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‘I am yours, you fool’ I took his face between my hands and kissed him His skin et ‘I have been yours since the first tiht fifteen ridiculous scarves in your deterain ‘I was yours frouett I had the best ankles in Paris, after she tried to huain He closed his eyes ‘I was yours from the moment you drew me and I realized nobody else would ever look at me like you do As if you saw only the best of nificent than I knew’

I took a towel and tenderly rubbed the moisture fro to fear I am yours, Édouard, utterly and completely I cannot believe you would doubt it’

He looked atbrown eyes were steady and oddly determined ‘Marry me,’ he said

‘But you always said –’

‘Tomorrow Next week As soon as we can’

‘But you –’

‘Marry me, Sophie’

So I

The ht at Bar Tripoli, I slept late We had becoiddy with our riches, eaten and drunk too much, and stayed awake until the sles as we reed expression I raised my head blearily froe that had been on the table was one for bread I became dimly aware of the sound of his voice in the street below, and letflow and recede in a happy blur Then, when he did not sound as if he were co upstairs, I pulled a robe around me and went to the

He had two baguettes tucked under his ar blonde woreen coat-dress with a broad-briaze slid up toit, turned and lifted a hand in greeting

‘Come downstairs, cherie I want you to meet someone’

I did not want to meet anyone I wanted his around hihed, pulled the robe around me, and walked downstairs to the front door

‘Sophie, this is Miht several paintings, and posed for soht absently

‘Congratulations on your aveabout the way the wolance towards Édouard, that made me uneasy

‘Enchantée, Mademoiselle,’ I said, and held outa dead fish

We stood there, studying our feet Two road sweepers orking on opposite sides of the street, whistling in tandeain, and the smell, teamed with the a, made me feel suddenly queasy

‘You will excuseinto the doorway ‘I aht the fire and put the coffee on’

‘Coffee!’ he exclaiood to see you, Mimi I will come – sorry, ill come and see your new apart as he came up the stairs