An Imperfect Future by David Penny

Author:David Penny [Penny, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: River Tree Print
Published: 2021-04-09T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

It was starting to grow dark as they arrived at the Fitzroy in Great Russel Street. It pleased Calum to discover their suite consisted of only one bedroom and only one bed. Even if it was so enormous, they might never find each other. He thought the only thing he had ever seen wider was a battleship. There was a small lounge where they ate a sparse dinner, and a bathroom that was significantly larger. Elizabeth had signed in as Mr and Mrs Grierson, making sure the desk clerk saw the wedding ring on her left hand. Not that the man was likely to say anything. When Calum asked her how much the room was costing, she told him it was better he didn’t know.

Now he sat in one of the plush armchairs in the bedroom while Elizabeth was in the bathroom. It might be another week before she found her way out again.

A glass of single malt sat on the round table next to his chair and Calum had his stockinged feet resting on the deep windowsill. Only one lamp burned beside the bed, and he had opened the curtains only a crack so he could see out. Across the street, well-appointed terraced houses stood shoulder to shoulder, none of them showing any lights. Beyond them lay an equally dark London. The blitz was over, the air battle long won, but the lights remained dimmed. Calum’s eyes were heavy, and he kept finding himself startling awake. He reached for the whisky and swallowed it in one. A waste, he knew, but he needed something to keep him awake. He poured another two fingers from the bottle Elizabeth had ordered. Calum thought this was a luxury he could get used to but knew he’d better not. This was for one night only, he suspected.

He turned when the bathroom door opened. Elizabeth stood silhouetted, wearing not a stitch of clothing.

“I’ve run a bath,” she said.

Calum nodded. Light silhouetted her body from behind, but he could see enough to trigger memories of the last time he had seen her in this state of nature.

“I wondered if you’d like to come and scrub my back.”

“Only your back?”

“We could always check one or two other places, I suppose. Come on, Cal, we might all be dead tomorrow.”

He needed no encouragement. When Elizabeth turned away, rewarding him with a brief side view, he undressed and followed her through.

Some time later, washed and clean and then made sweaty again, he woke with a start from a dreamless sleep. Despite the size of the bed, he was aware he lay in it alone. When he had finally drifted off, Elizabeth was curled beside him, her arm across his waist. They were both sated from their love-making. At least Calum was. He gained an impression Elizabeth might have been content to carry on all night.

He sat up to see her standing at the window, the curtains drawn so she could look out. Calum walked across and wrapped his arms around her.

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