It struck him that in the past this was exactly what he would have expected to happen and what he would have been churlish to refuse.
But all he could see was Ilitta’s childlike innocent eyes looking up into his and the dimple at the side of her mouth that had never been kissed.
He knew too, that the heavy exotic French perfume the Comtesse was using made him long for the spring-like fragrance of Ilitta’s hair that he had kissed last night without her being aware of it.
Even to think of the softness of her body against his made him want her with such an overwhelming desire that he was astonished at the violence of it.
Never in all his numerous love affairs had he felt as he felt now for a young girl to whom he meant nothing but somebody trustworthy and protective.
He was spared from h
