found its conclusion, and the musician let her fingers fall from the keys.

Complete silence enveloped the room, and even the fire seemed to refrain from

crackling, giving the performance a well-deserved ovation.

Though she could feel the eyes on her back like a physical touch, Katerina didn't

turn. She sat still on the bench, breathing slowly as spots floated in front of her

eyes. I shouldn't have come. This was a mistake.

After an eternity that probably lasted five seconds, thunderous applause

distracted her from her misery.

“Bravo!” the drunk howled. “Amazing.”

“Play another,” the pouting girl urged.

“Miss Valentino,” Cary called, “do you know the Sonata Pathetique?”

“I do,” she said. “May I?” Please say yes. I need this more than ever.

“Oh, yes,” several voices from around the room urged.

She nodded. Giving the group several seconds to fall silent, she drew inside

herself. This piece had proved challenging to her, and she had learned it more recently. It would require a different level of concentration.

She positioned her fingers above the keys and brought them down hard, so the opening chords crashed like thunder. She felt rather than saw several guests

jump. The dramatic chords gave way to a rapid run of notes, and then back to chords. Alternating between the two formed the theme of the piece, and for emphasis, she crashed the chords loudly but touched the scales with gentle fingers.

By the end of the second piece, Katerina had completely won over the

crowd, and they called for more. She switched from Beethoven to Chopin, and

then other composers. By concentrating entirely on her playing, she was able to

hold off her impending faint.

Go away, black spots, she willed. While it's not unusual for young ladies to pass out when laced tightly, the loosening of my corset will reveal more than an imperfect waistline. No one can know. I have to remain conscious.

“Dinner,” a Cockney-voiced woman called from the doorway.

The rustling of fabric accompanied the sound of several booted feet making

their way toward the door. Katerina drew in another breath, hoping to calm herself, but her bruised side compressed against her corset, and her vision blurred. Her breath caught in a pained gasp.

Unable to rise from the bench, and in excruciating pain, Katerina waited

another moment, hoping for the spasm of agony to pass. A warm hand closed on

her bare arm, just above the elbow.

“What's wrong, love?” Christopher asked, “and don't say it's nothing. I can see you're hurting.”

“I'm fine,” she replied, but the choked sound of her voice gave away the lie.

“No, you're not,” he replied. “Can you get up?”

She shook her head.

Christopher slid his fingers down her arm to her hand, taking hold of it

gently. She tried to use him as leverage, but it wasn't enough. Her back had stiffened and resisted movement. He sighed and placed both his hands on her waist, lifting her to a standing position. She walked awkwardly out from behind

the bench and swayed.

Christopher gripped her waist tighter, preventing her from falling. Standing face to face, she looked up into gray eyes filled with concern.

“What happened?” he asked tenderly, stroking a bead of sweat away from

her forehead.

“Please, I don't want to talk about it,” she begged.

“I'm sure you don't, but I'm afraid I must insist. Did he beat you?” he demanded, his voice dark.

Oh, Lord, he knows. She looked away. Tears stung the corners of her eyes and one escaped. Still supporting her with one arm around her waist, Christopher

used his free hand to brush away the drop “Why?”

She had to think for several seconds before she could formulate a coherent answer to his question. “He heard a rumor. He often has friends over, though he

rarely goes out himself. They tell him things.”

“A rumor about what?” Christopher asked.

Tonight, he won't be satisfied with partial answers, it seems. “That I was seen with a man.”

“Me?” Guilt twisted Christopher's face.

“Unless it was a lie, there is no other possibility,” she replied with brutal honesty.

She watched his throat bob as he swallowed. “How badly are you injured?”

She shook her head. “It's bad.”