"It is getting warmer," Rina answered. "Do you want me to turn on the fan?"
"Oh, no," Margaret said quickly. "We'd only catch cold in the draft.
I’ll just slip off my jacket."
She felt Rina's eyes on her small bosom and she picked up her glass quickly.
"Do you mind?"
Rina shook her head. She lifted her glass and took another sip.
"Do you hear music?"
Margaret nodded.
"It's the orchestra from the ballroom. They're playing a waltz."
Rina got to her feet. She swayed in time to the music. "I love to dance," she said.
She glided lightly around the room, the white gown flaring out as she turned, showing her long, tanned legs.
Margaret felt a weakness in the pit of her stomach as she got to her feet.
"I love to dance, too," she said, making a mock bow. "May I have this dance, Miss Marlowe?"
Rina looked at her, smiling.
"Just this one. All the others are taken, Miss Bradley."
Margaret shook a reproachful finger at Rina.
"Mr. Bradley, if you please."
Rina laughed. "Of course. Just this one, Mr. Bradley."
Margaret put her arm around Rina's waist.
They both laughed as the tiny blue sparks crackled from Rina's gown.
Margaret felt her legs tremble as the warmth from Rina's breasts came through the gown.
Holding the young girl firmly, she led her into the dance.
They spun furiously in a circle as the music reached a crescendo, then abruptly halted.
Rina looked up into her face.
Margaret smiled at her. "We'd better have some more champagne." She poured Rina a glass and picked up her own. "You're a very good dancer, Rina."
"Thank you. You lead better than any of the boys that ever came to the school dances.
You do everything so well."
Rina swayed slightly. "The dancing made me dizzy."
"Perhaps you'd better lie down on your bed for a moment."
Rina shook her head. "And break up our party?" "Lie down for a minute. You won't break up the party. I'll come and sit on the bed." "O.K.," Rina said. She walked over to the bed and put her glass on the night table, then stretched out on the white sheet. Margaret sat down beside her.
"Feel better?"
"The room is still spinning," Rina said.
Margaret bent over her and stroked her forehead lightly.
"Close your eyes for a moment."
Obediently Rina closed her eyes.
They were silent for a moment while Margaret continued to stroke her forehead.
"That's better," Rina said softly. "The spinning has gone."
Margaret didn't answer, but kept stroking her head lightly.
Rina opened her eyes and looked at her.
Margaret reached for her glass. "A little more champagne?"
Rina nodded. She sipped and handed it back to Margaret, who smiled at her, then put the glass down.
"I'm glad we're going to Europe together," Rina said suddenly. "I've never really had a close girl friend before.
The girls at school always seemed such ninnies to me. Always talking about boys."
"They're nothing but silly children, most of them," Margaret said.
"That's why I liked you the moment you came into my room that night.
I knew you were different, more mature."
"Ever since Laddie died, I couldn't stand boys," Rina said.
"Laddie?"
"My brother," Rina explained. "He and my father are the only two men that I ever really liked."
"He must have been very nice," Margaret said.