play other instruments besides pianoforte?”

“Harpsichord. I'm afraid I'm useless on the organ. Those foot pedals defeat me.” A hint of a smile teased the corners of her mouth.

Christopher considered what playing the organ must be like. “No doubt. If I'm honest, I have to admit that despite years of lessons, I've never even managed the pianoforte. Do you also sing?”

“I sing well enough.”

Now there's the expected response. “Alto?” he pressed, not ready to abandon

such a promising topic.

“Soprano.”

Their progress had led them to the open balcony door and a waft of welcome

coolness washed over the couple. “Hmmm. I would like to hear that as well.”

“Why?” she asked, tilting her head and regarding him with confusion.

“You're Italian, and you're a soprano. Sounds like opera to me,” he teased.

She grinned. “Nothing like that, I assure you.”

At the sight of her shy smile, Christopher became even more entranced. She's

more than lovely. She's… glorious. Between one heartbeat and the next, the vague thought of finding an opportunity to meet her again crystallized into a firm intention. I'm far from finished with getting to know Miss Valentino. He sighed internally. Mother was right.

The conversation died, and they continued to dance in silence, but not the

uncomfortable kind of silence that speaks of a desire to get away from each other. Instead, they engaged in a wordless exchange of attraction.

Christopher studied the details of his dance partner… the curve of her ear, the smooth line of her jaw, the slender column of her throat, the softness of her

shoulder where it disappeared into her gleaming white dress, the dip of the bodice where it created the tiniest hint of cleavage. He could see her bosom was

small, but on her slender frame, it only looked proportional. In fact, she was rather more than slender, almost emaciated. Her body felt fragile in his arms. A

surge of protectiveness welled up, and he squashed it down. It won't do to become enamored so quickly.

She shifted her fingers in his grip. The hand in his captured his attention; dainty, but strong, with long, slender fingers; the hand of a keyboard player.

What would it be like to have those lovely hands caress my body?

Christopher shook himself. What's wrong with you? This is no time for lewd

speculations. Forcing his mind into safer territory, he savored his dance with his unexpected companion.

The music ground to a halt with a long trill on the out-of-tune violin.

Katerina winced.

“Thank you, my dear, for dancing with me,” he said as he took her arm in his

and led her back to his mother. “May I claim another, later this evening?”

She looked at him, startled.

“Oh, is your card full?” he asked.

“Heavens, no,” she replied, as though the answer were obvious. “Don't you

think you've fulfilled your duty to your mother?”

“Yes,” he agreed easily. “She asked me to meet you. I did. Wanting to dance

with you again has nothing to do with her.”

Katerina blinked. “Are you… joking?”

“Not at all,” he assured her. “Will you consider it, Miss Valentino?”

“I will,” she replied.

“Consider it?” he pressed.

“Dance with you.” Her cheeks flamed, but she met his eyes steadily.

He smiled at her. “By any chance, do you have the supper dance free?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes, if that's what you want.”

“It is,” he said, allowing a hint of intensity to filter into his voice. “Shall we

plan on it?”

“Yes.” Her smile turned shy and she looked away.

He accepted the retreat with easy confidence. She doesn't trust me yet, but I'll show her she can. “All right then, here's my mother, and I shall be back to claim you later.” He kissed her hand again and headed out of the room.

The crowd thinned in the hallway, dropping the temperature significantly.

Christopher sighed in relief. His eveningwear felt uncomfortably hot, and his sudden arousal further intensified the sweaty closeness.

“Blast,” he muttered. The last thing he wanted was to be struck by a mad attraction. On the other hand, not exploring this feeling would be much more foolish. Miss Valentino is delightful, and I want to know her. I will know her.

There really is no help for it.