Detective and mystery stories; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
She wasn't angry at Roger even then ... or with Lathrup. She put their
behavior down to a momentary infatuation brought on by Roger's five
Manhattans, and Lathrup's three Old Fashioneds, an infatuation which
would evaporate like dew in bright sunlight the instant the next dance
number began and she and Roger would get out on the floor together, and
she'd mold her body to his and he'd hold her more tightly than he'd
have dared to hold Lathrup, and their lips would come together at least
once in the course of the dance in a long and passionate kiss.
The lights were dim; no one would see. It would not cause a scandal.
It would be in bad taste and unacceptable on such a dance floor in the
presence of patrons who would never think of going so far, however much
they might want to do so, and if in a brighter light it might even have
brought a tap on the shoulder from an irate head waiter.
But she'd do it anyway ... she'd prove to Lathrup that she was a woman
who was not afraid to dance with her man like a hellion on a Village
cellar dance floor, like a real gone Beat nineteen years of age with
a rose pinned in her hair and an upthrust of breasts that could make
the most distinguished of midtown, gray-templed, capital-gains league
patrons feel as primitive as a Dawn Man.
There were swanky night clubs where it was winked at and took place all
the time, of course--the danse primeval. But this just didn't happen to
be that kind of night club. She'd make it that kind, however--for Roger
and herself alone. And if anyone saw or objected or tried to interfere
she'd really show them what a hellion she could be. If the protests
really angered her--she'd take off her clothes.
She suddenly realized that she'd allowed herself to become more drunk
that she'd ever imagine she could be. She'd had five Manhattans too,
and the last one she hadn't sipped. She downed it in a gulp, her eyes
on Roger's face.
Roger had apparently forgotten that there was more than one woman
seated at the table with him. And that woman wasn't herself. He was
looking at Lathrup now in a way that made her turn away with a half-sob
of shock. The pure animal flamed in his eyes. He was undressing her
with his eyes and she was smiling back at him, apparently not caring
in the least, giving him the kind of encouragement that could only be
characterized as lascivious, the look of a wanton lost to all shame.
Ladylike as well ... that was the most shocking, revolting,
unbelievable part of it.
Ruth Porges had an impulse to get up, lean across the table and slap
Lathrup's face.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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