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you, Pen. I love you with all my fickle heart, so I do."
    He grinned roguishly, as though expecting to make her laugh.
    "Is this the first time?"
    she demanded.
    His expression was a burlesque of shame.
    "Stupid question/ she muttered, contempt adding itself to the anger.
    "You know what it's like for me, Pen,"
    he said mournfully.
    "I can't be controlling me hormones now. But it's you who makes me life worth living. It's you who gives me'
    "Save it, Declan,"
    she snapped.
    "I'm getting myself tested - and providing I'm not harbouring some killer disease, you'll never see me again."
    She was surprised by how much those words hurt, for she meant them and she loved him and she just didn't want any of this to be happening.
    "But, Penny, aren't we to be going to France together?"
    he asked plaintively.
    "In your dreams, Declan,"
    she cried.
    "Oh, now don't be saying things like that,"
    he protested. Tou know how I've always wanted to go to France."
    "Then go, Declan. Go, and take him with you."
    Realizing he was again being spoken about, Richmond jerked his head round, moving his gaze from the devastated portrait that now showed what he would look like if it really were possible to melt under the burning animosity in Penny's eyes.
    "You see, I just like sex,"
    Declan said, with his unique flair for non sequiturs.
    "Well, you'll be knowing that, but the best is always with you, so it is.
    Didn't I say that to you, Richmond: the best is always with Penny."
    "Some people are satisfied with the best,"
    Penny snapped as Richmond obediently nodded his head.
    "And to be sure I am,"
    Declan assured her.
    "But it's like, well, you know how it is, people come in different 32
    shapes and sizes and I like to be trying them all. But my heart belongs to you, Penny Moonshine. Everyone knows my heart belongs to you. But sometimes a man needs something else, so he does/
    The absurdity of the situation, a situation only someone like Declan could ever bring about, wasn't by any means passing Penny by, but her normally indomitable humour was blunted by the pain of knowing how much she was going to miss him.
    Til get myself tested/ she said sharply,
    "and I suggest you do the same. How many other women have you slept with? They should be told too."
    "Oh, now, listen to what you're saying, Penny,"
    he objected.
    "You're assuming the worst. I'll not be having AIDS, I promise you that. And the other women, now they won't be reacting the way you are, so they won't."
    Penny's heart twisted. So there were other women too. How ludicrously naive of her never to have suspected it before.
    "Nevertheless, I think you should inform them of your bisexuality, or at least get yourself tested to make sure you're clear,"
    she said.
    "If that's what you're wanting, then take it as done/ he said.
    "Just don't be walking out of my life."
    T'm sorry, Declan/ she said.
    "Penny! I'll never sleep with another man/ he cried, leaping to his feet as she started down the stairs.
    "I swear it, Penny. Let's go to France, put all this behind us and start over, why not?"
    Stopping, she turned back to look at him.
    "It's not just the men, Declan/ she said.
    "In fact, the strange part is if it weren't for AIDS I could almost forgive that - after all, they can offer you something I can't. But it's not something I can live with, Declan; nor can I with the other women."
    "Monogamy? That's it: you'll be wanting monogamy/ he said decisively, as though this aberration of the female psyche had never occurred to him before.
    "I can
    33
    give you monogamy."
    Islo, you can't/ she said.
    "I should have realized it before, but I suppose I just didn't want to."
    She smiled bleakly. We've had some good times together, Declan, some great times, but as of now I'm signing out of the harem."
    He waited until she reached the landing below, then in a voice that was imbued with gentleness he said,
    "Penny, if you're going it alone from here, if there's nothing I can say to change your mind, then you take