Her lids dropped. He lowered his head and laid his lips gently on hers. It was

a kiss straight out of a dream. Her innocent mouth felt like heaven. Her lips yielded softly, but he applied no pressure, just lingered against her mouth for a

long moment. When he lifted his head, she opened her eyes.

“Was that nice?” he asked.

“Yes, very,” she breathed, her voice suffused with pleasure.

“Would you like another?”

“Yes.”

His mouth brushed hers again. He released her lips, keeping his arms around

her and sharing the warmth of his body. “Please let me talk to your father,” he

urged. “It's for the best. I think we're going to be seen together often. Wouldn't it be better for him to be consulted right from the first? We have nothing to hide.

You're eligible. I'm eligible. I want to be your suitor, see if whatever this is between us stays powerful over time. Don't you want to, Katerina?”

Passion shattered in her eyes, revealing terror that streamed from her like a

torrent. “I do. Believe me, I feel it too. I just… You mustn't try to talk to him. It would be terrible. Promise me.” Suddenly she sounded panicky, nearly

hysterical. “Promise, Christopher. Don't seek him out. Don't ask him to be my suitor. You can't imagine… no. You mustn't!” She wrenched herself out of his grip and fled into the house. A moment later, before he could even gather his wits, she appeared outside. Summoning a carriage, she disappeared into the night.

Startled, Christopher left the icy balcony and stepped into the welcome

shelter of the house. From the music room, he could still hear the sounds of the

bored contralto, the lively harpsichord, the passionless flute. The whole

conversation had taken less than half an hour.

Still wondering what the hell had just happened, he slowly descended the

stairs and summoned a hansom for himself, this one pulled by a shining black horse that pranced uncomfortably in the chilly air.

Instead of going to his bachelor apartment at the hotel, however, he headed

to his parents' home. As the vehicle clattered through the slippery street, he relived the conversation and the kisses he had shared with Katerina.

Perhaps she became panicked because she allowed the liberty at our second

meeting. It's very fast to be talking of suitors, and I certainly won't ask for herhand. Not yet. We've barely met, and I plan to take my time wooing her. As for

that kiss, it was an impulsive move, and too soon, but she was so sweet, so eager.

Now I know one thing for certain. Katerina, despite her shyness, has passionhidden inside her, and that's an excellent quality for… someday.

He arrived at the home where he had spent his childhood. For all their

wealth, the Bennetts lived modestly, in a middle-class neighborhood in a

comfortable, spacious home, which was in good repair, but in no way resembled

the showy mansions in Mayfair.

He walked up to the front door and knocked.

An elderly servant answered. He was far too old to work, but Christopher's

tender-hearted mother hadn't been willing to dismiss him. “Good evening, sir,”

he said in a quavering voice.

“Good evening, Tibbins,” Christopher replied. “Are you well?”

“As well as can be expected,” he answered. “The cold, you know? My knees

dislike it.”

“I'm sorry to hear it,” Christopher said indulgently. “Is my mother in?”

“Yes. I believe she's in the parlor,” the servant said. He took a step in that direction and then groaned as the tortured joint gave off a noisy pop.

“No need to show me the way,” Christopher insisted. “Have a good evening.

Rest your knees.”

“Yes, sir.”

Christopher hurried to the parlor, where, sure enough, his mother had curled

up on a scarlet velvet settee near the fire, reading a novel. She looked up at the

sound of his approach. “Hello, my love,” she greeted him. “Out on such a cold

evening?”

“Yes, Mother.” He got straight to the point. “What's wrong with Katerina?”

She raised her eyebrows when he said her first name. “So, you've moved to

that level already, have you?”

“Yes,” he replied, crouching to meet Julia's eyes. “She asked me to be her friend.”