Dark Awakening

by Sally Wentworth

  They came in sight of Tramps and he drew up with a jerk in front of it. Dane was standing waiting on the pavement outside, quietly smoking a cigarette which he threw away as he opened the door for Minta. 'Get held up in the traffic?' he asked Gerald sardonically. But Gerald merely reached over to slam the door shut and roared away.

  Dane watched him go with cool amusement. 'I wondered how long it would take before he got the message.'

  'You mean you wanted him to go?'

  He glanced down at her, his eyes resting on her face. 'Of course.'

  'We had a terrible row in the car,' Minta admitted.

  He put a hand on her arm and drew her towards him. 'The row was inevitable. Better to have it in his car than in the middle of the dance floor.'

  'Why there?'

  'Because that was the only place I was going to let him have a chance of being alone with you.'

  Minta stared at him, not really understanding. She gave a little, embarrassed laugh. 'Well, now I'm afraid you'll have to put up with me by yourself.'

  'I know. It's what I intended all along.' Putting up a hand, he gently traced the outline of her cheek and along her jawline, tipping up her chin so that she had to look directly at him. 'And you're going to have to get used to having just me around.'

  'Oh?' Minta felt suddenly breathless. 'Why?'

  'Don't you know?' He was leaning nearer, his eyes fixed on her face.

  She tried to shake her head, but he was still holding her 'N-no,' she stammered, her heart hammering in her chest.

  Slowly he bent and gently kissed her, his lips firm again her mouth. 'Because,' he said deliberately, 'we're going to get married.'

  CHAPTER TWO

  Minta's mouth came open and stayed that way as she stared at him, until Dane, with an amused smile, lifted her chin and closed it for her.

  'You're—you're crazy,' she stammered.

  'That's right, I am,' he agreed. 'About you.'

  'But you don't know me!' she exclaimed.

  'Then we'll have the rest of our lives to get to know each other,' he told her flippantly, but then his eyes grew serious. 'How long does it really take to find out you love someone, Minta? Okay, perhaps for some it takes months or even years, but for others it need only be minutes or hours.' He gave a short laugh. 'Maybe I didn't believe those stories about love at first sight before, but I certainly do now. One look at you and I was knocked for six. I still feel punch-drunk.'

  'You—you really fell in love with me?' Minta still couldn't believe it.

  He put his hands on her shoulders. 'I really fell in love with you.'

  Behind them the double doors to the night club opened and a noisy group of people came out.

  'Look, do you still want to go in there and have supper?' asked Dane, and when Minta shook her head rather dazedly, he put an arm round her waist. 'Let's walk, then.'

  It was a chill November night with a touch of frost on the ground, but Minta didn't feel the cold. They walked slowly along, close together, Dane keeping his arm around her. He was quite a bit taller and she had to look up at him all the time.

  'I know this has taken you by surprise,' he told her. 'Maybe I shouldn't have said anything yet; should have waited and given you time to get to know how you felt about me. I don't want to rush you into anything, but…' He stopped abruptly, then swung her round to face him. 'Yes, I do,' he said forcefully, his hands gripping her arms. 'I very much want to rush you into marrying me. I love you, Minta. And I told you because I'm hoping against hope that you feel the same. If the miracle happened to me then surely it did to you too. The gods wouldn't be cruel enough to only make it happen to one of us. Would they, my darling? Would they?' he demanded urgently.

  She gazed up at him, her heart thumping painfully, her hands beginning to shake. 'Oh, Dane, I…' She found it difficult to speak.

  He gave a kind of groan. 'You don't have to say it. I should have known it was too much to hope.'

  He went to turn away from her dejectedly, but Minta caught his sleeve. 'Wait. Look at me, please.' His eyes came up, devouring her face. Hesitantly she said, 'I've never been in love before—I don't know what it's like. But I feel excited and sort of bubbly inside. And I—and I feel as if I want to touch you—and be touched by you.' She paused, her cheeks flushed. 'And I feel as if I want you to take care of me; that I'd be safe with you. Is—is that love?'

  Dane put his hands gently on either side of her face. 'When I think of the future,' he said softly, 'I can't imagine it without you. Do you feel like that?'

