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'I think you're someone with a lot on her mind,' Jake said gently. 'I would like to see your face looking the way it did the first time I saw you. You didn't have that remote look then. You were flushed and pretty and slightly indignant at my silly mistake, and I envied Paul.'
The ballroom was not over-crowded. They found a small table in a corner and sat down for a short time until a new dance began, then they moved on to the floor and danced. Jake was a graceful, deft dancer, and Leonie found the experience very pleasant, moving in his arms to the restful swirl of the music. He did not talk much, his chin resting slightly against her hair, his hand softly holding her in the small of her back.
After a few dances she excused herself, however. 'I really must get some sleep. I' m very tired.'
He insisted on seeing her to her room. Outside her bedroom door he took her key and unlocked the room for her. She took back the key and smiled at him.
'Goodnight, Jake.'
He bent his head quickly, before she could move out of the way, and kissed her. Half dazed by the good wine they had drunk and the warm air of the ballroom, Leonie did not resist, standing like a good child with her face upturned to his. Jake murmured half groaningly against her mouth, his arms came up around her and he pulled her hard against him. The gentle friendly kiss altered, becoming demanding and hungry, till Leonie was startled into realisation of what was happening. She pushed against him, pulling her face back.
Jake let her go at once. Wryly, he looked down at her. 'I'm sorry, but I was tempted beyond my endurance. You're a very attractive creature, Leonie.
She frowned, biting her lip. 'Jake, look, I don't think we should see each other tomorrow, after all.
'No,' he said quickly. 'I promise to be good. It was only a moment's weakness. I'll .pick you up tomorrow after breakfast.'
He was gone before she could argue. She closed her bedroom door and stood leaning against it staring into the dark. Jake's kiss had awoken passion in her, a passion not for Jake but for Paul, and she had to struggle bitterly against a longing for him.
Would she ever see him again?
She was up early next morning, packed and ready to leave as soon as she had had breakfast. With the clear light of morning she felt a clear realisation of the dangers of seeing much of Jake. That kiss had been a warning. Whatever he said, he was far too interested in her, and she was far too vulnerable at this moment. Her own unhappiness had weakened her.
She decided to take a train after all, leaving a message for Jake. But as she left the hotel she saw him waiting outside in his car, and her look of unguarded surprise brought a dry smile to his handsome face. He met her and took her case.
'I came early because I suspected you might try to run away, he said. 'I was right, wasn't J?'
Jake, i think I ought to go by train,' she said apologetically. 'If Paul got to know about this he would be furious.'
'How is he to know? He's in Paris and we're here,' said Jake lightly.
She sighed, 'I wish you'd listen to sense.'
He grinned at her. 'While I drive you can tell me all about your aunt.'
Leonie had to smile. 'What an obstinate man you are!'
'That's right,' he agreed. 'So you'd better do as you're told, my dear.'
The drive was a pleasant one, through some of the loveliest English countryside, and the warm weather made it an even more enjoyable experience. They stopped for lunch at midday at a roadside inn where they ate their meal in a sunlit garden under a striped umbrella while sparrows and blue tits hopped and flew around them begging for crumbs.
Laughing at Jake as he crumbled a roll and carefully rationed it out among the birds, Leonie felt suddenly for the first time for weeks that she was happy, and her surprise at this discovery alarmed her. What had Paul done to her? Only a few months ago she had often been happy. Now a momentary pleasure like this could take her off guard and amaze her. She had ceased to expect happiness; she had ceased to hope for it. This was all Paul's doing.
Bitterness flooded along her veins. For the second time in her life a handsome man had ruined her happiness.
Jake was watching her when she looked up. He put out a finger and touched her lashes gently.
'Tears? Why?'
A smile quivered along her mouth. 'I d
on't know…'
'My dear,' he said with concern, 'I hate to see you like this. What the hell is going on between you and
Paul?'
'We must go,' she said, rising.
