Page 30 of The Bordeaux Book Club
‘Still, what is it that women see in a bad guy?’ George continued. ‘In real life, I mean. Like, my last girlfriend left me, and said it was because I was “too nice”. That’s one of the reasons I came out here actually, to forget about all of it. But it keeps coming back – like, how can someone betoo nice?’
Everyone was quiet for a moment.
‘Sorry,’ he added. ‘Bit off topic there.’
‘It’s OK,’ Alfie said. ‘I get what you mean. Nice guys finish last, they say, don’t they?’ He pushed his glasses up his nose and gave George a slight nod of solidarity, nice guy to nice guy.
‘Well, more fool the women who fall for men like Heathcliff, I suppose,’ Grace said. ‘Myself included. But then I always did have the most appalling taste in men. My ex-husband was a case in point. Perhaps I need to re-read the book with new eyes.’
Another silence.
‘Mind you, you can see why people single Heathcliff out as the romantic lead. The other male characters aren’t exactly inspiring,’ Leah said, supportively. ‘I mean, they’re not cruel bullies. But they’re… well, pretty unappealing, all said. No real “book boyfriend” potential.’
‘But, like, there has to be a middle-ground between weak blokes like Edgar and bastards like Heathcliff, right?’ George questioned, thoughtfully.
‘Well,’ Monica said, ‘Someone with Heathcliff’s looks and passion but Edgar’s kindness. I’d probably date him!’
They all laughed.
‘What about the women in the book, though?’ Leah said. ‘I know they’re all kind of trapped by the expectations of society at the time. Cathy can’t marry Heathcliff because she needs to find someone with the right status for example. But at the same time, I think the women have sort of power over the men, don’t you?’
‘Agreed,’ Grace said. ‘Kind of a manipulative power – but maybe that’s all that was available to them in those times.’
They broke off as a waiter came to offer another round of coffees.
‘Didn’t half have a hangover after the last meet,’ George admitted. ‘I had to plaster a wall the next day and it weren’t my best work, to say the least.’
‘Still, it was nice,’ Leah said, loyally, nodding at Grace. ‘Such gorgeous wine.’
‘Oh, yeah,’ George said. ‘Brilliant. Great choice.’ Clearly, he was beginning to learn how to handle things with Grace.
‘Yeah, sorry about not having any this time,’ Alfie said. ‘You know I wanted to have it at mine. It’s just my mum…’
‘Oh, I’m sure no criticism was intended!’ Grace assured him. ‘This is lovely. I don’t actually visit the city often enough!’
‘And there’ll be plenty of wine at my place next time,’ Monica added with a smile. ‘Coffee too,’ she added hurriedly.
‘Maybe we ought to get back to the book?’ Grace said, seeming more like herself again. ‘What about the moors – all that delicious symbolism. The beautiful description, their wildness.’
‘Yes, I love the wildness of them,’ Monica said. ‘The way they make Wuthering Heights – the house, that is – seem dangerous and ghostly from the start. It makes me shiver.’
‘Reminded me a bit of this place,’ George said, and they all looked at him slightly askance. He laughed. ‘Sorry I don’t mean Bordeaux, obviously. But the place I’m working on, it’s kind of set back in the countryside, on its own. It’s not a grand house or anything – just an ordinary farmhouse. But it’s that feeling of being isolated. You don’t get that in England, not that I’ve found anyway. Everything’s more spaced out here, isn’t it? You can feel properly alone here.’
Grace was nodding, looking at him with interest. ‘Are you staying in the property?’ she asked. ‘It can be hard to be away from… well, humans, even with all their flaws.’
He shook his head. ‘Nah,’ he said. ‘I thought I would at first – it was September when I came and I’d been living in Manchester and it was like, wow – peace and quiet, and sunshine and everything looked amazing. But then the winter…’ He shuddered. ‘It was bloody – sorry Grace – blummin’ freezing. And it gave me the creeps being there. A couple of the other lads are still staying there, but I’m renting somewhere in town. Might go back in the summer.’
Leah nodded. ‘Sounds like you made a good decision.’
‘Not that I was doing a Heathcliff or anything and losing my mind,’ he said. ‘And so far no ghosts knocking at the windows, so…’ he lifted both hands slightly so they could see his crossed fingers and they all laughed.
Grace smiled. ‘Doing a Heathcliff,’ she said. ‘I love it.’ She meant it too – George might not have the turn of phrase of a literary critic – but he was insightful to say the least. She thought about Stephen, how he’d turned his nose up at anything new, never wanted to join in with her interests. It was nice to see aguy like George get stuck into a text, however out of his depth he claimed to feel.
‘I think we’ve all done a Heathcliff from time to time,’ Leah said. ‘I mean, not at his extreme, but… well, losing the plot a bit.’
There was an awkward silence.
‘Maybe just me then?’ Leah joked, and they all laughed.
