Поющие в терновнике

           "Come,Herzchen,I’llbuyyoudinneranywhereyouthinktherewillbeeyestoseethatthebreachbetweenthecarrot-toppedAustralianactressandthecertainmemberoftheGermancabinetishealed.Myreputationasaplayboyhasdeterioratedsinceyouthrewmeout."

           "You’llhavetowatchit,myfriend.Theydon’tcallmeacarrot-toppedAustralianactressanymore—thesedaysI’mthatlush,gorgeous,titian-hairedBritishactress,thankstomyimmortalinterpretationofCleopatra.Don’ttellmeyoudidn’tknowthecriticsarecallingmethemostexoticCleoinyears?"ShecockedherarmsandhandsintotheposeofanEgyptianhieroglyph.

           Hiseyestwinkled."Exotic?"heaskeddoubtfully.

           "Yes,exotic,"shesaidfirmly.

           ***

           CardinalVittoriowasdead,soRaindidn’tgotoRomeverymuchanymore.HecametoLondoninstead.AtfirstJustinewassodelightedshedidn’tlookanyfurtherthanthefriendshipheoffered,butasthemonthspassedandhefailedbywordorlooktomentiontheirpreviousrelationship,hermildindignationbecamesomethingmoredisturbing.Notthatshewantedaresumptionofthatotherrelationship,shetoldherselfconstantly;shehadfinishedcompletelywiththatsortofthing,didn’tneedordesireitanymore.NordidshepermithermindtodwellonanimageofRainsosuccessfullyburiedsheremembereditonlyintraitorousdreams.

           ThosefirstfewmonthsafterDanediedhadbeendreadful,resistingthelongingtogotoRain,feelhimwithherinbodyandspirit,knowingfullwellhewouldbeifshelethim.