Kurt rose from his chair, displaying the good manners apparently still prevalent in Vienna, Laura registered. If Jeremy were here he would grin at Kurt’s being so polite to his sister.

While introducing them Laura thought humorously that something in the air did not bode well for the girl who had invited Kurt to lunch. Even attired as she was, Janis remained stunning. The two seemed unable to take their eyes off each other.

It would be some time before Laura realized that what she had witnessed that morning was love at first sight.

Chapter Seven

Howard’s first meeting with Karin had not rendered him momentarily dazed, nor caused his heart to thud, as was the case for Janis and Kurt. His relationship with the beautiful German girl had nevertheless deepened into something a good deal more than he might have wished, though he was still not sure if he loved her, or she him.

When he was with her the painful burden he carried was briefly eased. But how few those interludes had been, he reflected on yet another flight to Munich. And on this trip as on some of those preceding it, there was no certainty that when he arrived Karin would be there.

He had never failed to let her know when he was planning to visit Ben, but, even so, her involvement in her father’s business meant she might be required at the head office in Berlin, or to deal with a company crisis elsewhere.

They did not waste time discussing their work when they were together, but Howard’s impression was that much of Karin’s was that of a trouble-shooter, a function requiring the steeliness he found hard to relate to the warm femininity she displayed to him.

Since she had yet to suggest that he go with her to Berlin to meet her parents, he had not asked her to visit him in England. Are we biding our time, he asked himself, while a stewardess refilled his coffee cup. Or playing safe? Thankful for the little we have and scared to make a move forward from which there would be no going back?

What we’re doing, Howard mused, is living for the present with no thought for the future, lest it lead us to the conclusion that together we don’t have one. Meanwhile, three years have slipped by, during which, though Karin’s work doubtless took her to England frequently, she hasn’t bothered calling me because she had to fly back to Germany the same day. And the one time she did call from London where she was staying overnight, Howard was stocktaking at the store and unable to get away. Ours is that kind of affair and there’s nothing to be done about it, was Howard’s final thought as the announcement he sometimes heard echoing in his head resounded: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we shall shortly be arriving at Munich Airport.’