Peter enjoyed Thursday's early morning swim, taking this time alone to plan the day. The air hadn't warmed yet and the water, though tepid, was refreshing as he floated idly awaiting Jennifer's arrival.
"Got cha!" Peter heard the shriek as two soft hands sent him to the bottom. Spluttering and coughing he surfaced to see Jennifer's face close to his.
"Jennifer, I love you so damn much it hurts, but that won't save you!" and he dived to catch her. Lifting her high against his chest he growled, "I do love you and I've been so bloody foolish."
"No, not foolish," she exclaimed, "just very, very patient and considerate."
She bent her head until their lips touched and she allowed her passionate longing to flow into him. Then, breathless, she struggled free. Shrieking, she fled for the poolside and breakfast. Her message was unspoken but clear.
Peter pretended not to have understood as they trooped off exploring yet again. He led the way with an urgency that surprised Jennifer.
In Arab Street, he seemed to be searching for something as he studied the windows. Surprised by the wealth of materials and the carvings on offer, Jennifer straggled behind until Peter led her into a shop heavy with incense.
He had caught a glimpse of something - made for her beauty. Jennifer was perplexed when Peter asked the Indian shopkeeper to produce his best saris. Those piled on the counter were for customers to examine but Peter gave them only a cursory glance. The one he wanted was on display in the window.
"Benares Silk," he demanded. His Tamil sisters had taught him well.
"These are the best, young Sahib... Now Sahib, this Sari." Taking one from the pile, he lightly draped it around Jennifer's hips. "It suits the young memsahib. Just right for her coloring - and feel the texture - the finest quality."
He paused, and clapping his hands, summoned his wife from the rear of the shop.
"What would you like to drink, Memsahib?" she asked.
They sat and accepted the fresh lime sodas offered by the Indian's wife who was totally surprised when Peter thanked her in Tamil. Politely, Peter listened to the sales pitch before laughingly interrupting, "And I'm a stupid Australian. This isn't Benares Silk!"
Fingering the sari, he continued, "And this isn't gold thread. A Hong Kong factory produced this sari. Sorry." Peter began to make his way towards the entrance.
"If the Young Sahib would like to see..." The shopkeeper and Peter repeated the pantomime until Peter demanded a shirt and removed his. The shopkeeper's wife, seeing Peter's back, shrieked and the shopkeeper went seven shades of white.
"Sahib, forgive this poor, ignorant man. We do not sell shirts but if you wait a moment a shirt shall be here for you."
"Yes and I want a jeweller. Not some salesman from the Pasir Malam(night market) either."
The shopkeeper reluctantly produced the sari from the window and the haggling really began.
The purchase of the sari included the buying of a choli and a pavada. When Peter demanded the shopkeeper's wife teach Jennifer how to wear the blouse, the petticoat and the sari she took Jennifer to a room at the back of the shop.
Ashi, as he called himself, commented, "The memsahib will look beautiful. You've chosen well. However, you'll need something special to match her beauty."
Peter allowed Ashi to lead him next door to a tailor where he selected an off-cream material for a featherweight suit. His purchases included a dark brown shirt, pale cream tie and new tan shoes. With the measurements taken, Peter warned the tailor that he would be back the same afternoon to collect his purchases.
Feeling very pleased with his devious surprise, Peter returned with Ashi to see Jennifer rejoining them from the back of the shop. Her red hair down to her shoulders, and her right arm hanging free of its folds gave the sari life. She walked with such grace that the sari swished in a sexual benediction. Peter's heart stood still while Jennifer's face betrayed no emotion as she silently studied Peter's eyes.
"My God, Jennifer! If only you could see how beautiful you look! I'd whistle except that my mouth's gone funny. Quick, change out of that before I run amok."
She skipped into his arms. "Peter. You spoil me."
When Peter asked that Ashi's wife deliver Jennifer's clothing to Raffles, he was adamant that she be there to dress Jennifer by 7pm.
They returned to the hotel early in the afternoon when the steamy heat had sapped Jennifer's strength. She knew that the evening would be special and was grateful that Peter was content to hold her.
"Sleep well my love. We'll paint the town red tonight. While you sleep, I'll have a swim. Remember, this heat means I'm home."
She was already drowsing when he left.
It was easy in Arab Street to have a shave and a massage before going to the tailor's for a fitting. Dressed in the new clothes, Peter looked in the mirror to see a well-dressed almost handsome, tall, muscular Australian male. From there he returned to Ashi's to check the sari had left and to see if his order from the jeweller had arrived.
It seemed to take forever to get back to Raffles in the traffic and to start knocking on the door of their suite.
Slowly Ashi's wife opened the door. She stepped back to reveal Jennifer whose cool green eyes were pools for Peter to drown in and he could only suck in his breath in admiration of his wife's loveliness.
Finally Peter could speak.
"Mrs. O'Brien, may I have the pleasure of your company this evening?"
The emerald earrings hung from her ears. The emerald pendant lay low in the dip of her choli, which modestly revealed the tops of her breasts and the shadowy suggestion of her cleavage. The pale green sari with its gold brocade border enhanced the color of the emeralds and highlighted her beauty. Gold sandals peeking from beneath the hem of the sari told Peter she had done some shopping of her own.
"I don't know what my husband will say when he finds such a handsome, well-dressed stranger in our room." She turned Peter around. "Who was your tailor, Peter, you look terrific?"
"By the way, I found this in the corridor and I thought you may as well have it, but I don't know how you'll explain it to your husband." Grinning, Peter carefully took her right arm and fastened the emerald and diamond encrusted bracelet to her wrist.
"The card in my pocket reads 'To the most beautiful woman in Singapore', but I can't give it to you in case your husband reads it."
"It's magnificent Peter. How can I ever thank you? What can I say?" In reply, Peter's eyes flashed a very strong message and Jennifer blushed furiously.
Jennifer's coloring and the ease with which she wore the sari brought stares and murmurs of approval as they made their way down the broad staircase and across the crowded foyer to the nightclub.
The crowd watched their entrance and Jennifer felt most self-conscious as she glided across the floor, clinging tightly to Peter's arm, to a table close to the stage and the dance floor.
Their evening, however, was brief as the excitement of the past few days caught up with them and they felt too exhausted to remain. Together, they returned to their suite.
