Airship City

Chapter 10

Top Table was on the same floor as Hughes's office, and Joseph caught up with Ione after a few moments. She was standing just inside the entrance to the restaurant, speaking with a little man. He was immaculately dressed in a white formal jacket and bow-tie, with slicked-back hair and a very thin moustache.

As Joseph approached, the man turned to look at Joseph, rather disapprovingly. “Pardonne, monsieur, but ze restaurant is fully booked for lunch today." 

Ione let out a peal of laughter. "Oh, Pierre, this is my guest, Mr Joseph Samson. It's just the two of us, Father can't make it for lunch today."

Pierre nodded briskly. “Of course. If monsieur and mademoiselle would be so kind as to follow me..." Turning away with a sort of bowing, sweeping motion, he walked off. Ione followed immediately, and Joseph hurried to remain by her side.

As he walked he barely noticed the sumptuous restaurant, with its thick, soft carpets, delicate gold-patterned wallpaper, and crystal chandeliers; he was too busy worrying about what he was going to talk about with this strange girl for an entire lunch. Part of him still seethed at the way she had treated him when they met; but another part was intrigued by her confidence. And also by how pretty she is. The admission made his cheeks burn. 

The restaurant was completely full of well-dressed folk, talking and laughing quietly, or enjoying the food; but he felt quite a few curious eyes on him, as the maitre d' led them through the very centre, right up to a table in prime position, next to the central window that looked out over the main deck of Aeropolis far below.

Pierre snapped his fingers as they approached, and two waiters materialised: at a hand signal they rapidly and silently removed two of the place settings. Ione was seated at one of the remaining two by Pierre, whilst Joseph seated himself at the other, opposite Ione. After handing menus to them both, with an ingratiating bow to Ione, and a slightly disapproving glance at Joseph, Pierre was gone.

The magnificent view beckoned, but Joseph was distracted by the thought that he was out of place here. Although his mother tried to make sure that his clothes were neat and in good repair, there was no doubt that she favoured clothes that were durable and hard-wearing rather than fashionable. Joseph looked at the silk suits and beautiful poplin shirts worn by the men around him, and then at his own sturdy brown woollen jacket and grey flannel trousers. His shirt was clean, but the cuffs were not French ones. They had buttons instead of cufflinks, and they were slightly frayed. He tried to pull his jacket sleeves down over them.

The other distraction was the menu. It was in French, a language with which Joseph had a difficult, even tempestuous, relationship. At that moment he found himself unable to understand what at least half of the items were. And the prices! He was very glad that Hughes had given him the charge card: he didn’t have enough money in his pockets to pay for even the cheapest item. Feeling more and more out of place, Joseph looked miserably across at his dining companion, who seemed to be in her element. She was pointing at something through the window.

“Oh, look! Is that Buckingham Palace?” 

Her pronunciation of the final syllable annoyed him. There’s no ham in Buckingham! “Yes, I do believe it is Buckingham Palace,” he said, slightly emphasising the correct pronunciation. But Ione seemed not to notice, staring at the palace with an excited expression on her face.

If Joseph had been shown a photograph of Ione, he would probably not have called her beautiful. But in person she was so lively and vivacious that it was impossible not to think of her as attractive. She was certainly striking, with flaming red hair, prominent cheekbones, and a strong jawline, just like her mother, the famous Katherine Hepburn.