looked down at her gently as they walked slowly upstairs.
Of course I did, Walmar. She was touched that he would ask. Didn't you?
Useful. That Belgian deal we've been discussing will probably go through. It was important that Hoffmann come tonight. I'm glad he did.
Good. Then so am I. As she followed him sleepily, she wondered if that was her purpose, then, to encourage him with his Belgian deal, and Dolff with his new book. Was that it, then? She was to help both of them achieve whatever it was that they were going to do? But if them, why not her children? And then it came to her, and why not herself? I thought his wife was very pretty.
Walmar shrugged, and then as they stood on the landing, he smiled at her, but there was a ghost of sorrow in his eyes. I didn't. I'm afraid you've spoiled me for everyone else.
She smiled back into his eyes. Thank you.
There was a moment of awkwardness as they both stood there on the stairs. It was the moment of parting. It seemed easier on the evenings when they had nothing to do. He would retreat his study, she would go upstairs alone to read a book. But climbing the stairs together left them with a fork in the road that never grew less poignant and left them both feeling so much alone. Before, they had always known they might meet in her bedroom later, but now it was no secret between them that they would not. And there was an aura of adieu each time they reached that landing. It always seemed so much more than just good night.
You're looking better lately, darling. I don't mean in terms of your looks. He smiled gently. I mean your health.
She returned his smile. I'm feeling better, I suppose. But there was something gone from her eyes as she said it, and she quickly dropped her eyes away from his. There was an instant of silence as the clock softly chimed the quarter hour.
It's late, you'd best get to bed. He kissed the top of her head and walked resolutely to the door of his room. She saw only his back as she whispered softly, Good night, and then walked quickly down the hall to her own.
Chapter 3
The wind whisked briskly around their legs as Dolff and Kassandra walked along the lake at the Charlottenburger Schloss. This afternoon they were alone in the park. The children were back in school, and the lovers and old people who came out to feed the birds were too sensible to go out on such a cold day. But Dolff and Kassandra were happy with their solitude as they walked along.
Warm enough? He looked down at her smilingly and she laughed.
In this? I'd be embarrassed to admit it if I wasn't.
You should be. He glanced admiringly at the new sable coat, which danced only a few inches above the ground. She wore a matching hat tilted to one side of her head, and the sleek golden hair was tied in a knot at the nape of her neck. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and her eyes looked more startlingly violet than ever. He had an arm around her shoulders and he looked down at her with pride. It was November and she had been his now for more than eight months.
How do you feel now that you've finished the book?
Like I'm out of a job.
Do you miss the characters very much?
I miss them terribly at first. And then he kissed the top of her head. But less so when I'm with you. Are you ready to go back now? She nodded and they turned back toward his house, hurrying the few blocks until they reached his door. He pushed it open for Kassandra as they stepped into the front hall. She felt more and more at home here. The week before they had even ventured into some antique stores together and bought two new chairs and another small desk.
Tea? She smiled up at him warmly and he nodded comfortably in answer, following her into the kitchen. She put on the kettle and pulled out one of the well-worn kitchen chairs.
Do you have any idea how lovely it is to have you here, madam?
Do you have any idea how lovely it is to be here? She was coming to terms with the guilt now. This was simply her way of
Of course I did, Walmar. She was touched that he would ask. Didn't you?
Useful. That Belgian deal we've been discussing will probably go through. It was important that Hoffmann come tonight. I'm glad he did.
Good. Then so am I. As she followed him sleepily, she wondered if that was her purpose, then, to encourage him with his Belgian deal, and Dolff with his new book. Was that it, then? She was to help both of them achieve whatever it was that they were going to do? But if them, why not her children? And then it came to her, and why not herself? I thought his wife was very pretty.
Walmar shrugged, and then as they stood on the landing, he smiled at her, but there was a ghost of sorrow in his eyes. I didn't. I'm afraid you've spoiled me for everyone else.
She smiled back into his eyes. Thank you.
There was a moment of awkwardness as they both stood there on the stairs. It was the moment of parting. It seemed easier on the evenings when they had nothing to do. He would retreat his study, she would go upstairs alone to read a book. But climbing the stairs together left them with a fork in the road that never grew less poignant and left them both feeling so much alone. Before, they had always known they might meet in her bedroom later, but now it was no secret between them that they would not. And there was an aura of adieu each time they reached that landing. It always seemed so much more than just good night.
You're looking better lately, darling. I don't mean in terms of your looks. He smiled gently. I mean your health.
She returned his smile. I'm feeling better, I suppose. But there was something gone from her eyes as she said it, and she quickly dropped her eyes away from his. There was an instant of silence as the clock softly chimed the quarter hour.
It's late, you'd best get to bed. He kissed the top of her head and walked resolutely to the door of his room. She saw only his back as she whispered softly, Good night, and then walked quickly down the hall to her own.
Chapter 3
The wind whisked briskly around their legs as Dolff and Kassandra walked along the lake at the Charlottenburger Schloss. This afternoon they were alone in the park. The children were back in school, and the lovers and old people who came out to feed the birds were too sensible to go out on such a cold day. But Dolff and Kassandra were happy with their solitude as they walked along.
Warm enough? He looked down at her smilingly and she laughed.
In this? I'd be embarrassed to admit it if I wasn't.
You should be. He glanced admiringly at the new sable coat, which danced only a few inches above the ground. She wore a matching hat tilted to one side of her head, and the sleek golden hair was tied in a knot at the nape of her neck. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and her eyes looked more startlingly violet than ever. He had an arm around her shoulders and he looked down at her with pride. It was November and she had been his now for more than eight months.
How do you feel now that you've finished the book?
Like I'm out of a job.
Do you miss the characters very much?
I miss them terribly at first. And then he kissed the top of her head. But less so when I'm with you. Are you ready to go back now? She nodded and they turned back toward his house, hurrying the few blocks until they reached his door. He pushed it open for Kassandra as they stepped into the front hall. She felt more and more at home here. The week before they had even ventured into some antique stores together and bought two new chairs and another small desk.
Tea? She smiled up at him warmly and he nodded comfortably in answer, following her into the kitchen. She put on the kettle and pulled out one of the well-worn kitchen chairs.
Do you have any idea how lovely it is to have you here, madam?
Do you have any idea how lovely it is to be here? She was coming to terms with the guilt now. This was simply her way of
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