Loves moves in mysterious ways

Chapter 15

Acting on impulse, Kirstin said softly, The General was just telling me that he would love to ask you to dance, but that he was frightened that he would refuse him.

She didn't dare to look at her companion, but even without doing so she was aware of his growing anger,and prayed that she had not made a terrible mistake.

To her relief she saw that Frau Samantha was slightly flushed and rather disconcerted, but far from displeased.

Oh well...I rarely dance these days.My knees your know older problems.

Nonsense, Kirstin heard the General saying bluntly.Why?I remember when you were so light on your feet.

Almost unable to believe her eyes, Kirstin watched the General reach out and bring Frau Samantha gently to her feet, just as a musicians started to play a new tango music.

Frau Samantha was smiling at him as shy as a young lady.Just as Kirstin had mentally prophesied, there was no sign of James making any attempt to join the rest of their table when it came to the time for dinner.

She could see him sitting half way across the room with Jessa, and she had to fight down the hot, smouldering jealousy corroding through her body.

She didn't eat very much and excused herself as soon as possible, going down to the ladies toilet room to check on her appearance.

Her face looked too pale, and her hands trembled as she applied more pink blusher and fresh red velvet lipstick.

She didn't touch her hair, studying herself only quickly as she slipped her mask back on.

It transformed her face, giving it an odd,fey quality that was hard to define.

Behind it her eyes flashed and glowed, the light playing on the rounded smoothness of her breasts.

She still felt uncomfortable with the neckline of her dress, but there was nothing she could do about it,and in reality her outfit was far less revealing than the gauzy creation being worn by Jessa.

She must have stayed in the toiletroom longer than she intended beacuse when she got back people were just beginning to drift on to the dimly lit floor, and as she stood watching them she heard the compere saying, 'Come on, Ladies and Gentlemen,remember that if your partner refuses to unmask for you, you can demand a cost. She had to get away from here,Kirstin realised stubbornly,trying to control the pain dreadful her.

She simply didn't have the strength to stand and watched James dance past holding Jessa in his arms. She turned to leave the room, and stiffened as she felt a constraining hand on her arm.

Our dance, I believe, a familiar voice grated in her ear,and she turned in stunned surprise to look directly into the darkness of James's eyes........

He took full advantage of her momentary shock to steer her in the direction of the dance hall,his fingers biting deep into her skin as he refused to let her full away.

What's wrong?

What what are you talking about,James? Kirstin protested as he stopped and swung her round to face him, his arms closing around her.

We had no agreement or deal to dance with you. Didn't talk about it.

I thought it was implicit in the mere fact that I brought you here.

Look around you, Kirstin.I'll be there aren't many Ladies here now who aren't dancing with the man who brought them.

What he said was unarguably true, but that didn't hear her own sense of shock.

Kirstin struggled against his constraining arms, protesting,'You should be dancing with Jessa not me.Her struggles brought her into closer contact his body, her breast swelling tightly against his tuxedo chest as she fought for breath.

All around them couples were swaying together in sensual closeness.

James bent his head and she felt the faint rasp of his jaw against her skin just below her mask.

As she caught the familiar scent of hi perfume all the fight drained out of her and she felt her body go limp against his.Instantly his arm tightened.

'We have moved well together, you and I,Kirstin, he whispered in her ear.

Remember when I taught you to dance? I have dance with a lot of other men since then,James.

Kirstin grimaced beneath the harsh bite of his fingers into her midriff, and thinking what is all about it was that drove her a challenge him in this way.

Why couldn't she just accept what the gods were prepared to give her without wanting more?

Her full dress jammed the sensation of James's body moving against her own,but she was still aware of him,and aware of the fact that beneath her stiffened bodice her breasts felt swollen and softness.

Tears clogged her throat, and when the music stopped and James made her to take off her mask she checked him instinctively, not wanting him to see her feebleness.

Too late she realised her mistake as she heard him speak softly sardonically, " Noway? People are watching us,Kirstin, so I'll just have to take the fine instead.

Lost in her own misery, she hadn't realised why James had been attempting to remove her mask, and now, with several amused dancers watching them, it wasn't possible for her to revolt that it was all a fault.

Even the compere had seen them, and around them people laughed as he called out, Oh! je, well now, it seems as if we have at least one resultant maiden in our midst.

Tell me, Mister, what do you intend to claim as your damages?

James seemed totally unfazed by all the amused attention and simply gave their audience a wholly deceptive and, to Kirstin at least, heart stopping smile as he drawled laconically,"What do you think? And then he was tipping her head and back against his arm and kissing her in in full view of their delighted audience.

Kirstin thought she had never been so embarrassed in her life, but she sensed that to say or do anything as the musicians struck up the opening bars of a deliberately provocative love song could only make matters worse. Jessa was the first one to reach them as they left the dance floor, her eyes spitting bitterness at Kirstin as she slid her arm through James's.

She was wise enough to say nothing there and then, but Kirstin had no doubt that the other ladies was far from pleased, for all the teasingly pouting looks she gave James.Kirstin excused herself, saying that she had promised to help the food buffet womens clear away after dinner,although in point of the fact all she really wanted to do was to escape from the amused and, it seemed to her in her highly sensitive state,very knowing her eyes that observed her hurried progress from the dance floor into the dining room.

After that she kept well away from the ballroom praying all the teasing remarks that came her way.

