had been double parked outside the whole time, it seemed.

  As soon as they were alone, Lucas kissed Martine gently and then proceeded to tell her she was never, never, never, to let him sleep when she had to be up at three again.  Ever.

  Martine laughed.

  “This is not a laughing matter, Martine.  I told you I would get up and take you to the bakery. And you just reached over, turned off the alarm and let me sleep!”

 
“Darling, I promise you, I won’t do that again.”

 
“Promise?”

 
“Promise.”  She kissed him.  “Such an easy promise to keep, darling.”

 
“Why?”

 
“Because I gave George my notice this morning and it turns out his niece was sacked last week and needs a job badly, a single mom.  She starts Monday morning.  I’m finished at the bakery!  That was my news…”