“Am I getting too much sun? Doesn’t feel so; I’ve been using the lotion. Oh! You mean for Thomas the Tom Cat? But, dear, we’ve been swimming with him and his family every day. As well as with Fred and the Dabrowskis.”
“I don’t give a hoot, dear, but I thought you were anxious to preserve appearances.”
“Seems silly when I swim and sunbathe with all of them. As for appearances, didn’t I see you patting Hester’s bottom in the pool yesterday? Or was it Wednesday?”
“It was Tuesday and it wasn’t Hester, it was her daughter Eve. Just practicing to be a sex maniac, Beautiful—nothing serious. So don’t be jealous.”
“Beloved, the day I’m jealous of a little girl I want you to beat me. Not spank me. Beat some sense into me, woodshed style. But it was Hester, not her daughter. My gallant, wonderful Jacob would never bother a little- girl.”
“Perhaps not but that little girl bothers the hell out of me. Furthermore she does it on purpose.”
“Poor Jake. Even thirteen-year-olds won’t leave him alone. I’m not surprised; I didn’t leave him alone, either.”
“In this case, she’s thirteen-going-on-twenty-one. I’ll make you a deal, dearest. I’ll carefully avoid chaperoning you with her father if you will be very careful always to chaperon me with his daughter.”
“Yes, sir. To hear is to obey, my lord—though I am chagrined that you think I might need chaperoning—or not chaperoning, as the case may be-with one of our servants. But how about Hester? Must I always be sure to be in sight when she’s around?”
“Mind your own business, wench. Uh, no need to be fanatical about it. I want them all to feel easy when they come up here to swim as I don’t want any of our household ever to swim in that sewage down there. You know the coliform count in that beautiful surf. That was the deal we offered—stay off the beaches entirely and they could swim in our pool at any time. So we sacrifice a little privacy but don’t have one of them picking up amebiasis or such and spreading it through our whole family. It evens out—and they are all nice people…even our precocious Eve who’s doing her best to see if she can upset me.”
“I haven’t minded, Jacob; it is not good to be too much alone. But we were speaking of Hester’s bottom. Shapely, huh?”
“Hon, you’re as bad as Eve. I’m going to go and say ten Money Hums and catch that siesta. I’ll send out Tom. Don’t let me sleep more than an hour. Kiss.”
She turned her face up. As he left she dived in, swam a couple of lengths and climbed out, was waiting, staring down at the yacht harbor when Finchley arrived. “You sent for me, Ma’am?”
She smiled. “Thomas Cattus, that’s not my name when we’re alone.”
He glanced over his shoulder, said almost soundlessly, “Pussy Cat, the Boss is awake.”
“So he is. But he’s gone to his room and closed the door. Siesta. He’ll be asleep in almost no time. But I don’t mean to scare you, Thomas Cattus dear. Come here to the rail, want to show you something. Have you done any sailing? Or has it all been power?”
“Sailing? Oh, sure, I grew up on Chesapeake Bay. Cat boats and such.”
“Ever sail a trimaran?”
“Never skippered one. Crewed in one when I was sixteen.”
“What do you think of them?”
“Depends on what for. Okay if you want something more like a houseboat than a racer. But I wouldn’t have one without an auxiliary engine. In tight waters they can be as awkward as two people in a bathtub.”
“Ever try it in a bathtub, Thomas Cattus?’
“Sure, who hasn’t? Okay for a giggle with a few drinks aboard. But a bed is better. Or a floor.”
“How about a sunbathing mat?”
“Pussy Cat, you enjoy scaring me. You gonna get us caught, yet.”
“Rhetorical question, dear; I wasn’t twisting your arm. Tell me, do you think Hester and Jake have ever made it?”
“Practically certain they never.” He grinned at her. “But I can tell you something.”