The Moon for Lavinia Read online

  `You made me drive the Bentley,' she reminded him, following her own train of thought, `and I was terrified, and when you came to that house you were quite beastly.'

  He pulled her closer so that a young woman with a pushchair could pass them. `My darling, I wanted to wring your neck and take you in my arms and tell you how wonderful you were and how you were driving me slowly mad,'

  She said idiotically: `I bought those dresses and had my hair done...'

  `And I wanted to tell you that you were the most beautiful girl in the world, but I was afraid to in case I frightened you away.' He bent to kiss her. `I never thought to love like this,' he told her. `Nothing means anything any more if you aren't with me.' He paused and smiled at a massive woman in Zeeuwse costume who was edging past them. `The other night, when I came home late and I knew that you loved me...'

  `I never said a word!'

  `You said a great many words. You were very cross, my darling.'

  `I was angry because I was frightened.'

  `I know.' He kissed her again, not minding in the least that a small boy and two girls had stopped to watch them.

  Lavinia caught their fascinated eyes and went pink. `Don't think I don't like being kissed, Radmer darling, but isn't it rather public?'

  He looked around him. `You are probably right, my love. Let us go back to Sibby and Peta, who are probably congratulating each other and making themselves sick on ice cream.'

  `Well, they did what they set out to do; I mean, running away like that, it did make us come together.'

  They began to walk, not hurrying in the least, back to the teashop.

  `Why do you suppose I came home early?' asked Radmer.

  `I don't know-tell me,'

  `Because I couldn't go on any longer as we were. I was going to ask you if you could forgive me for being so blind, and start all over again.'

  She stopped to smile at him. `Oh, yes, please, Radmer,' and she looked away quickly from his eyes. `Oh, look, there are the girls, watching.'

  They both waved, and Radmer said: `I once said that you were a girl who would never reach for the moon, dearest Lavinia, but you will have no need to do that, for I intend to give it to you-I'll throw in the sun and the stars for good measure.'

  `How nice,' said Lavinia, `but I'd just as soon have you, my darling.'