A Kiss for the Enemy (66 page)

‘I understand you perfectly. You are right to feel as you do. I could not love you if you felt otherwise.'

Marcia looked at him with some surprise. Then it was her turn again to feel tears forcing their way to her eyes.

‘So. You will answer me tomorrow!'

‘Within twenty-four hours. Just a little thinking to be done. No confidences. No confessions. No girlish heart-to-hearts, no asking of advice. Just a little hard thinking.' ‘Even praying,' Marcia nearly added, but she was not sure.

‘Twenty-four hours is one thousand four hundred and forty minutes. You have already used the first. I shall think of you in each of them, willing you, willing you, willing you to reach the answer I desire. More than anything, ever. And I love you.' They were standing on the pavement. Marcia sang softly –

‘
Ich liebe dich
,

So wie du mich
–'

‘Ah, if you meant that –'

She laughed. ‘Goodbye, Toni. No, don't touch me. Stay here. I'll tell you my answer tomorrow. I'll leave you now.'

As long ago, he whispered,

‘I am very, very loving of you, Marcia.'

‘No, Toni, that's still not entirely right.' There was a catch in her voice. She walked away, very fast. As Toni turned back into the restaurant to settle accounts, murmur thanks, collect his hat, he felt a humble, magical assurance that he need not unduly doubt what her answer would be.

Born the son of Brigadier, The Honourable William Fraser (1890-1964) DSO MC, David Fraser was educated at Eton College and Christ Church College, Oxford. He left school to enlist at earliest opportunity after the Second World War begun, and joined his father's regiment, the Grenadier Guards in 1940, serving for much of the War with the Guards Armoured Division, later in North West Europe, ending the war in the rank of Major.

He went on to be British Military Representative to NATO in 1975, and Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1977 before retiring in 1980.

Discover books by David Fraser published by Bloomsbury Reader at
www.bloomsbury.com/DavidFraser

Alanbrook
A Kiss for the Enemy
And We Shall Shock Them
Killing Times
Wars and Shadows

This electronic edition published in 2012 by Bloomsbury Reader

Bloomsbury Reader is a division of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP

First published in Great Britain,1985, William Collins & Co. Ltd

Copyright © 1985 David Fraser

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eISBN: 9781448209996

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