  'Yes,' Minta whispered on a note of wonder. 'Yes, I do.'

  'Then the gods have been kind, my darling, because the miracle has happened to you, too.'

  'There's something else I feel,' she said slowly. 'I would very much like you to kiss me again.'

  He smiled and slowly lowered his hands to draw her close to him, then bent his head to seek her lips. There was no hurry in the way he kissed her, his mouth lingered, gently exploring, his lips caressing the soft fullness of hers, as if getting to know her, like someone slowly unwrapping a present in the joy of prolonging the anticipation. Minta sighed, her mouth moving against his, and put her arms around his neck. Immediately his arms tightened and his kiss became deeper, more demanding. She didn't attempt to resist, she let herself be carried along on the rising tide of his passion.

  'Oh, my dearest, dearest girl!' He kissed her eyes, her throat, his breath scorching her skin. 'If you only knew how long I've waited for someone like you! I was beginning to think it would never happen to me.'

  Minta clung to him, her body on fire, murmuring his name over and over again, almost overcome by emotion. And there wasn't a doubt in her mind. After the first shock of realisation she had accepted her own feelings and Dane's too. Accepted it as the simple miracle he said it was. But it was intoxicating, overwhelming; she had never known such exhilarating excitement.

  And he must have felt it too, because he threw back his head and laughed aloud, then lifted her in his strong arms and swung her round, his handsome face alight with happiness. 'To think I came to London for just a routine business trip and I found the one girl in the whole world that I want to spend the rest of my life with!' He set her down on her feet and put a hand on her shoulder, his mood suddenly changing as he gazed into her face. 'Promise me that you'll never change your mind. If I lost you now… God, I couldn't bear it!'

  'I won't,' she assured him. 'I know this is right. I want to be with you always.'

  'Oh, my dearest love!' He kissed her again and it was some time before either of them became aware of their surroundings, and the kisses were much too hot for them to feel the cold. But eventually Dane released her sufficiently for them to walk slowly along again, his arm round her waist. Minta felt as if she was walking on air.

  Their wandering steps carried them to Trafalgar Square where the huge bronze lions stood guard over the column of England's dead hero. Frost glittered on their smooth backs, reflected into a million glistening diamonds by the lamplight. The pigeons who lived there during the day had sought shelter on the surrounding buildings and there were no night birds to break the silence. Tacitly they paused at the entrance to the square and Dane unbuttoned his overcoat and, holding her close against his side, put it round her to help keep her warm.

  Minta snuggled against him. 'I'll always remember tonight,' she murmured, looking out across the square.

  Dane stooped to kiss her cold nose. 'Will you mind going to the Canary Islands to live with me?'

  She didn't hesitate. 'No. I'll go anywhere with you. Whither thou goest, I will go,' she quoted softly.

  A triumphant light came into Dane's eyes. 'You won't mind leaving England?'

  'No. But we'll come back here often, won't we?' For the first time she thought of her father and there was a trace of anxiety in her voice.

  'Yes, of course. Whenever you want. Darling, I can't wait to take you there, to show you my home,' he exclaimed impetuously. 'I know you'll love it. We must
get married soon so that I can take you back with me.'

  Minta gave a gasping laugh. 'Hey, give me time to get used to the idea! I don't know what my father will say to all this.'

  'Does it matter? You're of age, aren't you?' There was an anxious note in his voice.

  'Yes, of course; I'm twenty-one. But Daddy's bound to think it sudden. He's sure to want me to wait and get to know you better.'

  'But what is there to wait for?' Dane protested. 'Time will only make us love each other more. And I want you, Minta.' His arms tightened round her urgently. 'I want you for my wife. I've waited so long already; don't make me go on waiting just to pay lip-service to conventionality. Ours isn't that kind of love, my darling. Ours is a once-in-a-lifetime.'

  'Oh, I know—I know. I don't want to wait either. Oh, Dane!' Minta clung to him as he kissed her hungrily, his lips fierce. He held her very close against him, and she could feel the hardness of his body. It sent such a flame of desire shooting through her that she nave a gasping cry and moved her hips against his. He withstood it for a few moments, then abruptly released her and stepped away. 'God!' he muttered unsteadily.

