Scent of Triumph (48 page)

And would she still feel the same for him?

Marie stood with the girls at the railing near Abigail and Lou, who were happily waving to Abigail’s friends and relatives.

Abigail squealed with delight. “Look, there’s Jon.”

“And that exquisite creature must be the famous Victoria,” Lou said, chiding her. “Be nice, now. Remember your manners.”

Abigail wrinkled her nose at him. She turned back to the crowd, blowing kisses to her family. She waved at Jon, then turned around, following his gaze.

Jon saw Danielle stride behind them, her long legs carrying her across the deck in purposeful strides. Most every other woman on the ship wore a skirt, but she wore slacks, and he noticed they made her appear taller. He caught his breath.
She’s so beautiful.

His throat tightened, and he cursed himself. Tentatively, he lifted his hand and tried to catch her eye, waving slowly.
Has she seen me yet?
He screamed her name in his mind,
Danielle!

The crowd on deck parted as Danielle passed. She stopped near his sister and a woman with two little girls.

He realized that the younger girl must be Jasmin, his goddaughter, and the other one must be Liliana. He recognized the girls from the photographs he’d seen in Danielle’s home. How he wished he could rush to her and hold her, but all he could do was watch and wait.

“Here you are,” Danielle said, giving Liliana a hug.

“Is Mama better now?” Jasmin asked, hanging back. “I’m sorry.”

“All is forgiven,” Danielle replied, hugging her young daughter.

Abigail whirled around, her face flushed with excitement. “Danielle, look who’s here.”

Danielle stiffened, bracing herself.
This is the moment I’ve dreaded.

“My entire family and the Leibowitzes, too. See, right there,” Abigail added, pointing and waving. “And there, right in front, see? Jon and Victoria.”

Danielle suppressed a tiny cough. She saw Marie arch an eyebrow at her, but thankfully, her mother said nothing.

Abigail was exuberant. “Wave to them, Danielle!”

Danielle lifted her hand, nodding to the Leibowitzes, her dear old friends.
Just breathe, don’t faint.
She kept her eyes carefully averted from Jon, then turned back to her girls, and knelt to adjust their jackets and hair ribbons.

Once the ship had properly docked, they disembarked. Abigail and Lou and the redheaded triplets were swept into a sea of open arms.

Danielle greeted the Leibowitzes with warmth, recalling their kindness to her and Max. She introduced Marie and the girls, and soon Libby and Marie were chatting like old friends.

“You must join me for tea tomorrow,” Libby was saying to Marie, her face wreathed with a broad smile.

Danielle was startled to feel a hand on her shoulder. Without turning, she felt the hand press and squeeze her shoulder. She took a sharp breath, inhaling deeply, detecting leathery notes, rich patchouli with a touch of rose...time seemed suspended and she felt the world rush toward her.

“Hello beautiful.”

Danielle paused, took another breath and turned her head. She found herself staring into Jon’s s liquid brown eyes.
Mon Dieu, I was so wrong...I have never stopped loving this man.
Words caught in her throat as she strived to compose herself. “Hello Jon.”

They stood in silence for an awkward moment. Their families were talking and exclaiming over the children, and Victoria seemed to have disappeared into the crowd. Danielle felt his hand linger against her cheek as he lifted it from her shoulder, and she closed her eyes, remembering his touch.

“I’m glad you came,” he said, his voice husky.

“I came for Abigail,” Danielle said quickly, pushing her memories aside. She felt flushed, and gestured to her family. “Along with my mother, and my girls. You remember Jasmin? See how she’s grown? Why, the last time you saw her–” Danielle stopped, aware that she was on the verge of babbling.

Jon’s eyes roamed over her face, her figure. “It’s awfully good to see you. You look marvelous, Danielle.”

“Thank you, so do you.” His warm scent, mingled with ocean air, wafted to her nose; it was the scent she’d first loved on him so many years ago. She glanced away, suddenly aware that her heart was pounding wildly in her chest.

He lifted a hand to her face, and brushed a wisp of hair from her forehead. “My darling Danielle,” he said, lowering his voice. “We must talk. How is tonight, after dinner?”

Danielle hesitated, then shook her head. “I can’t,” she murmured.

“Tomorrow, then.”

“Not tomorrow, nor the next day.”

He let his hand rest on her shoulder again. “I
must
see you.”

