The Doll’s House Read Online Free PDF Page A

of that. He’d give smart parties for business colleagues with a beautiful wife at his side to support him.
    They’d have a splendid town house and a place in the country for weekends. And children to make it a real family.
    He was an only child himself and he longed to give his children everything that he’d missed in his own isolated upbringing. Prep school at seven, boarding school at thirteen; parents who shunted him off to stay here and there because they had other things to do than amuse him during the holidays. He’d grown up tough, determined to prove himself and to shape his own life differently.
    When he met Rosa he couldn’t believe his luck that she was unattached. So bright, ravishingly pretty, sexy, loving. He’d cast her into the role of wife and mother and swept her into marriage.
    She was charming with people; the senior partner’s wife had singled her out. Rosa didn’t make other women jealous. In spite of her looks she posed no threat and instinctively they knew it. She wasn’t interested in flirting. He thought furiously, she wasn’t interested in anything but her career.
    The seventeenth for a week. He wasn’t going to say anything, but the nineteenth was their wedding anniversary. She’d be away on her course, too busy to spare him an evening. Too busy to remember that on that date, five years ago, she’d promised to love him and share his life.
    He’d bought her a pair of diamond earrings. He’d booked a night at a famous country hotel just outside Windsor and planned to surprise her on the morning. James never forgot birthdays or anniversaries. They mattered to him because quite often dates like that had been forgotten when he was growing up.
    â€˜It was such a good party,’ Rosa said as they drove home. It was nearly midnight and London was quiet, the streets empty of traffic. ‘She does everything so well,’ she went on.
    â€˜Yes,’ he answered. ‘Joyce is a great asset. He’s lucky this time round.’
    â€˜You never told me he’d been married before.’
    â€˜I didn’t know her. She went off with someone else, I think.’ His tone closed the subject.
    Rosa was driving; he didn’t want to risk it after drinking brandy.
    â€˜Did you enjoy it, James? You seem a bit tired, darling.’
    â€˜It was good fun …’ He yawned and let the sentence fade.
    He hadn’t remembered their anniversary. Rosa felt light-headed with relief. He would have said something. Afterwards she’d remind him and think of something special to make up for it. After all, their second year he’d had to go on a trip to Hong Kong …
    â€˜Well, I thoroughly enjoyed myself,’ Rosa said. ‘They were terribly nice to both of us. I’m sure you’ll be offered the partnership. Why don’t we go and celebrate?’ He turned to look at her.
    â€˜Why don’t we go to Annabel’s for a drink? It’s not that late, it’s only ten past twelve. It’d be fun.’
    She was smiling at him expectantly. She hadn’t remembered the date. She’d spend their wedding anniversary with her Foreign Office friends. She was so unaware of what she’d done, he could have hit her.
    They used to go to the chic night-club twice a week when they first met. Drink champagne and dance together; it was their foreplay before going back to his flat to make love. But not now.
    He settled back and closed his eyes. He said, ‘Sorry, Rosa, but I’ve got a hell of a lot of work tomorrow. We’ll do it another time.’
    When they got home he went upstairs without his usual nightcap and turned his back on her when she got into bed.

2
    Hermann Rilke let himself into the apartment. It was different from the spacious, comfortable duplex on Potsdammen Platz he’d shared with his mother for the last fifteen years. But the accommodation ended with the job and his pension