Let's dance to the music
Chapter Three
Harry stood in the middle of his suite quite taken aback by the sudden change in Ruth. Where had that injection of energy come from he wondered? What did she intend to do? Why would she want him to change? With all these thoughts running through his mind he found his feet taking him into the bedroom where he choose a pair of dark chinos, a soft blue shirt and a navy v neck sweater. Looking at himself in the bathroom mirror he hoped he would pass muster. Whatever she had in mind he intended to go along with it. They were owed this. And he told himself everyone would think they were at the reception. He'd told Adam to leave their names on the guest list just in case they finished early and Ruth was able to attend. So no one would know, it would be just a few hours they took for themselves away from the chaos they inhabited.
And he'd argued with himself he was strong enough, experienced enough, had enough self control and self restraint not to act on any deep seated yearnings he had. Not that he thought any opportunities of a romantic nature would be forthcoming. Ruth plainly thought of him as her friend, a friend who just so happened to be a man, but not as a man she could be interested in, not in that way. So by the time Ruth came back he had convinced himself that he was totally in charge of the evening, that everything would be just fine. That it would just be two friends spending a couple of hours together.
True to her word Ruth was back in fifteen minutes changed into a light summer dress with spaghetti straps. It was light green with a fitted bodice and tiny pearl buttons that went from just between her breasts to the hem just above her knees. He didn't remember ever seeing so much of her on show and he was speechless for a moment.
"Come on Harry, but ditch the sweater, it's warm out there. I've checked out a side exit so we can slip out unseen."
Ever the good spook he thought.
They walked down the street together and Harry didn't mind at all when Ruth slipped her arm through his, he didn't say anything about it he'd just moved a little closer to her. He'd asked her where they were going and she laughed and said she wasn't sure, but as they were in Paris she was sure they'd find somewhere. So they'd walked through the streets of Paris together, pointing out sights and sounds, commenting on smells, enjoying anonymity and the freedom that fate had given them.
They only stopped walking when they came to a park filled with people. In the centre there was a band stand with a band playing music as the crowd laughed, danced or simply sat and listened . Across the street from the park there was a small bistro with tables set outside. It was still very warm out and Harry was pleased that he had taken Ruth's advice and not put his sweater on. Indeed he rolled his shirt sleeves up to the elbow. They sat at one of the tables, when the waiter came for their order they'd decided on a bottle of good white wine and a single plate of finger food to share. As the wine and food arrived Ruth leant over to take a Salmon Rillettes and the movement sent the strap of her dress slipping down her shoulder. Harry was transfixed.
Sitting back sipping her wine Ruth said "I love this city." she may or may not have meant to say it out loud "We used to do this all the time when we were here." she continued as she'd looked up at the stars, "Just walking around, sitting out at places like this, people watching, talking. Of course, most of the time we drank water, or soft drinks...we were very good at making a glass of something last for hours."
He couldn't help himself he had to ask the question that was on the tip of his tongue
"When was that then Ruth, recently? Where you here with a group or just one special person?"
"Oh nothing like that Harry" she replied " A group of us from Oxford came over, we stayed in youth hostels, it was fun. We spent nearly a whole summer here. We'd only meant to be here a month but its Paris isn't it?"
He struck him then with some force that at the time Ruth and her friends were enjoying a carefree time in Paris he'd been killing and trying not to be killed in Ireland. There was so much against him getting to know her better. Dare he take the risk, did he have the right to take that risk.
They'd sat in silence then sipping wine and nibbling quiche and other assorted tidbits; just enjoying the moment, just enjoying being together.
"It seems like another world here, doesn't it?" remarked Harry out of the blue.
Ruth nodded her agreement as she took another sip of her wine before she put her glass back down onto the table. Harry watched as she played with the drops of moisture on the surface of the glass, her fingers running up and down it lightly. What possessed him to do what he did next he was never able to say, but he had stretched out his hand, placed it over hers against the glass, capturing her fingers gently "It's a better world because I'm here with you." His voice had been so soft that he could hardly hear himself over the music, but the blush on her cheeks and the look in her eyes told him that she had heard him, and that she wasn't alarmed at what she'd heard. "I could stay here all night." he'd added, just as softly.
When she spoke her voice had matched his "That would be …...lovely Harry."
They continued to sit in silence, just content with one another, exchanging glances as they did on the Grid. And all around them the party went on. They didn't need to talk, they both realised that something was shifting in their relationship and they were coming to terms with this new thing. This new way of being together. After a while Ruth turned her attention to the revelry across the street. Men and women were dancing with enthusiasm, the men turning and spinning the women in every conceivable direction, the women all to often appearing to defy gravity as they moved this way and that. Harry caught her look of rapt attention and followed her gaze "Do you want to dance? He asked and she turned to him with an embarrassed grin on her face.
"Oh I couldn't dance like that Harry."
"Of course you can" his reply was matter of fact. "It's easier than it looks, all you have to do is follow my lead."
She laughed self consciously as he stood and offered her his hand. "I'm really not a good dancer Harry."
"Then let me teach you. I can teach you a lot if you just let me Ruth."
The silence hung in the air between them and Harry worried that he had pushed to far,to fast but Ruth laughed and allowed him to pull her to her feet and lead her across the road to the midst of the dancers.
It was a long time since Harry had danced because he wanted to, had danced with a woman because he chose to. Before it had been stiff waltzes amidst the formalities of balls and official receptions. But under the stars with Ruth it had been as if the years dropped away and he was back in his youth dancing with his best girl. And in spite of her protests and denial Ruth had taken to it like a duck to water as she moved gracefully under his tutelage, her dress flaring as she spun, her hair fanning around her face. After the first song he pulled her close leaning into to talk directly into her ear so that she could hear him "Another one?" he asked and she nodded, eyes shining indicating that she was enjoying herself immensely.
