As Isabelle and I approach the stable, the two of us astride the horse they call Lancelot, I see Antoine the groom out front. He's standing on the flatbed of an old truck filled with hay and he holds a pitchfork in his hands. His shirt is off and he's sweaty, as if he's been working hard for a while. I'm conscious of how this must look, the Isabelle and I riding barebacked, our hair wet and our faces flush, our bodies pressed together. I'm not sure how public Isabelle wants to be with our newborn intimacy. What she whispers to me suggests she wants to keep it secret.
"You had better slip off," she says under her breath.
I raise my leg and slide off the horse and take the halter in my hand. I hold the horse as Isabelle herself dismounts as Antoine jumps down from the back of the truck to help us. First, though, he picks up his t-shirt to put it on. It's a funny bit of formality. He can't, or doesn't want to, be seen by the mademoiselle of the house without his shirt. As he slips on his shirt, I notice how well-built his is. Not in the gym-honed way of the guys back in New York, but with strong arms hewed from actual physical labor.
Antoine takes the horse from me and he gives me a little nod. Is he simply thanking me for holding the horse or is it an acknowledgment between two men who share the same secret. He and Isabelle talk briefly in French. I can't understand it all but it has to do with the care of Lancelot. Antoine nods and takes the horse into the stables. Walking up to the house, I decide to broach the subject with Isabelle.
"You know, if you want to keep the story of our ride discreet, I completely understand," I say, trying my best to be non-chalant. I don't want her to misinterpret me, but I also feel a need for clarity.
Isabelle looks at me for a moment before she speaks.
"Jake, there is nothing about which I feel ashamed." I start to explain that wasn't what I meant but she cuts me off. "But I think discretion would be a wise choice for now. Thank you."
She squeezes my hand and we continue walking in silence.
On the terrace, Peter is sitting in the sun with a paperback in his hand and what looks like a cocktail.
"Bonjour kiddies!" he calls out with a grin. "Did you hike together?"
"Jake hiked the lake trail and I ran into him when I was riding Lancelot," she answers casually.
"Splendid," Peter replies, "and how was it?"
"Incredible," I say, glancing at Isabelle. "It's incredibly beautiful here."
"That it is," Peter agrees. "Say, listen, Father and I ran into Charles in the village. He's invited us to the Fete tonight. I told him we'd come. The whole family. Hope you don't mind, Izzy."
I remember something about Charles being the rich guy who's courting Isabelle. I can see from her reaction that I'm right.
"Oh Peter, did you have to?" she says, with exasperation. "I'm trying to get OUT of that obligation. Now, I HAVE to go."
"Don't worry, pumpkin," Peter replies kindly. "It'll be okay. Jake and I will be there to help you fight off the watch heir. Won't we, Jake?"
"But what will you wear?" Isabelle continues. "You haven't costumes!"
"Costumes?" I interject.
"Don't worry about it," Peter says. "Jake can wear my extra tux. And I picked up a couple of masks we can wear. It's all taken care of."
He gives her a little nudge.
"Come on. Don't be a stick-in-the-mud."
"Oh, alright," she answers, not entirely convincingly.
Peter turns to me. "It's an annual costume party. For charity. The host is Isabelle's erstwhile boyfriend. We'll go as her bodyguards."
"Can't wait," I answer. "I think I'll go clean up."
I pay my respects and head for my room. I undress and hop in the shower. As usual, my insecurities come creeping back.
That's just great. Now I get to meet the other guy, the Swiss watch heir who's trΓ©s riche and probably trΓ©s beau as well. Isabelle can see us side by side. The struggling, unpublished writer and the landed gentry who probably "winters" in Southern France and flies all over world. How can I compete with this guy?
I soap my body and let the water stream over my head.
Wait a minute. Who says I'm even in the game? She had sex with me. We shared an amazing afternoon together. That doesn't mean I'm a rival for her affections. Jesus, Jake, pull yourself together. As I dress in my khaki slacks and a clean white button-down shirt, I find myself replaying the tapes in my head that plagued me during my adolescence. You're nothing. You'll never amount to anything. Your dreams are just that -- dreams. Just then, there's a knock at the door.
"Entrez!" I call out.
Sticking his head in my door is Mr. Fleury, one of the servants.
"Excusez-moi, Monsieur," he says, "Une message pour vous de Madame."
He hands me an envelope and closes the door. I open it. It's a hand-written note from Veronique, Isabelle's Mom.