Roman Summer by Jane Arbor Page A

as meaningless as that.’
    Without replying, he turned with her and went ahead of her down the stairs.

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    Ruth supposed it must be Erle ’s exp eri e nce with temperamental women stars that enabled him to put the overnight incident behind him. She played her part too, and on the journey back their relationship could not have been more matter-of-fact.
    For some time after that Erle virtually disappeared into his own circles and Ruth’s and Cicely’s days took up their former pattern. Then, one evening when Cicely was out and Ruth was alone in the flat, she answered the door to find Cesare there.
    ‘Are you engaged?’ he asked diffidently.
    ‘ No, I’m alone. Come in, won’t you?’ Ruth invited.
    ‘Thank you.’
    In her sitting-room he looked about him. ‘I’ve never ventured to call on you here before,’ he said.
    ‘No. Will you have a drink?’ For something to say in the slightly uneasy atmosphere, Ruth added, ‘ Cicely is out, exploring on her own. But she’s been gone rather a long time. I hope she’ll be back soon.’
    ‘Thank you. Just a sherry.’ Cesare ran a finger round the foot of the glass she handed him and looked up at her before she sat down with her own drink. ‘I’m glad you’re alone. That’s how I hoped I might find you. Ruth — ?’ he said, and stopped.
    ‘Yes?’ she prompted.
    ‘This. Don’t be offended by my asking, but Cicely was with you on your trip to Siena with Erle Nash?’
    Surprised, Ruth said, ‘Why, yes. It was to show her Siena and the Corso del Palio that Erle took us. Why?’
    Cesare looked relieved. ‘Because Agnese heard somewhere that it was you alone whom Erle took with him .’ Not believing that Agnese had heard any thing of the sort, but had made it up in order to vilify her in Cesare’s eyes, Ruth remarked, ‘Why on earth should he have done that?’
    ‘Well,’ Cesare said uncomfortably, ‘one knows that Erle enjoys the company of women — ’
    ‘And has plenty, without wanting mine on a business trip to Siena,’ put in Ruth.
    ‘Yes, exactly. I didn’t think it likely, and I’ll certainly warn Agnese against passing such a story on.’ Cesare paused and sighed. ‘I am worried about her. Every day now she tries to persuade me to go back to Quindereggio, refusing to see that I must wait on the chance that either the Casa is not sold, or if it is, that the new landlord will renew my lease. If not, I must get the best price I can for the goodwill of the stables, and return to Calabria with the capital.’
    ‘Even then, would it be wise to live on capital?’ qu eri e d Ruth.
    ‘I think we shouldn’t need to. With capital behind us we could expand our vineyards and our maize farm. If only Agnese would have a little patience !’ Cesare took a drink, then said, ‘Ruth — ?’ and stopped again.
    This time her heartbeat quickened a little at the appeal in his use of her name. ‘Yes?’ she said at last.
    ‘Don’t you know?’ He set aside his glass and sat forward, his hands limp between his knees. ‘You should. I’m not good at hiding my feelings, my hopes. You must know what I am trying to say?’
    His look, his m anner were too intense for her to pretend she didn’t understand. She said, ‘If you mean you’v e grown fond of me, too fond, I—’
    ‘Oh, Ruth, more than that! Fondness is for friends, but I love you. And if Agnese knows it of me, you must too!’
    Ruth said, ‘Of course I’ve known you like me as a friend. But no more than that. Does your sister know you’ve come to say this to me tonight?’
    ‘I didn’t tell her so. But we are very close, she and I, and she knows it has been in my mind for some time.’
    ‘Without my knowing, and ... I wish with all my heart you hadn’t said it now.’
    ‘Why not? To know yourself loved must be a little pleasing to you at least?’
    ‘It is. I’m grateful and—touched. But to be loved isn’t enough for marriage, if that’s what you are asking of me. One