  'Do you know what you're doing to me?'

  'You're having quite an effect on me too,' Minta pointed out.

  Dane laughed and took her hand in his. 'If only this wore America and we could just go to the nearest chapel and be married without any delay or fuss. Then we could…'

  He stopped and didn't go on, but Minta knew exactly what he was going to say: 'Then we could go to bed together and make love tonight.' She flushed and her hand tightened on his. 'I know. I—I feel that way, too.'

  This time he didn't say anything, just kissed her on her forehead and then on the mouth, before again wrapping her in his coat and starting to walk through the square. They didn't talk a great deal, they both felt that there was plenty of time for that, all they wanted to do was hold each other close, as if by holding each other they could also hold this moment in time and make it go on forever.

  The darkness of night was giving way to the first weak light of dawn when they at last reached Minta's home. Dane looked up at the dark windows of the house. 'Which is your room?'

  She pointed it out to him. 'There—on the first floor to the left.'

  'Tell me about the room so that I can think of you there.'

  Minta started to describe it, but after a few sentences her voice trailed away. He was looking at her so intently, with such need in his eyes. 'Oh, Dane, I don't want to leave you.'

  He kissed her then as if he would never let her go, only reluctantly raising his head. 'You'll come out with me tomorrow?'

  'Yes, of course,' she agreed breathlessly, her heart still hammering from his embrace. 'But I don't even know where you're staying?'

  'At the Cumberland. Don't say anything to your father yet—I want to be with you when you do. I'll call you tomorrow.'

  'All right. I ought to go in,' she told him reluctantly.

  'In a minute.' But the minute turned out to be ten as he kissed her again and again, at last groaning as he forcibly put her from him. 'You'd better go in or I'll never let you go.'

  Her head in a whirl, Minta climbed the steps and somehow found her key in her handbag. She opened the door and stood there for a moment, looking down at his dark handsomeness, still unable to believe that it was true. Impulsively she ran down the steps and threw her arms round his neck. 'Oh, Dane, I love you so much!' Then she quickly kissed him with unleashed passion before running inside.

  The house was very quiet. Minta crept through it, afraid of waking her father—and Maggie, if she'd stayed the night. Once in her room, she turned on the light, and immediately crossed to the window. Dane was still outside. She blew him a kiss and watched him wave and walk away, hunched in his overcoat, before she drew the curtains. She undressed quickly, her heart still singing, her mind a whirl of happiness, almost glad to be alone because she rather thought her poor heart was about to burst and couldn't take any more. But although she got into bed fully determined to go over the night again, sleep claimed her almost at once and she slept on until late in the morning.

  She awoke reluctantly, like someone who has had a wonderful dream and desperately wants to go back to it, shutting her eyes and groping for the memory. But then she realised that her dream was real and immediately sat up, grabbing at her bedside clock. 'Oh, no!' She shot out of bed when she saw it was gone eleven and rushed into the bathroom. Quickly she washed and dressed and ran downstairs. Only the housekeeper, Mrs Doyle, was around.

  'Have there been any phone calls for me?' Minta demanded as she burst into the kitchen.

  'Good morning.' Mrs Doyle looked at her reprovingly as she cleaned the silver they had used at the dinner party last night.

  'Sorry, Doyley, I didn't mean to be rude—but have there been any calls for me?' she asked anxiously.

  'A couple. I told them you were still in bed and they both said they'd ring back.'

  'But who were they from? Was it the same man?'

  'What makes you think it was a man?'

  'Oh, Doyley, don't tease, please! This is important.'

  Surprised by the urgency in her tone, the housekeeper answered, 'I'm not sure; neither of them gave their name, but it didn't sound like the same man.' She got to her feet. 'Do you want something to eat? It's a bit late for breakfast.'

  'Just coffee will do, thanks.' Minta sat on the opposite side of the table, looking at the wall phone and willing it to ring.

  Doyley set a mug of coffee and a slice of chocolate cake in front of her, before sitting down again. 'Here you are. You look happy this morning.'