She looked up into his eyes and felt her resolve slipping away.

He glanced over his shoulder.

Danielle drew a sharp breath, and before she could stop herself, she said curtly, “Is Victoria looking for you?”

“I need to see you alone,” he whispered, urgency rising in his voice. “You know we need to talk.”

She shook her head sadly, very much against her will. “The war is over. You’re home now. You have a wife and daughter, and you should turn to Victoria for support. It would be wrong for us to continue our—our friendship. It’s over.”
There. I’ve said it,
she thought, though she felt as if a piece of her soul had shriveled and died.

Jon looked as if she’d slapped him. He took a half step back, and let his hand drop from her shoulder, brushing her hand.

She felt his fingers entwine with hers.
Oh, mon Dieu!
A surge of electricity sparked down her spine, dredging up more memories.
What am I doing?

Jon leaned in toward her and she felt his warm breath on her neck. “It’s not over, Danielle,” he whispered, his voice gentle, yet firm. “It will never be over between us.”

The next morning dawned crisp and clear, the sky a vivid cerulean blue, heralding a perfect winter day. Danielle peered from her suite at the Savoy Hotel. A light snow had fallen the night before, dusting the city in velvety white.

She yawned and stretched before the window. Thoughts of Jon had kept her up half the night. She shook her head sadly, knowing her feelings were futile. As soon as she saw Victoria, she had accepted the reality.
Jon is married...happily or otherwise, it doesn’t matter. It’s over.

Just then, the telephone rang. “Hello?”

Marie said, “Liliana and Jasmin and I are downstairs having breakfast. Nora’s taken ill, so I told her to stay in bed and called the hotel doctor to tend to her. I wanted to let you sleep longer, but the girls are anxious to go out.”

Danielle promised to meet them shortly and hung up the telephone. They were going to Harrods department store to shop for winter clothing, then meet Libby for tea. Danielle had also planned a meeting with the store’s executive buyers responsible for her perfume and evening dress accounts. She bathed quickly and dressed in a chic ebony wool suit, draped her warm sable coat around her shoulders, then hurried downstairs to meet her mother and the girls.

Danielle strode across the lobby, where she spied her family.

“Mama, look at my snowball,” Jasmin said. In her mittened fist she held a lump of snow, which Liliana was attempting to wrest from her grip. The snowball was melting, dripping on the fine Oriental carpets in the lobby.

Danielle suppressed a smile at the sight of her spirited young girls. Memories of her childhood holidays in the Alps sprang to mind, of having snowball fights and sledding with Jean-Claude and friends. She’d always loved the pristine scent of fresh fallen snow.

“Thank goodness you’ve come down,” Marie said, laughter bubbling in her voice. “I couldn’t keep Jasmin inside, she’s so enchanted with her first snow experience.”

“It’s beautiful, but I heard a storm is on the way tonight.” Danielle wrapped a cashmere muffler around her neck and pulled on leather gloves.

They emerged into the nippy air, and at her request, the doorman motioned to a taxi.

“Let’s go, girls. Jasmin, no snowballs in the taxi.”

“But Mama,” Jasmin wailed, “I want to take it with me.”

“You can’t take a snowball with you,” Liliana reprimanded her, sniffing in a very grownup manner. “Jasmin’s too young to know any better.”

With that, Jasmin dropped the snowball onto the sidewalk and scrambled into the taxi after Liliana.

Danielle and Marie slid into the back seat. “Harrods in Knightsbridge, please,” Danielle said, and settled back to enjoy the ride.

Danielle thought London was beautiful, with its spacious parks, charming mews and elegant townhomes, although remnants of rubble still remained from the German air raids. Danielle knew Britain was struggling to overcome years of devastation and deprivation, but she could feel a sense of hope and relief in the people.

As they approached Harrods, Liliana and Jasmin pressed their noses excitedly against the windows. At the entryway to the venerable department store, carolers dressed in hoop skirts and velvet muffs were singing holiday songs as Britons embraced the celebration of a peaceful holiday season.

They exited the taxi and swept into Harrods. Amidst the rush of the holiday crowd, Danielle found a salesperson and bought several warm outfits for the girls, as well as a new suit for her mother.

“Liliana is quite the young lady,” Marie commented as they shopped. “She’s a good influence on our wild child.”

Danielle arranged to have everything delivered to the hotel, and by the time they met Libby in the tea room, they were all exhausted, but happy.

