The Ring Read Free

turned her back to him, looking down at the park.
    Don't. Her voice was a whisper. Don't tell me you're sorry. I don't want to hear it ' I can't ' And then she turned to him, her eyes blazing with a pain akin to his own. I've wanted you for so long.
    But ' He hated himself for his hesitations, but he had to say it, if only for her.
    She put up a hand to silence him. I understand. Kassandra von Gotthard doesn't say things like this, is that it? Her eyes hardened. You're quite right I don't But I wanted to. Oh, God, how I wanted to. I didn't even know how much I wanted to until just now. I never have before. I've lived my life until now just as I was meant to. And do you know what I have, Dolff? Nothing. Do you know who I am? No one. I am empty. And then, with tears misting her eyes, And I was looking to you to fill my soul : She turned away again. I'm sorry.
    He came up softly behind her and put his arms around her waist Don't Don't ever think that you are no one. You are everything to me. All these months, all I wanted was to know you better, to be with you, to give you something of what I am, and to share some part of you, I just don't want to hurt you, Kassandra. I don't want to pull you into my world at the risk of making you unable to live in your own. I have no right to do that. I have no right to take you away to a place where you couldn't be happy.
    What? Here? She turned to look at him with disbelief. Do you think I could be unhappy here with you? Even for an hour?
    But that's just it. For how long, Kassandra? For an hour? Two? An afternoon? He looked anguished as he faced her.
    That's enough. Even a moment of this in my lifetime would be enough. And then, the delicate lips trembling, she lowered her head. I love you, Dolff ' I love you ' I '
    He silenced her lips with his own, and slowly they walked down the narrow staircase again. But they went no farther. Taking her hand gently, he led her to his bed and peeled away the fine gray silk of her dress and creamy beige satin of her slip, until he reached the exquisite lace that lay beneath, and the velvet of her flesh. They lay there together for hours, their lips and their hands and their bodies and their hearts blending into one.
    It had been four months since that day, and the love affair had changed them both. Kassandra's eyes sparkled and danced; she teased and she played with him, and she sat cross-legged in his big, beautiful carved bed, telling him funny stories of what she had done the day before. As for Dolff, his work had taken on a new texture, a new depth, and there was a new strength about him that seemed to come from his very core. Together they shared something that they felt sure no one had ever shared before. They were a meshing of the best of two worlds: his hard-won, hard-earned, determined struggle to excel, and her fragile fluttering to break free of her golden bonds.
    They still walked in the park sometimes, but less often, and when they were together out of his house now, he often found her sad. There were too many other people, too many children and nannies and other couples strolling in the park. She wanted to be alone with him in their own private world. She didn't want to be reminded of a world outside his walls that they did not share.
    Do you want to go back? He had been watching her quietly for a time. She was stretched gracefully on the grass, a pale mauve voile dress draped over her legs, the sun catching the gold in her hair. A mauve silk hat lay cast aside on the grass, and her stockings were the same ivory color as her kid pumps. There was a heavy rope of pearls around her neck, and behind her on the grass were her kid gloves and the mauve silk bag with the ivory clasp that had been made to match her dress.
    Yes, I want to go back. She stood up quickly, with a happy smile. What were you looking at just then? He had been staring at her so intently.
    You.
    Why?
    Because you're so incredibly beautiful. Do you know if I wrote about you I'd