Free A Rose in No-Man's Land by Margaret Tanner Page B

She hissed like a feral cat as she raised her hand to slap his face.
    He grasped her arm in midair, twisting it until she was brought up hard against him once more.
    “And I suppose they haven’t been watching your sluttish behavior?”
    He almost floored her with the savagery and unfairness of his attack. Only the iron grip of his hands on her shoulders kept her upright.
    Life drained out of her body. Through a veil of tears the moving throng became a blurry mass. She closed her eyes so the tears would not fall, but whimpering sobs escaped before she could stop them.
    “I don’t feel well. Please ask Guy to take me back to the hospital.”
    Without a word he led her to a secluded seat almost hidden behind a huge marble pillar, and she huddled there trying to block out the wrenching pain. She didn’t know how she had expected their relationship to end, but it certainly wasn’t like this, with Mark walking away from her with a rigid back, and her devastated because he had kissed another woman.
    She felt her shawl being laid gently across her shoulders but did not look up. “I’m sorry about taking you away from the party, Guy.”
    “It isn’t Guy.” She cringed away from Mark’s voice. “I told him I’d see you back to the hospital.”
    “There’s no need to bother.”
    “Isn’t there?” He dragged the words out from between clenched teeth. “Do you feel like walking, or would you prefer me to get us a carriage?”
    “Whatever you like.” She was too distraught to care what happened to her.
    “Then we’ll walk.” He made no move to touch her, just kept a respectable distance away as they left the hotel.
    The evening breeze cooled her fevered brow and the robe rustled against her legs as she walked. An owl hooting from somewhere close by and the spitting snarls of two fighting alley cats broke the ominous silence that bore her down into the black depths of despair.
    They passed a group of boisterous soldiers toasting the New Year with native beer, their high spirits a marked contrast to her utter misery.
    “You didn’t need to leave Ella just to escort me back to the hospital,” she muttered.
    “I was not with Ella.” He hammered the words out one by one. “Amy, please.” He stopped suddenly. “I wasn’t with Ella.”
    “The red paint?”
    “I could explain if you give me a chance.”
    “More lies?” Away from the main thoroughfare it was quieter.
    “Amy, Amy.” His voice roughened. “Why are we tearing each other apart like this? I went outside with Ella because she wanted my advice, and I gave her some. If the major said the soldier shot himself accidentally, then she should forget all about the affair, and that’s what I told her. She kissed me. I didn’t ask her to.”
    “But you kissed.”
    “No, there’s a difference. I said she kissed me. She means nothing to me, hasn’t since I went home with you and Guy that weekend. Amy, listen! I love you. Only you. Why can’t you trust me?” His words grated along her shredded nerves.
    “It’s probably another aspect of my sluttish behavior.”
    His body went rigid. She felt it even though a foot or more of empty air separated them. A space that might as well be filled with barbed wire.
    “I’m sorry for saying such a filthy thing.” He muttered a swear word. “I was mad with jealousy.”
    “Were you?” She edged closer. “Jealous? Really?”
    “Yes, yes.” He crushed her to him. “It became unbearable watching those other chaps kissing you when I wanted you so desperately myself.”
    “I did it on purpose. I wanted to hurt you.”
    “Oh, my lovely girl. You don’t know what you’re doing to me.” His tautened agony snapped, his mouth met hers in a passionate explosion, searing their flesh together. Deeper and deeper his tongue probed and explored until the whole world caught fire and desire swirled her up into its flaming vortex.
    “I should be flogged for doing this, but I can’t help myself.” He drew them into