Chapter nineAtalanta opened her eyes and for a moment she could not realise where she was.
She had been dreaming that she was in Paul’s arms and her happiness seemed to envelop her like a golden cloud.
Then, with the sunlight now seeping through the edges of the closed curtains, she saw the outlines of her room at the Embassy and remembered how she had returned with Paul over the roofs as the dawn was breaking.
He had clambered into the bedroom after her and held her closely in his arms.
“I hate to leave you, my precious love,” he said. “I want above all things to be with you every moment, every second of the day. You know that I would not do this unless it was absolutely essential for us both.”
“Yes – I know that,” she said softly.
“You are tired, my sweet,” he said. “Go to sleep qu
