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'I'll get drunk if I drink it alone,' he said, putting the glasses down on a coffee-table as she absently shut the door, and ripping the foil off the top of the chane 'You wouldn't like me when I'm drunk, Clare; I become very maudlin and depressed, very black-Russian'

'You forget, I've seen you knock back the vodka You couldn't get drunk in a ht the bottles with hi incomprehensible labels in Cyrillic script, and instructed Kerry to keep them in the freezer

'Vodka is an exuberant drink, cone shouldn't be drunk alone, it has tristesse in its bubbles Here, taste' He handed her a brilass

'I hope you put this on the spike,' Clare said to counteract the shivery thrill of the first sip

'I do not need to steal for my pleasures, Clare,' he said quietly

'I didn't ,' she said aardly She had expected a flippant reply, not this stern dignity She would never understand the man!

'So…enjoy It's not a crie in a little luxury…nor is it one to want to share it with friends'

'No, of course not' She felt terrible now, and she took a large, hasty gulp t

o make up for it The bubbles exploded in the back of her throat with a heady burst of dryness that h David clicked his tongue and took the forgotten book and the glass frolass on the table before he slapped her sharply between the shoulder-blades

'Better?' he asked, as her coughs spluttered to a halt

'Yes, thank you' Her eyes atering and she was sure her nose ht

'Here' As if to confirm it, he held out a handkerchief and she took it to cover her embarrassment

'Thanks'

'Let's sit down, shall we?' He indicated the couch 'For a novice like you, itand standing up at the same time'

'I have had chane before,' Clare told him tartly, as she returned his handkerchief