Black Diamonds (13 page)

Her senses were still swimming as he turned away and said casually to Eve and Bob, “I think that’s enough of the auction for me today.”

“I should think so too.” Eve winked at Jackie. “That’s quite a contribution you’ve made to the church.”

With people still shaking his hand and clapping him on the back as he passed, Xavier led the way out of the crowd.

“You’ll have got some good ideas to take back to Australia from your trip here, won’t you, Jackie?” Bob asked her as they followed.

“What? Oh yes, I’ve got lots of ideas.” Her cheeks burned at the words. The ideas she had at that moment weren’t about her truffle farm, but about Xavier. With effort she forced herself to focus on Bob. “This trip has given me lots to think about. About truffles, I mean,” she added hastily.

“You can put your new ideas to work at your own truffle farm,” Bob said encouragingly.

“Yes.” Above her the sun passed behind a cloud as a sudden shadow overcame her. How wonderful it would be to be able to go home to Margaret River and do just that! She’d tried so hard to keep Paradise Truffle Farm’s dire straits out of her mind during her trip to France, and not let it stop her enjoyment of being part of it all. If only it could be a new beginning for her business, instead of a final grand gesture!

Gripping the paper bag holding the white truffle as if it was a talisman, she gritted her teeth. She had to keep believing she could save Paradise Truffle Farm, for the memory of her father, if nothing else. She’d offered up that very prayer to St Antoine.

Looking up, she found Xavier had stopped and turned around, his stare fixed on her, with his mysterious method of seeming to read her thoughts, before he was distracted by Bob.

“What do you think the Knights of the Black Diamond will put on for lunch this year?” Bob rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Last time they made an omelette I still dream about. Not that it matters what they make. I’m sure the truffles will be excellent.”

“I don’t know what’s on the menu, but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed,” Xavier replied. Swiftly, he turned back to Jackie, his attention piercing. Ducking her head to evade his all-seeing dark eyes, she glanced away.

The white variety of truffles is usually served uncooked and raw.

http://www.trufflerecipes.info/

Xavier ran his hands over the Porsche Cayenne’s leather steering wheel as he drove Jacaranda back to the chateau from the heliport. Bob and Eve had their own car, and he was glad to have her to himself for a while. She’d been too quiet through lunch provided by the Knights of the Black Diamond back in Richerenches, though she’d valiantly tried to keep up with the conversation, even if much of it was in French. With her easy manner, and her knowledge of truffles, she’d fitted in so well, with both the cultivators and the gourmets. He’d been proud to have her beside him at the lunch and in the church earlier too, wearing her Australian oilskin coat, her lovely face shining with excitement. But flying back to the Dordogne in the helicopter, as she’d stared down through the clouds at the countryside beneath them, he’d sensed her thoughts were far away.

“I hope you enjoyed your lunch.”

“I did, thank you, very much.” The white paper bag she held on her lap rustled. Even through the paper, he could smell it, earthy and powerful, mingling with the delicate Australian wildflower scent she wore. Some women’s perfumes clashed with the scent of truffles, but not Jacaranda’s. “I still can’t believe you gave me a white truffle. It’s wonderful of you.”

He shot her a sideways glance. Her delight over the white truffle had become overcast by something else, he sensed, though she’d tried to hide it. He wondered if she realised how easily he’d begun to be able to read her emotions; the way she chewed her lip when anxious, the way her deep blue eyes could cloud with worry.

“So, what’s wrong?”

“Why do you think something’s wrong?”

“You’re making polite conversation with me again. It’s always a danger sign where you’re concerned. Tell me. What’s happened? Didn’t you like the truffle mass?”

“I loved it. My pa would have loved it too,” she added wistfully.

Ah, her papa
. Grief still hovered over her, but Xavier’s instincts told him there was something else. “So, is that all that’s worrying you? What is it? You can trust me, remember?”

Still clutching the truffle bag, she hesitated, before giving a gusty sigh. “I might as well tell you. You’ll find out soon enough. Before I came to France, I had some bad news about my truffle farm. It’s all much, much worse than I thought.”

Her slowness to continue told him it was hard for her to find the words. He didn’t rush her, just concentrated on the road; gave her time.

