Page 72 of Tendu: Dancing in the Castle

I placed a gentle kiss on the puffy lip. “But won’t coming out with this affect your job and my place here? What are the rules about relationships between teachers and students? Are they forbidden like at college?”

“No. We are not as organised with our rules yet. But my career is over. Yours is yet to begin. We are meet in the space between. Tell me how it is to be better for you.”

I thought about it. “I don’t think it’s the time for disclosure. Simone’s pride has already taken a big knock, and Will might not understand. He likes you, and you work well together. I don’t want to spoil that. He knows some of what went on, but—”

“Not that I am ‘the prick.’”

“No,” I said, because it was true. I thought for a moment. “I need you to promise me something, Aleks.”

“Anything.”

“When it’s over for you – this, us – you must say so plainly, so there can be no misunderstanding.”

“This is what you think is to happen?”

“It’s inevitable. And I don’t want to feel uncertain, or wonder what’s going on.”

He shook his head. “One morning you will wake and realise you are in bed with an old man.”

“Don’t turn it around on me. And you’re not an old man— Oi!”

The manner in which he had pinned me down on my back afforded a stunning view of his body: taut muscles, smooth skin, male strength…

“Stop trying to distract me with your sexiness,” I said.

“Is working?”

“No,” I lied.

He released me and turned away. “Already, it is begin.”

I knelt up on the bed and leant against his back. “We could both promise to be clear and honest with each other.”

“Your maturity is shame me once again. Of course, complete honesty is what we need.”

A sinking feeling formed in my belly, and I moved back a little on the bed. “I have to tell you something. I understand better how a confused moment can happen now. You see, Will and I...”

“I already know, and it is not mattering,” he said, turning and taking my hands in his. “I sat on the stairs all night after you see her, Simone, here. I knew this is where you must be.”

“We didn’t sleep together! I stayed with Justin that night.” While Aleks had made himself ill sitting on the stairs. “I’m talking about the morning in the stone circle.”

“In the snow?” He gave a short laugh as if this made it all fine. “Ah, Malphia, these things, they happen. When you dance together, a certain closeness forms. And there has been some romance with William in the past, no?”

“No.” Why had I suggested total honesty? “I had a crush on him long ago. That’s all.”

“He is the unrequited love you spoke of? I thought was Justin.”

I shook my head at the strange concept. Justin was like my brother.

“I have something for you,” he said, changing mood and subject.

“I don’t need you to buy me things.”

“This is different,” he said, getting off the bed and opening a drawer. “I bring this from home. Already, I had decided it was to be yours. If we did not fix ourselves here, I would still give, and hope you remember me, and maybe one day…” He shrugged.

He opened a long black velvet box. Inside was a diamond on a silver chain. Intricate workings of smaller stones and metal encircled it, impressions of flowers and birds.

“How beautiful,” I said. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

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