Jesus Christ, it was almost as good as watching "Love moves in mysterious ways" one plump matron teased her, eyeing Kirstin with the sort of speculation that made her heart sink.

Kirstin had a little doubt in no time at all she and James would be the talk of the village,and how long would it be after that before people started remembering her old teenage crush on him if they had ever forgotten it?

Kirstin was carrying plates out to someone's car when she realised how cold it had gone.

The sky was brilliantly starry, the air so softly fresh that it almost hurt to drag it into her hands.

Sure will have more snow soon,you mark my words, 'someone commented lugubriouly.I can smell it in the wind. So could she,Kirstin acknowledged, shivering as she hurried to get inside again.

Many were starting to leave the hall, and she would have given anything to avoid accepting James's lift home, but it was too late now to pick up a taxi.

Kirstin went reluctantly to the ballroom, surprised but pleased to see that Frau Samantha and General were setting together, apparently deep in conversation.

The General smiled at her as she walked past.Wonderful tonight event my dear.

Exactly, it quite took me back to my youth generation,Frau Samantha admit.

A few other members of the committee added their praise as they started to leave home and although Kirstin searched the ballroom many times there was no sign of James around.Dismay and something else clutched at her heart. Maybe she would have to pick up that taxi after all,or beg a lift from anybody here.

There was no sign of Jessa anywhere either, she noticed jealousy and desmay.

Kirstin was just beginning to think she genuinely would have to make her way to drive home alone when James walked into the hallway.

Jessa wasn't with him,but Kirstin could see quite distinctly the smudge of dark violet velvet lipstick staining his mouth.Jessa's lips.

Kirstin whole body seemed to seize in one vast, agonising surge of pain so intense that it rooted her to th spot,unable to drag her eyes away from James's face and that tell revealing.I think it's time we made a move. I'll go get my cloak and meet you out side.

Kirstin moved away from him like an clone, passing Jessa on the hallway.

Exultation gleamed febrilely in the older lady's eyes,and Kirstin knew that smear of lipstick was both a deliberate statement and a sign.

No doubt that Jessa wanted her to know that the considered James to be his own.

Well,Kirstin was accepting to him,Kirstin telling herself heatedly,more than heartening.

James,Hey'what are you doing? You've just driven straight past my parents home, let me out.

Kirstin protested sharply, sitting up straighter in her seat.

They won't be expecting you yet either.I thought you might like a parting cup.

Kirstin was too bereft of words to speak, simply staring at him as he skilfully turned the car into the drive of his own house.

That he should have brought her here instead of taking her straight home was the last thing she had expected.

in fact, she had half imagined that once he had delivered her home safely he would drive back to the Villa and Jessa's undoubtedly cheerful arms.

Don't be funny, she told him crossly.I don't want more drink or anything else.

In fact, I don't want anything at all from you desperately nothing.

James face was in the shadows as he leaned forward to stop the engine the auto.

That wasn't the expression I got earlier tonight, he told her heartless.

Nevertheless, I haven't brought you back here to make love to you or having fun,if that was what were implying, Kirstin, he added purposeful.

I didn't think you had, she retaliated immediately.' After all,you've got Jessa for that haven't you? There was a time's silence and then he was opening his door and sliding his lean length out.

Come on get inside before we both freeze the coldness outside.

Kirstin tried to decline, but the implacably determined expression on hi face as he waited for her to join him warmed her not to.

The coldness air seemed to bite right through to her skin, and she was shivering by the time she stood in the large intranceway.

It felt cold and slightly damp, and as though aware of her thoughts, James installed in the spring.

Come on, we'll go into my office room, it's warmer than area. Kirstin stood to one side as he knelt by the dying embers of the fire and threw on some fresh logs.

A shower of sparks raced up the chimney, the scent of lemon logs filling the whole room.

He hadn't bothered to switch on any lights,and the dancing frames licking round the logs cast mellow shadows over the bookshelf.

A pair of luxuriant and wide curtains had been drawn against the evening, and Kirstin fingered the fabric distractedly.

This is rather a large house for alone man.

Her skin flushed hotly as she realised that she had spoken her thoughts out loud.

James threw another piece of the fire and dusted off his hand before getting up.

It affords me a welcome degree of privacy and it's convenient for almost everywhere in the practice.

I had to find somewhere in a hurry, and it was either this, or a Mediterranean terrace in Bayern.

So he hadn't bought the house with marriage and a family in mind.

Jessa thinks it's got good potential, he added casually, tossing the words at her over his shoulders as he moved towards one of the cupboards and removed a decanter and two glasses of wine.

Kirstin watched him pour the berry liquid through a red haze of jealousy.

It bit into her with flames that burned hotter than those devouring the lemon logs, scorching her like corrosive acid.She could barely see through the rage of jealousy and hurt roaring through her body, and her wayward tongue raced into hasty speech before she could silence it,her voice unnaturally high and hurried as she cried bitterly, Does she now? I'd be very surprised if she agreed to settle up here, though James.

I realise that she wants you very badly, but I should have thought Garden Street was more what she in mind than Bavaria.

Like someone caught up in a baddream ,she froze as she looking James, tense and then put down the decanter.

cylinderof light from the fire glittered off the crystal, and she was amazed that her mind could take note such a trivia when it also knew the enormity of what she had just tells.