Danielle had a wonderful time catching up with Libby. The girls enjoyed their first proper British tea, complete with thin cucumber sandwiches, crusty scones with Devonshire cream and strawberry jam, and delicious Earl Grey and Darjeeling teas.

Danielle left her family and Libby to finish their tea while she met with the buyers at Harrods. The executives showed her the new Parfums Bretancourt section in the parfumerie, and Danielle was extremely pleased with the large amount of space dedicated to her line. She shook hands with all the salespeople and spoke to several of their best clients, who had asked to meet the creator of their favorite perfumes.

Next, they rode the elevator to the eveningwear salon, and once again, Danielle took time to greet the staff and their clients. The executives showed her to their private offices, where she learned that Harrods wanted to double its spring order based on her line’s popularity. She agreed, thanked them, then made her way back to her family.

When she entered the tea room she paused and sucked in her breath. Jon was sitting at their table.
No, I can’t do this
, she thought, panicking. She was turning to leave when Libby spotted her and called out.

“Danielle, look who’s joined us.”

Jon turned around. “I hear you’ve been meeting with the executives,” he said in a friendly tone. “How did that go?”

Danielle arranged a smile on her face, though she still felt like fleeing. “Wonderful, the Bretancourt line has been well received.”

Jon pulled another chair to the table for her. She felt his eyes linger on her as she sat down, but then he turned his attention to Jasmin and Liliana, asking them what they’d bought, and how they enjoyed London. Still shaking on the inside, Danielle marveled at the ease with which he spoke to her daughters. The girls seemed to like him, so Danielle relaxed a little.
This isn’t so bad after all
, she told herself, not with everyone around.

When the conversation lulled, Libby said, “What brings you to Harrods, Jon?”

“I had to have a new suit for Abigail’s wedding.”

“Well, I’ll say, you’ve filled out in all the right places. Just look at your muscles,” Libby said, playfully squeezing his arm.

Liliana giggled, and Jasmin made a muscle of her own, which sent both girls into gales of laughter.

“Feisty, aren’t they?” Jon said, winking at Danielle.

“Like their mother,” Marie said.

Danielle’s lips parted in astonishment.

Marie shrugged. “Well, it’s true. You were a stubborn little girl. You had definite ideas, even then. Both the girls take after you, each in their own way.” She smiled at Danielle. “Don’t frown, I mean that in the kindest way,
ma chère
.” She turned to Jon. “I’m so proud of my daughter. She’s become quite a trendsetter in America.”

“Indeed she has.” Jon looked at Danielle, leaned back and crossed his long legs, his eyes dancing as a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “I saw your evening dresses upstairs. They’re stunning.”

Danielle felt herself blush and then, embarrassed by her reaction, felt her face grow even warmer. She swallowed and tilted her chin. “Shopping for your wife?” She winced inside as soon as the words left her lips.
Now why did I say that?

“No, Abigail told me I should see your work,” Jon said smoothly. He glanced at his watch. “I must hurry to pick up my suit, though.” He hesitated, then looked directly at her. “I’d sure appreciate a woman’s advice on the accessories. Danielle, would you mind accompanying me, just for a few minutes?”

Libby was quick to answer for her. “That’s an excellent idea. We’ll meet back at the hotel, Danielle. You don’t mind, do you Marie?”

“Not at all,” Marie responded.

Danielle stood up. “Well, since you’ve all worked out my plans, I suppose we’ll be on our way.” She exchanged kisses on the cheeks with Libby and her mother and the girls before they left.

Jon touched her shoulder. “I’m glad I ran into you, Danielle. I enjoy having a woman’s perspective on style.”

“Don’t be silly, Jon, you don’t need my help at all.”

He gazed into her eyes and, it seemed, straight into her soul. “Oh, indeed I do,” he replied. “I need your help in every way imaginable.”

Danielle felt herself flush again.
Why did he keep overstepping her boundaries?

She glanced at the clock. “We haven’t long before the store closes.”

“Then let’s not waste time.” He offered her his arm, and Danielle rested her fingertips lightly on his arm, taking care to keep her distance.

She accompanied him to the men’s department, where they assembled his formal attire for the wedding. Jon had also ordered three suits, and Danielle laughed as Jon tried to pair together ridiculous ties and shirts. “You know better than that,” she said, and smiled warmly at him.