Gaby touched his wrist .sx " Now that we are in my country , will you allow me to choose for you a really French meal ?sx " " Of course .sx " As she gave the order to the waiter , using her hands so expressively it was difficult for Rob to imagine why she had singled him out .sx She could surely have had any man she wished .sx She was looking very young tonight , and , as usual , indescribably beautiful , in a simple strapless dress of a green and white silky cotton .sx Her shoulders and face were still tanned , and in this light the shade of her hair had deepened to a burnt honey .sx She met his gaze .sx " You are looking at me again , Rob .sx " " I was just thinking how lovely you are .sx You make me say all the things I never thought I could say aloud .sx " " Not even to Diana ?sx " There was a glint in her eye .sx " We won't mention Diana tonight , " he said abruptly .sx " I don't want to make comparisons .sx " He sounded pompous , but he did not want to be made to feel guilty this evening , of all times .sx " No , of course not .sx " She was silent while the first course of steaming artichokes , soaked in a buttery sauce , was served .sx Then her smile dazzled him .sx " I hope you have a good appetite tonight , Rob .sx I have ordered a lot of things .sx " " I'll eat them somehow , then we'll walk it off afterwards .sx " There was blue trout next , then a young chicken that had been cooked in wine and herbs , finally a platter of cheese and fruit .sx Rob took a deep breath .sx " I think that was the best meal I've ever eaten .sx I think of beans on toast in Birmingham and shudder .sx Or spaghetti .sx I won't like going to Italy !sx " " Will you ever go back , Rob ?sx " she asked , skinning a peach with absorbed skill .sx " Not if I can help it .sx That phase of my life is over .sx " " And the future , Rob , what do you look for in the future ?sx " " Whatever comes , " he said lightly .sx " This is a see-saw business .sx I'll stay at the top just as long as I can , then try to accept defeat as gracefully as I can .sx " " You'll stay at the top for years , Rob .sx We both will .sx I know that , " she said vehemently .sx " Before we are finished , everyone in Paris , Rome and New York will have heard all about Rob Martin , the famous British singer .sx " She leaned across the table so that the perfume of her hair drifted up to him .sx " With the two of us in partnership , we can go a long way .sx You do believe that ?sx " The expression in her eyes was hidden from the lamplight .sx He looked at her for a long time .sx Then he said slowly , " Yes , I believe that .sx I believe that , with you , I could do just about anything anyone asked me .sx " She sat back smiling triumphantly .sx " We shall sing our way round the world , Rob .sx Perhaps we shall be invited to those cities we have only read about .sx People will talk of us as they did of Nelson Eddy and Jeannette Macdonald .sx That was a long time ago , I know , but no singing partnership achieved quite the fame they did .sx But we will , Rob , we will , " she ended fiercely , and she gripped his hand as though she would never let it go .sx Abruptly he said , " I'll pay the bill and we'll walk down to the sea .sx I want to see if it's as clear as they say it is .sx " They took off their shoes , and the sand was soft and smooth beneath their feet .sx By the time they came to the sea the lights of the terrace looked a long way off .sx Rob bent and put his hand in the water .sx It was warm and still .sx Gaby said impishly , " Let's paddle .sx No one can see us from there .sx " Rob tucked up his trousers and she kicked her nylons towards the high , white sandals .sx They waded into the shallow water .sx " Look across there .sx " He pointed the way they had driven earlier .sx The whole coast was like a strip of twinkling stars .sx " We could be on an island , cut off from all those people there .sx In fact , I wish we were .sx I don't want to go back .sx " " Neither do I , Rob .sx If you are going to stay , then I shall stay with you .sx " He turned towards her .sx Her face looked very pale in the darkness .sx A strange , burning feeling was creeping over his body .sx He felt as though he were poised on the brink of some new , wonderful experience .sx " Gaby .sx . " " Yes , Rob ?sx " " Oh , Gaby , Gaby !sx " Her lips were cool and smooth under his , and her cheeks were like silk .sx He held her , wanting to retain this moment all his life , the two of them in the warm , shimmering darkness , rocking gently to and fro in the rustling water .sx When at last he released her , he was still feeling dizzy from the impact .sx Without speaking they gripped each other's hands , and walked back to the dry sand and sat down .sx Gaby started to rub at her feet with a wisp of a handkerchief .sx She had amazingly small feet .sx But everything about her was petite .sx She said at last , " I've been waiting a long time for you to do that , Rob .sx " " You have ?sx " He was amazed .sx Then his arm came round her bare shoulders .sx " I suppose I've wanted it too , but I've been afraid .sx " " Afraid ?sx " " Yes .sx Afraid that you would push me away , and then everything would have been over before it started .sx I couldn't have stood that .sx I think I felt this way about you the moment I saw you at the Savoy party .sx People laugh about love at first sight , but sometimes it's true- only you don't see it at the time .sx " " Then you do love me ?sx " she said slowly .sx " Oh , yes .sx You've hit me like .sx . like a boomerang .sx " " And what about .sx .? " " .sx . Diana ?sx Yes , I know .sx " Was it only this morning that he had told Diana he loved her ?sx He had believed it then , and in an odd