‘What is?’ he snapped, following her up the stairs.
‘Why, that when a boy shivers when he’s hot, it’s because he’s a virgin. A reluctant virgin!’
‘A bloody stupid saying!’ Dragosani scowled.
She looked back and smiled. ‘With you it doesn’t apply, Herr Dragosani,’ she said. ‘You are not a boy, and you don’t look at all shy or virginal to me. And anyway, it’s just a saying.’
‘And you are too familiar with your guests!’ he grumbled, feeling that he’d been let off the hook, as if she’d taken pity on him.
|| On the first landing she waited for him, laughed and $aid: ‘I was being friendly. It’s a cold greeting when people don’t talk to each other. My father told me to ask you: will you eat with us tonight, since you’re the only one here, or will you have a meal in your room?’
I’ll eat in my room,’ he growled at once. ‘If we ever get to it!’
She shrugged, turned and started up the second flight. Here the stairs climbed more steeply.
Use Kinkovsi was dressed in a fashion quite out of date in the towns but still affected in the smaller villages and farming communities. She wore a slightly longer than knee-length pleated cotton dress, gathered in tightly at the waist, a short-sleeved black bodice buttoned down the front, with puffs at the shoulders and elbows, and (ridiculously, as Dragosani thought) calf-boots of rubber; but doubtless they were fine in the farmyard. In winter she would also wear stockings to the tops of her thighs. But it was not winter . . .
He tried to avert his eyes but there was nowhere else to look. And, damn it, she flounced! A narrow black ‘V separated the swivelling white globes of her buttocks.
At the second landing she paused, deliberately turned to wait for him at the head of the stairs. Dragosani stopped dead in his tracks, held his breath. Looking down at him – and looking as cool as ever – she leaned her weight on one foot more than the other, rubbed at the inside of her thigh with her knee, flashed her green eyes at him. Tm sure you’ll like it … here,’ she said, and slowly shifted her weight to the other foot.
Dragosani looked away. ‘Yes, yes – I’m sure I … I
Use took note of the fine film of sweat on his brow. She turned her face away and sniffed. Perhaps she had been right about him in the first place. A pity . . .
Chapter Five
Without any more delay, Use Kinkovsi now took Dragosani straight to the garret, showed him the bathroom (which, surprisingly, was quite modern) and made as if to leave. The rooms were very pretty: whitewash and old oak beams, with varnished wooden corner cupboards and shelves, and Dragosani was beginning to feel much better about things. As the heat went out of the girl, so he warmed a little towards her – or more properly towards the as yet unseen Kinkovsi family in its entirety. It would be extremely gauche of him to eat here, alone in his room, after the Kinkovsis, father and daughter both, had shown him such hospitality.
‘Use,’ he called after her on impulse. ‘Er – Miss Kinkovsi – I’ve changed my mind. I would like to eat at the farm, yes. Actually, I lived on a farm when I was a boy. It won’t be strange to me – and I’ll try not to be too strange to the family. So … when do we eat?’
Descending the stairs she looked back over her shoulder. ‘As soon as you can wash and come down. We’re waiting for you.’ There was no smile on her face now.
‘Ah! – then I’ll be two minutes. Thank you.’
As her footsteps on the stairs faded into silence, he quickly took off his shirt, snapped open one of his cases and found shaving gear, towel, clean, pressed trousers and new socks. Ten minutes later he hurried downstairs, out of the guesthouse, and was met by Kinkovsi at the farmhouse door.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry!’ he said. ‘I hurried as fast as I could.’