  'I am.' Minta gave her a radiant smile. 'Wonderfully happy.'

  'Gerald didn't propose, did he?' The older woman paused in her work.

  'Who—Gerald? Good heavens, no! I wouldn't marry Gerald in a million years!' Minta exclaimed, appalled at the thought.

  'I thought you were keen on him?'

  'Oh, no. He's a bore.'

  'So you've met someone else, have you? Who is it this time?'

  Minta found that she didn't want to share Dane with anyone, not yet. Trying to sound offhand, she said, 'Oh, no one in particular. I'm just glad to be free of Gerald, that's all.'

  'I see,' Doyley said drily. 'And that's why you can't wait for the phone to ring, is it? So that you can talk to no one in particular?'

  Minta grinned sheepishly and was about to answer when the phone really did ring, making her jump. She put down her coffee mug so hastily that she spilt some on the pine table. 'I'll take it in Daddy's study,' she called out, already halfway to the door. But when she picked up the phone, she was overwhelmingly disappointed to hear Gerald's voice answer her eager greeting. 'Oh, it's you.' She made no effort to hide her feelings, but Gerald was too thick-skinned to notice.

  'Of course it is. Didn't your housekeeper tell you that I phoned earlier?'

  'You didn't leave your name. How was she supposed to know who you were?'

  'Look, about last night. I'm sorry I went off and left you alone with Fenton. You must have been bored out of your mind.'

  'No,' Minta replied, hardly able to keep the laughter out of her voice, 'I wasn't bored.'

  'Oh.' He sounded disconcerted. 'Well, I suppose I shouldn't have left you, but I didn't like him tagging along. After all, it was hardly Fenton's scene; he was much too old for De Sade',' implying by his tone that Dane was also much too old for her. 'And that mime show he took us to!' Gerald sounded disgusted. 'That was for octogenarians up.'

  'I liked it,' she informed him. 'Look, Gerald, is this for anything specific, because I'm expecting an important call?'

  Huffily he said, 'I told you: to apologise, and to tell you I've got tickets for the rock concert tonight. I'll pick you up at seven.'

  'Sony,' Minta replied shortly. 'I'm busy tonight.'

  'Well, I suppose I could change them for tomorrow instead.'

  'I'm busy tomorrow, too. In fact, Gerald, I'm going to be busy for the rest
of my life, so please don't waste your time calling me again. 'Bye.' She put the phone down on his rising note of protest.

  She laughed happily and did a twirling dance in the small confines of the room. The phone rang again almost immediately and for a moment she didn't answer it, thinking that it must be Gerald refusing to take no for an answer, but then she picked it up just on the off-chance, and was instantly rewarded.

  'Hallo, sleepyhead. How's my wonderful girl this morning?' Dane's deep voice was as warm as a caress.

  'I feel as if I'm still asleep, as if last night was only a dream.'

  'So do I. Why don't we meet so that we can pinch each other and make sure we're awake?'

  'Of course. When and where?'

  'I have an appointment shortly, but I should be finished in time for lunch. Why don't we meet at one o'clock at the Cumberland and we'll have lunch there?'

  'That sounds fine.' Minta gave a happy sigh. 'Oh, Dane, I can't wait to see you again!'

  'Nor I, darling. You haven't had second thoughts since last night?'

  'Oh, no! And you haven't, have you?' she asked anxiously, for a brief and terrible second envisaging what life would be like without him.

  'Are you crazy? My every waking thought has been of you. The people I've had to meet today must think I'm an idiot, the way I keep forgetting why I'm supposed to be there. Darn, they're asking for me now. Sorry, Minta, I'll have to go. See you at one, darling.'

  Minta flew upstairs to change, even though she had loads of time. She sang happily as she bathed and tried on a dozen different outfits before she made up her mind what to wear. At twelve-thirty she took a taxi to the Cumberland, too impatient to sit at home and wait, hoping that Dane, too, might be early so that they could have an extra few minutes together. But he was a little late, and Minta was anxiously scanning every new arrival when he finally pushed through the swing doors. Then he strode quickly across to her and she jumped to her feet and waved.