Page 332 of Fall of Giants (The Century 1)

"I think perhaps I've been in love with you for quite a long time without knowing it. "

She nodded, as if having a suspicion confirmed. The band started a slow tune. She moved closer.

He took her in his arms automatically, but he was too wrought up to dance properly. "I'm not sure I can manage-"

"Don't worry. " She knew what he was thinking. "Just pretend. "

He shuffled a few steps. His mind was in turmoil. She had not said anything about her own feelings. On the other hand, she had not walked away. Was there any chance she might return his love? She obviously liked him, but that was not the same thing at all. Was she asking herself, at this very minute, how she felt? Or was she thinking up some gentle words of rejection?

She looked up at him, and he thought she was about to give him the answer; then she said: "Take me away from here, please, Gus. "

"Of course. "

She got her coat. The doorman summoned a red Renault taxi. "Maxim's," Gus said. It was a short drive, and they rode in silence. Gus longed to know what was in her mind, but he did not rush her. She would have to tell him soon.

The restaurant was packed, the few empty tables reserved for later customers. The headwaiter was desole. Gus took out his wallet, extracted a hundred-franc note, and said: "A quiet table in a corner. " A card saying Reservee was whipped away and they sat down.

They chose a light supper and Gus ordered a bottle of champagne. "You've changed so much," Rosa said.

He was surprised. "I don't think so. "

"You were a diffident young man, back in Buffalo. I think you were even shy of me. Now you walk around Paris as if you own it. "

"Oh, dear-that sounds arrogant. "

"No, just confident. After all, you've worked for a president and fought a war-those things make a difference. "

The food came but neither of them ate much. Gus was too tense. What was she thinking? Did she love him or not? Surely she must know? He put down his knife and fork, but instead of asking her the question on his mind he said: "You've always seemed self-confident. "

She laughed. "Isn't that amazing?"

"Why?"

"I suppose I was confident until about the age of seven. And then. . . well, you know what schoolgirls are like. Everyone wants to be friends with the prettiest. I had to play with the fat girls and the ugly ones and those dressed in hand-me-downs. That went on into my teenage years. Even working for the Buffalo Anarchist was kind of an outsider thing to do. But when I became editor I started to get my self-esteem back. " She took a sip of champagne. "You helped. "

"I did?" Gus was surprised.

"It was the way you talked to me, as if I was the smartest and most interesting person in Buffalo. "

"You probably were. "

"Except for Olga Vyalov. "

"Ah. " Gus blushed. Remembering his infatuation with Olga made him feel foolish, but he did not want to say so, for that would be running her down, which was ungentlemanly.

When they had finished their coffee and he called for the bill, he still did not know how Rosa felt about him.

In the taxi he took her hand and pressed it to his lips. She said: "Oh, Gus, you are very dear. " He did not know what she meant by that. However, her face was turned up toward him in a way that almost seemed expectant. Did she want him to. . . ? He screwed up his nerve and kissed her mouth.

There was a frozen moment when she did not respond, and he thought he had done the wrong thing. Then she sighed contentedly and parted her lips.

Oh, he thought happily; so that's all right, then.

He put his arms around her and they kissed all the way to her hotel. The journey was too short. Suddenly a commissionaire was opening the door of the cab. "Wipe your mouth," Rosa said as she got out. Gus pulled out a handkerchief and hastily rubbed at his face. The white linen came away red with her lipstick. He folded it carefully and put it back in his pocket.

He walked her to the door. "Can I see you tomorrow?" he said.

"When?"

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