Stella, it seemed, adored him. Think of it! But did he love Stella? It was she who had squelched that possibility. He looked at her. Lord, she was beautiful. Arousing. But love? Whatever love was,
if
he was capable of it then Stella was for him. He needed to rethink their relationship, that was all. It was necessary to dismantle the defences she herself had caused him to throw up around him.
But then she winked at him. What could it mean? No, she was playing a role, enjoying herself.
Did
she actually love him? Go know, Widerschein Would say. Stella had created a little drama. Let it run its course. Meanwhile, there sat Widerschein and Early, knife and fork at the ready, as it were, eager to carve up and chew every word. There was time enough to learn of her actual intentions. For the time being, he would play along.
‘Stella, I –’
‘No, I know what you’re going to say. But I must tell Robert alone, in my own way.’
‘T’ain’t right. Let him go with you, honey.’
‘Er, yes, of course. You can’t face this ordeal alone, Stella.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Good grief! I’ve a meeting with the College President and the Dean of the Arts in less than an hour. The hell with it! Give me a moment to phone and cancel.’ Was Stella acting? If so, let her learn his mettle.
‘But it must be important.’
‘Well, in its way. But what is more important than us? The College is creating a new Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies. It seems I’m to be offered the initial directorship, God knows why.’
‘He does,’ said Widerschein.
‘In any case, I’m sure they’ll agree to meet at some other time, almost sure anyway.’
‘Nonsense! Of course you’ll attend the meeting. I’m not going to begin our life together by interfering in your career. What must you think of me? Anyway, I insist on talking to Robert alone.’ She leaned towards him and kissed him on the lips.
‘Of course, I’ll honour your decision.’ Kraven now felt confident he had discovered her wavelength. ‘My thoughts will be of you, my brave darling.’ He must be careful. He too was beginning to overplay his part.
‘When will you be back? Or can I phone you at the College?’
‘Ay, there’s the rub. I’m not supposed to know it, but Papa Doc – that’s what we call Ari Papadakis, our chairman, darling – Papa Doc is giving a party in my honour directly after the meeting. My acceptance, you see, is taken as certain. But if I go to the meeting, I don’t see how I can avoid the party. What the heck! Join me there, why don’t you? I can give you the address.’
‘I’ll scarcely be in a mood for a party, darling, especially among strangers. Don’t be impatient, beloved. Get in touch with me as soon as you get back, okay?’
They kissed, a delicious, lingering kiss.
‘Before I go up to … to Robert, I think we could all do with a drink, something stronger than Early’s excellent coffee perhaps.’
‘A little
schnapps
. Wouldn’t hurt, wouldn’t be bad.’ Widerschein patted his stomach.
‘How about some cognac? Early, you know where it’s kept. As for me, I must shower and change. But go ahead, enjoy yourselves.’ And Kraven fled to the sanctuary of his bedroom.
* * *
DIGNITY HAD LONG TURNED A CALLOUS BACK to the Kravens. Only consider Opa: death had overtaken that marvellous old man as he sat filling out his pools coupon, trousers down, vulnerable to attack, a frail figure in the upstairs toilet. Not even Marko had cared to check whether Opa had written a winning column. And which of them had made a better end? Kraven was acutely aware of being the last of his line. The gods, or Onkel Ferri’s demons, had one more chance to play before the game was ended.
And now Stella claimed to love him. Kraven looked at himself in the mirror: hair in disarray, hair growing perhaps a trifle thin, the odd grey thread in plain sight; a face somewhat gaunt, badly in need of a shave; bloodshot eyes from which depended
if
he was capable of it then Stella was for him. He needed to rethink their relationship, that was all. It was necessary to dismantle the defences she herself had caused him to throw up around him.
But then she winked at him. What could it mean? No, she was playing a role, enjoying herself.
Did
she actually love him? Go know, Widerschein Would say. Stella had created a little drama. Let it run its course. Meanwhile, there sat Widerschein and Early, knife and fork at the ready, as it were, eager to carve up and chew every word. There was time enough to learn of her actual intentions. For the time being, he would play along.
‘Stella, I –’
‘No, I know what you’re going to say. But I must tell Robert alone, in my own way.’
‘T’ain’t right. Let him go with you, honey.’
‘Er, yes, of course. You can’t face this ordeal alone, Stella.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Good grief! I’ve a meeting with the College President and the Dean of the Arts in less than an hour. The hell with it! Give me a moment to phone and cancel.’ Was Stella acting? If so, let her learn his mettle.
‘But it must be important.’
‘Well, in its way. But what is more important than us? The College is creating a new Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies. It seems I’m to be offered the initial directorship, God knows why.’
‘He does,’ said Widerschein.
‘In any case, I’m sure they’ll agree to meet at some other time, almost sure anyway.’
‘Nonsense! Of course you’ll attend the meeting. I’m not going to begin our life together by interfering in your career. What must you think of me? Anyway, I insist on talking to Robert alone.’ She leaned towards him and kissed him on the lips.
‘Of course, I’ll honour your decision.’ Kraven now felt confident he had discovered her wavelength. ‘My thoughts will be of you, my brave darling.’ He must be careful. He too was beginning to overplay his part.
‘When will you be back? Or can I phone you at the College?’
‘Ay, there’s the rub. I’m not supposed to know it, but Papa Doc – that’s what we call Ari Papadakis, our chairman, darling – Papa Doc is giving a party in my honour directly after the meeting. My acceptance, you see, is taken as certain. But if I go to the meeting, I don’t see how I can avoid the party. What the heck! Join me there, why don’t you? I can give you the address.’
‘I’ll scarcely be in a mood for a party, darling, especially among strangers. Don’t be impatient, beloved. Get in touch with me as soon as you get back, okay?’
They kissed, a delicious, lingering kiss.
‘Before I go up to … to Robert, I think we could all do with a drink, something stronger than Early’s excellent coffee perhaps.’
‘A little
schnapps
. Wouldn’t hurt, wouldn’t be bad.’ Widerschein patted his stomach.
‘How about some cognac? Early, you know where it’s kept. As for me, I must shower and change. But go ahead, enjoy yourselves.’ And Kraven fled to the sanctuary of his bedroom.
* * *
DIGNITY HAD LONG TURNED A CALLOUS BACK to the Kravens. Only consider Opa: death had overtaken that marvellous old man as he sat filling out his pools coupon, trousers down, vulnerable to attack, a frail figure in the upstairs toilet. Not even Marko had cared to check whether Opa had written a winning column. And which of them had made a better end? Kraven was acutely aware of being the last of his line. The gods, or Onkel Ferri’s demons, had one more chance to play before the game was ended.
And now Stella claimed to love him. Kraven looked at himself in the mirror: hair in disarray, hair growing perhaps a trifle thin, the odd grey thread in plain sight; a face somewhat gaunt, badly in need of a shave; bloodshot eyes from which depended
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