His heart began to thump as he looked at her — he simply must steal just one kiss — he bent over and very gently touched her forehead with his lips.
He turned reluctantly and began to tiptoe back to the other room.
“Richard,” said a soft voice from the bed.
He swung round, the picture of guilt. “Hullo,” he said, in a voice that he tried to make as casual as possible, “I thought you were asleep.”
She shook her head. “Do you like your new room?” she asked slyly.
“So you knew about that, eh?” He was quite at his ease and smiling at her now.
“Of course; I asked Rex to manage it — it is a wife’s duty to look after her husband,” she added, virtuously. “I couldn’t have you sleeping in that cold hotel.”
He sat down on the side of the bed. “Look here,” he said, with an effort, “if we do this sort of thing we shan’t be able to get the annulment, you know.”
She sat up quickly, clasping her hands round her knees, a tiny perfect figure, Dresden china flushed with rosy life.
“Richard,” she said gravely, “do you want that annulment very, very badly?”