Read Online The Good Life by Gordon Merrick - Free Book Online Page A

with, not forgetting what happened the other day. I’ve missed you enormously the last few days. You’re such a gentleman. I can take you anywhere. Would you consider quitting your job? It will end in the fall, won’t it? Will you come to Europe with me? Not to replace Laszlo, naturally. As a companion. I can give you an allowance of fifty dollars a week so that you have some independence. If you like it, you could stay. If not, you can come back whenever you choose. I don’t think you will have lost anything by doing it, do you?”
    â€œMy goodness, Billy. I’m speechless.”
    â€œIn any case, I’m planning to be gone for less than two months this time. I have to be here for some business in the fall before I go back to France to settle down again. I’ll have my daughter for the summer. It’ll be fun for you to have somebody closer to your age with us. She’s barely seventeen and lovely-looking.”
    â€œYou have a daughter?”
    â€œYes indeed. Bettina. Her mother and I were divorced some years ago, but we’re on reasonably good terms. She lives in the Lombardy Hotel not far from here. Bet has been going to school in Switzerland. She’ll join me in Saint-Tropez, where the yacht will meet us. We’ll have a lovely month cruising the Mediterranean.” Billy’s eyes twinkled. “Have you recovered your speech?”
    â€œHardly. I think I’m dreaming. When are you going to tell me what’s wrong with the idea?”
    â€œYou’ll have to find that out as you go along.”
    â€œOh, Billy.” He leaned forward and kissed his benefactor on the mouth. Their tongues met briefly, and then he felt Billy drawing back. He let him go. Billy adjusted his tie.
    â€œYou’re utterly enchanting,” he said, smiling delightedly at Perry. The boy still didn’t know his own power. His eyes had a bewitching, dancing candor, but his reserve remained a protective shield. “We’ll be sailing in the middle of June. I understand the Mauretania is heavily booked, but I daresay my lawyers can find you a first-class cabin if not a suite. I take it you’ve said yes?”
    â€œOh, Billy. ‘Yes’ doesn’t mean anything. I’ve screamed with joy. I think I’m going to burst into tears. Oh, God. If you only knew. All my life— No. The hell with it. Thanks.”
    â€œThat’s the nicest thanks I’ve ever had. Can you quit right away?”
    â€œTomorrow.”
    â€œThen you can move in here. We have less than four weeks to get ready. Do you need any advice about what to bring with you?”
    â€œI don’t have much. I guess I’ll just bring everything.”
    â€œDo you have a dinner jacket?”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œTrue, we Americans call it a tuxedo. Everybody wears white ones on the Côte, but you should have a black one for Paris and London. You’ll need some dress shirts to go with them. That’s a nice suit, but it’s rather heavy for hot weather. Do you have some lightweight ones? You’d better get a couple. A blazer is always useful on the boat and another informal jacket to change. Several pairs of slacks. A couple of pairs of summer shoes. Some sport shirts and scarves.
    â€œIf you like their things, why don’t you go to Brooks Brothers? I have an account there. Let’s see. The dinner jackets, the suits, and so forth — it should come to less than $400. I’ll ask my secretary to tell them you’re authorized to charge up to that amount. They like you to set a limit so you won’t fuss about paying the bill. If there’s more we haven’t thought of, you can let me know.
    â€œWe can get very smart casual things — fisherman’s jerseys, canvas pants, espadrilles — from Madame Vachon in Saint-Tropez,” he continued. “Everybody goes to her, and there’s no point in carrying things we can get