Chapter 28
This was the first time she’d been to his place. He’d always been on her turf, save for the weekend at his house in Antibes.
Elizabeth seemed happy for Damien to take the lead. He took her into the living room and made her China tea.
How could she not be moved by the magnificent view from the tall window of the white moonlight casting a mesh of silvery streaks that glittered across the river?
She admired his collection of Pre-Raphaelite masters.
‘I found the Millais at an auction in Ireland twenty years ago. Lady Eden and Her Dog . Bought it from the sale of my first book.’
He made his move.
‘Elizabeth,’ he said, devouring her with his eyes, ‘how can any man resist you?’
No, Damien, no! You were doing so well. Not with Elizabeth. Stop! Not another of your usual clichés , said the Voice.
Blake’s words tripped across his mind.
Never seek to tell thy love
Love that never told can be
For the gentle wind does move
Silently invisibly.
He pulled himself together.
Don’t rush things. Change the subject. Make her wait.
‘Would you like a game of chess?’ he said.
‘It’s a bit late for that,’ she said.
‘Well, then…’
It was an easy segue into the bedroom.
He was pleased that his cleaner had changed the sheets that morning.
And yet…
Damien couldn’t pretend that she was just another beauty who had fired his lust. He held back. Treated her with gentle respect.
He kissed the nape of her smooth neck, undid the zip of her black silk dress. He slipped it from her shoulders. She was naked, save for a pair of fine lace panties. He slid her onto the bed and kissed each breast, moving his lips down to her navel. But just as he was taking flight, she said, ‘Damien, where is your protection?’
He stretched out his hand and fumbled in the bedside drawer.
One left; what a relief. He took the packet and ripped it open with his teeth.
It was an interesting night. Damien performed with sensual grace and expertise.
However, he noticed that Elizabeth seemed distracted.
‘I’m sorry, am I boring you?’ he said.
‘Well, not really,’ she replied. ‘You’re a good lover, but…’
‘But what?’
‘Have you heard of sexual Gong Fu?’
Damien paused. ‘Can’t say that I have…’
‘It’s the Taoist word for sexual mastery.’
‘Well, you learn something new every day… Perhaps we should discuss it over a cup of tea?’
‘Seriously,’ she said, ‘I would love to show you some tantric positions that I studied in Tibet.’
Elizabeth flipped him on his back and sat astride him.
‘So. Let’s start with Shakti Sky Dancing on a Column of Fire,’ she said.
***
Sophie had not returned Nicholas’s calls. He had tried everything to repair their severed relationship. He even sent a pair of diamond earrings from Asprey, delivered in a bouquet of red roses, which she’d returned to his home address, swapping cards and writing the message to Kate.
My darling , it read. You are the love of my life. No other woman could replace you. You are my wife and despite my affair my life is with you. If they’re not your cup of tea please feel free to give the earrings back to me and I can return them. Forever yours, Nicholas.
***
Justin and Anna were busy planning their wedding. Not only had she found love again, but she had won the Sunflower Prize for best children’s book of the year: a prize of ￡50,000 and a trip to Disneyland to unveil the newly erected statue of Iver Fortune.
A well-deserved gong , the reviewer from The Times Literary Supplement wrote. “The Dog T hat Lost Its Bark” is a magical tale. Anna Rose has perfected the art of storytelling without patronising her young readers. The book is exquisitely written but never lets the beauty of the writing distract from the parable.
Rose has created characters from another era and presents her novel as a period piece without succumbing to the cheap “fast food” writing that has become the norm for boys and girls whose minds have been invaded by aliens, namely Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
“The Dog T hat Lost Its Bark” is a simple but beautiful allegory of redemption that serves young readers with a reminder that the hardest heart can be touched and moved to human kindness.