“It looks like Paradise Truffle Farm is going to have to close,” she said after a few moments. “The truffle farm’s in so much debt … I had no idea. Bill Gordon, that’s our accountant, he basically says I’ve got one more year, two at the most. After that …”

“After that you’ll have to sell?”

He could barely hear her whispered reply. “Yes.”

“I see.” His heart gave one of those unexpected squeezes. No wonder she seemed so troubled, with so much to deal with at home. Somehow, he had to help her, but he knew she wouldn’t want him to step in and take command. No, feisty Jacaranda Riley wouldn’t accept that.

Wheels began to turn in his mind.

“So what are you going to do?” he queried lightly.

“I don’t know.” Another sigh seeped out from between her lips. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t see how I can turn things around in one year. The way things are I’m probably going to have to close. There really isn’t much choice.”

“You haven’t thought this through,” he told her curtly.

The sudden jump she gave in her seat told him the sharpness of his tone surprised her.

“I don’t think you’ve got any idea how bad things are!” she exclaimed. “I was expecting you to be sympathetic.”

“I am sympathetic,” he insisted. “But you won’t solve your problems feeling helpless. There’s always a choice, Jacaranda. Always.”

Her courageous chin came up, as he’d hoped it would. He knew he sounded harsh, but he didn’t want her to lose the bravery and determination he so admired in her. She would respond better to a challenge, he sensed instinctively.

“It’s all very well for you to say there’s a choice,” she asserted. “I don’t think you understand what it’s like for me. You’ve got centuries worth of financial reserves and reputation to back you up at Antoine Estate. I’ve got nothing.”

Crooking an eyebrow at her, Xavier demanded, “Nothing?”

“Less than nothing. Debt, that’s what I’ve got. I don’t suppose it’s anything you’ve ever had to deal with.”

“Perhaps not.” Xavier managed to ensure his voice remained controlled. He wasn’t going to let her slip into uncharacteristic self pity either. She was better than that. “But I still don’t think you have nothing.”

“Oh really,” she said almost sarcastically, but he heard her undertone of worry and fear. “What is it you think I have?”

Pausing for a moment, he replied, “You have what your father left you. You have your truffles.”

He’d silenced her. He saw her gulp, and guessed she was fighting back tears. She couldn’t argue with him—she did have her truffles, her trees, her land. He knew she couldn’t disagree.

“You said the accountant told you that you’ve got one last chance,” Xavier went on.

“That’s right.”

“What if you made it a black diamond year?”

“A black diamond year? Don’t you understand? We’re almost out of business.”

“Of course I understand. But you’re not thinking straight. What if this year was better than all the other years Paradise Truffle Farm has ever had? What if your truffles won prizes, hit the price per gram that’s more than gold?”

“That would make a difference,” she admitted slowly, “but I can’t see that happening. Our price is nowhere near that. I can’t pin all my hopes on it.”

“What else can you pin your hopes on?” Spinning around a corner, he sent the Cayenne’s wheels squealing. “Listen to me. Until now, you’ve been selling truffles that are the equivalent of table wines.”

“
Vin ordinaire
,” she put in wryly.

“
Vin ordinaire
,
oui
. And that’s the price you’ve been selling at. But you know I think you’ve now cultivated some truffles that are something special. And there are other people who think so too.”

“The Armitages.”

Xavier nodded. They didn’t only like Jacaranda’s truffles; they liked her too. “Bob and Eve are big in the U.S. They’re not flashy about it, but they’re very influential.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“What if this year you go international? Put Paradise truffles up for every international award, every sale or distributor that might have you noticed?”

“I’d lose my local market. I could lose all of the customers we already have, who like the products we already sell. I need that trade to keep the business running.”

There was a flaw in her argument, Xavier knew, but she was too close, too panicked to see it. “Your business won’t run at all if you don’t take a chance.”

Her red hair flew as she shook her head. “I don’t think I’m ready to do as you suggest.”

“You have to be.”

With whitened knuckles she clutched the paper bag even more tightly. “It would be such a risk.” She shook her head again. “No. I’m not sure now is the time, Xavier. If it goes wrong—I could lose it all.”

