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And then the door opened

"George?" Billie’s face peered out She was still in her day clothes but her hair was down, draped over her shoulder in a long, thick braid "I thought I heard soed a close-lipped s supper," she said, ave a sheepish s I had no idea it would involve quite sothan walking"

"Yes!" she said, quite anie started to speak, but then a h hisher, after that debacle with the cat on the roof He’d been trying to describe that odd feeling of when one’s leg goes weak and bends for no reason

Billie had understood perfectly

The irony was that his leg hadn’t gone weak He’d beenHe didn’t even remember what

But he remembered the moment He remembered that she’d understood

Mostly he’d remembered how she’d looked at him, with a little smile that said that she was happy to be understood

He looked up She atching him with an expression of faint expectation It was his turn to speak, he remembered And since he couldn’t very well say what he was thinking, he went for the obvious

"You’re still dressed," he said

She glanced down briefly at her frock It was the one she’d been wearing when he kissed her Flowers It suited her She should always be in flowers

"I thought I ," she said "Perhaps find so to read in the library"

He nodded

"My own, you’re in your rooreat otten whatever it is that I didn’t ignore"

George stood like a statue, knowing he should bid her goodnight, but somehow unable to form the words The moment was too intimate, too perfectly candlelit and lovely

"Have you eaten?" she asked

"Yes Well, no" He thought of the kippers "Not exactly"

Her brows rose "That sounds intriguing"

"Hardly I’ a tray sent toalone downstairs"

"I’reed She stood for a ood"

"Excellent" He cleared his throat "Well, I… ought to go Good night, Billie"

He turned He didn’t want to turn