Chapter 10

Louisa awoke with a stiff back. She looked across at the clock and realised they had been asleep for an hour. The music had finished, the scented candle had burnt out and the room was starting to get chilly. Martin was still slumbering peacefully. She didn't want to wake him but in attempting to adjust her position to a more comfortable one, he awoke with a start.

"I'm so sorry! I fell asleep on you."

"That's fine. I've had a bit of a nap too. I must close that door. It's getting quite cold in here."

Martin sat up and Louisa closed the door and turned a lamp on. She sat down next to him and he put his arm around her and drew her close. She nestled her head into his neck and enjoyed the warmth of his body. They remained in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the closeness and the tranquillity.

"Thank you for listening to me," Martin said quietly.

"I will listen to you anytime. I hope it helped." The memory of his confessions brought a tear to her eye. The diagnostician noticed immediately.

"You're very emotional, Louisa."

Louisa remained silent.

"Are you wearing perfume?"

"Yes."

"Is it sandalwood?"

"No. It's Kenzo Flower."

"I wondered if it was pheromones. Androstenone five has a, sort of, sandalwood odour. It's the pheromone associated with the onset of a menstrual cycle. Am I right?"

"A woman doesn't have to be getting her period to be a bit emotional!" snapped Louisa angrily, pulling away from him.

She sat in the far corner of the sofa, looking extremely offended. Her mouth was in a grim line and she stared straight ahead. Martin was devastated. He had blown it yet again! He didn't know exactly what he had said to hurt her, but it was obvious that she was very upset. Several moments passed while a dozen thoughts went through his head. What could he say to her? He was completely dumbfounded about what to do to retrieve the situation. He seriously considered leaving, but was astute enough to realise that if he walked out of her door, it would be irrevocable. They had tried and they had failed so many times. She couldn't be expected to have him stringing her along indefinitely. But then, he also thought about how he had opened up to her tonight, he had revealed himself to some extent and he had felt solace in her arms. There had been a definite connection this evening. Wasn't she worth fighting for? He turned to face her and moved slightly forward.

"Louisa ... I'm so terribly, terribly sorry," he said with contrition. "Please tell me what I have done wrong."

Louisa looked at him grimly. "You're so intelligent, DOCTOR Ellingham," she declared with a hard, sarcastic edge. "You tell me why I am emotional."

"Ah ... well ... Perhaps you are premenstrual?"

"No, I'm not!"

"Er ... a lot of pregnant women are frequently emotional. Is there any chance that you're pregnant?"

Louisa was rather taken aback!

"How could I be pregnant?" She managed to keep a stern face but the absurdity of the question suppressed her temper to some extent and she found the enquiry rather humorous. Martin could be so obvious sometimes.

"Are you saying you're not?"

"Yes."

"Good ... I mean ... Right."

Martin felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had never been sure of the extent of Louisa's relationship with Danny. But then he realised that the comment did not necessarily mean that they hadn't slept together. It could also mean that they had slept together, but had taken appropriate precautions. The thought made his blood boil.

"Keep going Martin. You really are on a roll," she said with some derision.

"Well there are actually a number of medical reasons why you could be emotional. I think that ..."

"NO Martin! Not everything in life can be explained by medicine."

"Oh, a psychological reason then? My Aunt Ruth is a doctor in London and ..."

"NO Martin! Not a medical OR psychological reason. Just an everyday reason, to do with humans and feelings and sentiments."

She could tell that Martin didn't have a clue about what she was talking about. His face was a picture of bewilderment.

"Ok then. I can see that I'm going to have to spell it out for you. The reason I'm emotional is ..." her voice lost its harshness and shook a little. ".. Is ... because ... I'm in love with you."

Martin's face registered utter astonishment. His mind went into chaos and he couldn't grasp a single rational thought.

"MARTIN ELLINGHAM! You would have to be the most frustrating man in the world! Why are you looking at me like that? You KNOW I love you. I've told you before."

"Yes, but we were both drunk at the time!"

"I wasn't! I told you the next day. I was perfectly sober then."

"Yes, but you were also hung over and I told you that you could have ... er..." Martin stopped abruptly. It was better not to go there.

"De Clerambault Syndrome. Yes, I remember that quite clearly. Thank you very much!"

"Well, as I said later, perhaps my diagnosis had been a little hasty."

Martin then experienced an epiphany as the full weight of Louisa's declaration finally sank in. His face was incredulous and his eyes were shining.

"You love me?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

"Yes Martin. I love you," replied Louisa shakily.

"You really love me?" shaking his head in disbelief.

"Yes Martin. I really love you."

He gazed at her with an overwhelmed expression and his eyes filled with tears. With a penetrating stare he slowly and lovingly leaned forward to kiss her, only closing his eyes at the last second. The kiss was mind blowing! Louisa had never experienced anything like it. His full lips were tender and sensuous and he held the kiss for a considerable time before breaking it and continuing the penetrating look as if he could see into the very depths of her soul.

But Louisa wanted more of that exquisite kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned her body into his and kissed him. He eagerly responded. His arms encircled her waist, his firm hands pressed into the small of her back and he pulled her towards him. Louisa lost all concept of time. She was only aware of the heat radiating from his body, the intoxicating smell of him and those sensational lips. She was dizzy with delight! She increased the intensity of the kiss and he matched her all the way. She could feel his heart thumping.

"Let's go upstairs," she uttered breathlessly.

Martin looked startled. "We ... I ... can't"

"Of course you can. I want you to stay the night."

"... I ... can't ," he repeated.

"Yes you can. We are two consenting adults. Why can't you stay?"

"Because ... because ... I ... I ... don't want to have sex with you!" he blurted.

To be continued