sort of way it was still true .sx He did love Diana , but it was nothing like this flame that blazed within him when he was with Gaby .sx The man who first said there were many faces of love was right .sx He went on slowly , " I don't know what to say about her .sx I can't let her down just like that , yet one day it will have to come .sx I can see that now .sx " " Rob .sx " She rested her head against his shoulder .sx Her perfume had none of the gentle scent of Diana's .sx It was some excitingly subtle blend that tore at his senses .sx " We have our careers to think of first of all .sx I think it would be best to go for a little while as we were , seeing more of each other perhaps , getting to know each other , but doing nothing definite .sx A romance can do no harm to our publicity at the moment , but marriage must wait .sx Don't you agree ?sx " " I suppose so .sx But it's you I want above everything .sx " He was startled that she put their publicity so firmly before their private life , but she was probably right ; there was still time to get to know more about each other .sx Aloud he said , " I never imagined anything like this would happen when we both were invited to Monte Carlo .sx " " And would you still have come if you had guessed , Rob ?sx " she asked quietly .sx He smiled into the darkness .sx " Yes , I would .sx Of course I would , that's the glorious part of it .sx Oh , Gaby !sx " He turned and kissed her again , running his hand through her hair .sx " I think I must be the luckiest man in the world .sx " They lay on the sand a little longer , talking , listening to the sound of the sea , and the breeze rustling through the pine trees behind them , and just dreaming .sx Then Gaby said , " Rob , if you want to stop for a few moments at Cannes , perhaps we had better go .sx Tomorrow night will be exhausting .sx I shall never be able to face it .sx " He jumped up .sx " I had forgotten all about tomorrow .sx How selfish of me .sx It doesn't seem quite real somehow , after this .sx " He drove along the coast in high spirits , their voices joining in the liquid melody of their new song .sx At Cannes he parked near the harbour , and they found a pavement cafe@2 and sat for a while , watching the boats and drinking black coffee .sx " Funny , " he mused .sx " This is what I always imagined myself doing in the South of France , sitting idly , drinking coffee , watching the people and the boats .sx And aren't some of the boats fabulous ?sx " They lit up the harbour , some miniature liners , launches , speed boats and small , colourful sailing dinghies .sx They seemed joined in a community of their own .sx He and Gaby watched in silence , holding hands .sx For the moment everything had been said .sx They were content merely to be together .sx Reluctantly then , they went back to the car and to the hotel .sx Outside Gaby's room he said , " I wonder what time band call will be ?sx " " I've heard in the morning , but I'm not sure .sx " " Then we'll have time for a swim in the afternoon .sx Is that a date ?sx " " It's a date .sx Goodnight , Rob , and thank you .sx " She put up her face for his kiss .sx " Sweet dreams .sx " " They'll be sweet all right .sx I shall be dreaming of you .sx " He drew back the curtains and let the sea breeze in before he got into bed .sx He lay awake for a long time , thinking about the evening and the whole day that lay ahead .sx It was all too short , but he intended to hold on to it tightly with both hands .sx He breakfasted alone , learning with disappointment that Gaby was having hers in her room .sx He had been particularly looking forward to this , breakfast in the cool of the morning on the broad terrace , looking straight out to sea .sx There would have been something particularly intimate about it .sx He toyed with the warm rolls and cherry jam , but drank two large cups of coffee .sx Their call came about eleven o'clock .sx He went up and knocked on Gaby's door .sx " I missed you this morning , " he said , when they drew apart .sx " You'll have to get used to my bad morning habits , " she teased him .sx " I never get up unless I have to .sx Even for someone like you .sx " " I'll try to remember .sx Shall we go now ?sx " He reached for her hand .sx She looked this morning as though she had stepped straight out of the sunshine .sx She wore a full white skirt of some silky material and a yellow top .sx She looked slim and tiny and he badly wanted to protect her .sx They worked hard for the rest of the morning .sx The producer wanted nothing less than perfection .sx Again and again the same acts were called for a repeat .sx Rob watched , amazed , as many more professional stars than himself were made to run through their words or their music five or six times .sx It was a cosmopolitan gathering of stars .sx There were English , American , French , Italian , and a couple from Brazil .sx Rob began by feeling overawed before realizing that most of them had probably come up the same way as he had .sx The rehearsal finished at last and they all trooped in to lunch , arguing good-humouredly about how the evening's performance should be staged .sx Rob did not have a chance to be alone with Gaby until after three o'clock when most of the others had gone to their rooms to rest .sx " Still game for a swim ?sx " he asked .sx " I'll fetch my things and be with you in five minutes .sx " For half an hour they splashed about in the water , more clear and blue than Rob had believed possible .sx Then they lay in long deck-chairs , dozing under their striped umbrellas .sx Rob reached for Gaby's hand after a few minutes , but she was asleep , looking as deeply at peace as a young child .sx He lay back in his chair .sx