“Doing what you usually do isn’t enough.” That was the motto he always worked by; it was the secret of Antoine Estate’s success. He kept his business growing, changing, he pushed the parameters. “If you try what I’m suggesting, you might lose some customers,
certainement
. But you would attract new customers.”

“Well, if I got a higher price per gram that would certainly help.”

“It’s the only way,” he told her with certainty. “If you were able to produce something really special …”

“A black diamond year.” She borrowed his term.

“A black diamond year. There’s money to be made in Australian truffles, I know it. A few years ago, a small unknown
trufferie
I heard about had a small yield, but an outstanding one. Their price went up astronomically and they haven’t looked back.” He fell quiet for a moment before throwing her another quick glance. “I’ll help you.”

“You really mean that?”

“I do.”

They were both silent as he drove into the gates to the chateau. He switched off the ignition. “I hope you’ll let me.”

“I’d … I’d like that.”

The silence in the air lingered so powerfully he could almost taste it. Then she broke it, saying, “Even if you help me, I’m going to do it my way.”

Xavier roared with laughter. “Ah, the straight talking Australian girl. I wouldn’t want it otherwise, though I hope that I can offer you my humble opinion now and then.”

She grinned ruefully. “I’m sorry. I hope that didn’t sound ungrateful.”

“
Non
. Just determined. I’m pleased to hear it.” That was what he liked best about her: her feistiness, her courage. He felt pleased to see it re-emerge.

She released a gurgling giggle that reminded him of champagne that had just been poured. “What makes you laugh?”

“I was just thinking how much I didn’t want your opinion when we first met.”

“Ah yes.” Pulling out the keys he clicked open his car door. “The mercenary invader’s opinion was definitely not wanted, was it?”

Beneath his shoes the gravel crunched as he came around the side of the car and opened her door, holding out his hand to help her out. “We can discuss this another time.”

Instead she held out the paper bag. Her voice sounded a little unsteady as she got out of the car and stood beside him. “Over white truffle, perhaps?”

“Ah yes. Your white diamond.” As he took the proffered bag her fingers brushed against his. His voice gravelled as he warned her, “They’re very powerful, even more powerful than the black ones. Are you sure it’s what you want?”

Her tongue peeped out from between her teeth to caress her lower lip. “I want to taste it.”

His entire body roared into life. “Are you sure?”

He saw her swallow hard as she nodded. “I’m sure.”

Jackie pushed open the drawing room door. To her surprise only Xavier stood there, alone by the fire, a brandy glass cupped in his hand. “I thought we were all going to have brandy in here?”

“Eve told me to say good night to you. She said Bob needed an early night. He looked pleased, if somewhat bemused.”

“She’s a very kind woman.”
Take the roller coaster, Jackie
. Eve’s words echoed in her head.

“
Oui
. Not always the most subtle,” he smiled cryptically, “but kind. And she likes you.”

“I like her too, very much.” The four of them had eaten dinner in the chateau dining room, and Jackie couldn’t remember a meal or company when she’d laughed so much. A French chateau was the last place she’d ever expected to feel at ease.

Xavier held up his curved glass. “Would you like some?”

“Yes. Please.”

As she rubbed her hands by the fire, the intensity of his focus seared hotter than the flames through the clinging purple jersey dress she wore. She’d slipped on the dress before dinner, after luxuriating in a long bath in the pink marble tub. Lying back in the foam, she’d soaped each one of her limbs, unable to stop thinking about Xavier and the white truffle. She’d barely been able to slide out of the soapy water.

He passed her a glass of brandy, his fingers trailing across her palm. The first mouthful she gulped down more quickly than she’d intended.

“How do you like the taste?”

Steadying herself, she took another, slower sip. “It’s good, but it’s not quite the same if you’re not blindfolded.”

He laughed lazily. “I’ll have to try that some time.”

“Do you mean you made me do it when you’ve never done it yourself?” Jackie tried to sound indignant and failed.

“What can I say?” His voice turned gravelly. “You’ll have to take your revenge, somehow.”

Butterflies filled her stomach at the thought of what that revenge might be. “So I passed the test, then?”