A Dance of Forbidden Desires

Chapter 7

Paul made a shrugging motion. Despite his frustration, he was unable to press his point.As she led the way to a trail up among the young beeches once they were outside, her voice once again became comforting. She yelled, "Paul, you fool!" Do you not suppose that I am familiar with you and your quaint English ways? But consider how ridiculous it is. As far as I'm concerned, you have more than enough money to buy me a Midas feast made entirely of gold, if that's what it takes. And one day, if you truly want to, you will. However, to halt over insignificant amounts of francs would break the flow of our talk and thoughts, turning them into something mundane and routine. I won't accept that. Dmitry is only there to obviate for me these particulars. It is my day off, my day of pleasure, and my happy hour. Paul, I felt like a kid. You wouldn't even cast a single shadow for me, would you, Ami?No voice he had ever imagined had as many tones as hers, including one of sadness as she dwelt on the word "shadow." He lost all of his irritation. If necessary, he believed he would alter his innermost core in order to make her happy and satisfied.You must be aware that I would not cast a shadow, he responded, moving. "Only you observe that a man typically pays for a woman's meal."I don't belong to you, baby Paul, when she belongs to him. You are my guest and belong to me for the day.He resignedly said, "Very well, then, we won't talk about it," moved by the caress in her voice. a part of her! Even if only for that one day, it was something.Only she insisted, "This question must never be raised again." If we decide to spend further time on this lake or others, or on mountains, rivers, or towns, let's never bring up money or payment. You have no idea how much I despise it! yellow gold, which is harsh! I have a lot of it—a lot of it! and for it, people have always paid such a high price. Just for this one time, may it bring joy and calm.He was puzzled by the intense emotion she conveyed. How much might it cost? What was her past like?She paused, then softly whispered, "So it is over, our little breeze. And you'll stop making fun of me, Paul?He said lovingly, "I would never tease you. And he would have taken her hand if he had dared."You English people are amazing! Full of your preconceptions," she replied, her voice thoughtful. Whether you are right or wrong, you have bulldog tenacity of purpose. Things are customs, and if they are not followed, then one is not "playing the game. Paul had to exercise great self-control to refrain from kissing her gorgeous mouth as she emulated a fixed English voice with a pursed lip. "Wonderful people—mostly gentlemen and typically sincere, but with a common sense that is destructive to feeling or romance. You wouldn't be thought of as much above the Germans if you weren't so well-groomed, indolent, strong, and attractive to look at.Paul snarled, "Do not consider us beyond a beastly German!"The woman then laughed hysterically.Paul, you sweetie!" she exclaimed. "You darling, smug, conceited Englishman! There is no one like you in the world.Paul felt aggrieved.He said sulkily, "If you had said an Austrian now—but a German—"The lady conceded, "The Austrians are charming, but they err the other way; they lack common sense and are merely superb gentlemen. In addition, they are already awake, whereas you English people are already asleep, and you, Paul, are the sleeping beauty.They had now ascended the path about 200 feet, and all around them were stripling beeches that were an abnormally lovely green, as crisp, clear, and light as practically the forced lily of the valley's leaves in their freshness and purity.The entire environment was alive with youth and vitality, and every now and then, off the path by a moss-covered stone, a gentian rose its azure head, a "small essence of sky," as the lady called them.Paul said, "Let's take a seat on this rock." "Tell me how I came to be the sleeping beauty. Since when have I read the story? However, it wasn't about a man at all—and didn't she get awakened by a kiss?She did, the woman said, resting back against a tree behind her. However, at that point, only her faculties, not her spirit, were asleep. A kiss may awaken a soul.

Paul sighed and said, "I believe so. He was virtually in contact with her as he sat on a portion of the rock that protruded a little lower than where she was lying. He could see her through the brim of that alluring hat, which so frequently blocked her from his view as they traveled. His blue eyes blazed with need as they devoured her face, and he was trembling with excitement as a result of the notion of a kiss at this precise moment.The lady replied in a hushed tone, "Yes, it is so." "Because Huldebrand kissed Undine and gave her a soul."Paul begged, "Tell me about it." "I am very illiterate. What did Huldebrand accomplish, and who was he?She spoke in a dreamlike tone when she began, and those of you who have read De la Motte Fouqué's sterile account of this wonderful legend would not have been able to recognize the poetry, tragedy, and soft sentiment she woven around them, as well as Undine's fluctuating moods and her knight's ardor. And when she got to the wedding night, when the young priest had joined their hands and listened to their vows—when Undine had finally found her soul in Huldebrand's arms—her voice grew shaky, and she paused and looked down.Paul exclaimed, his breath coming in fairly quickly, "And then?". What follows, then?You see, Paul, he was a guy; therefore, after winning her affection, he tossed it away rather than valuing it."Oh, no! I don't think it's true. Paul exclaimed angrily. " There was only this savage Huldebrand. However, you truly don't know guys if you believe they don't value victories.She faced him directly as he glanced up at her, and to his utter surprise, it appeared as though her eyes had become green. like emeralds in color. And they captivated him, gripped him, and rendered him helpless, like a snake's fangs.She said, "I don't know any men." You don't think so, Paul?"Paul, who was having trouble speaking, buried his face in her lap like a kid and remained there the entire time, kissing her gloved hands. A tiny ray of sunlight peaked through the trees and illuminated his brushed-back hair, turning the waves into a deep burnished gold. His straw hat with the Zingari ribbon was lying on the ground next to him.The woman pulled back one hand from his passionate kiss and gently stroked the curl with her fingernails. She grinned tenderly, as a mother could have done.She cried out, "There—there!" The answer is "not yet." She withdrew her hand from him at that point, leaning back and partially shutting her eyes.Paul stood up and peered all around. He was experiencing fresh emotions at every instant of the day. Nearing the new world, Columbus undoubtedly experienced this. He was able to collect himself. She wasn't upset at the time by his rant or his caress, but something in her face told him not to make the same mistake twice.He pleaded with her, "Tell me the rest." What made the fool toss Undine's affection aside, and why didn't he respect it?Because, you know, he owned it, the woman explained. "Surely, that was sufficient justification."After receiving her soul, Undine's erratic behavior stopped, and she also described her docility, gentleness, and Huldebrand's assurance of her love. then of his inescapable exhaustion. And finally, about the court, about running into Hildegarde again, about all the misery that followed, up until the moment when the fountains burst their stops and poured skyward, wreathing the figure of Undine, kissing her love to death.Oh, he was sage. said Paul. "With her kiss, he decided to die. Then he finally realized what he had thrown away.Paul, that's a lesson that's frequently learned too late. Come, let's enjoy life in the sun. While we still can, live.Giving him her hand, the lady stood up and nearly sprinted into the strong sunlight, where not even soft shadows could fall.