Page 22 (1/2)

The next afternoon, Mrs Thornfield approached Analisa in the parlor "I&039;ve found a girl who I think ht suit as your maid," the housekeeper said "Would you care to h a newfrom her mind

Mo woray dress into the parlor She had brown hair tucked under a lace-trihtly crooked

The girl raceful curtsey "Good afternoon, miss"

"Good afternoon" Analisa looked at Mrs Thornfield, wondering as expected of her She had never hired help before

Mrs Thornfield sly "This is Frannie Smythe She&039;s ten and seven, and was recently e were you employed by Lady Heywood?"

"Five months"

"Why did you leave her?" Analisa asked

Frannie clasped her hands together "I was let go I could never please her"

Analisa nodded She had met Lady Heywood at the ball she had attended with Alesandro and had had the misfortune to sit beside the lady for a fewThe room was too hot The music was too loud The as too bitter

"I think you&039;ll do fine," Analisa decided "How soon can you start?"

"As soon as you wish," Frannie replied with an eager sht now, if you like"

Analisa returned her smile "That would be wonderful I&039;ht Please attend me at seven Mrs Thornfield will show you to your roo, followed the housekeeper fro table while Frannie brushed her hair The girl had a nice, gentle touch

She had helped Analisa into her costume, and seemed competent if a little nervous, but that was to be expected Analisa thought they would get on well together once they got to know each other

When Analisa&039;s hair glea, Analisa studied her reflection in the full-lengthwhat Alesandro would think

"Thank you, Frannie, that will be all"

"Shall I wait up for you, miss?"

"No, that won&039;t be necessary"

"Very well,a curtsey, the lance at her reflection, Analisa went downstairs, wondering if Alesandro had arrived

He paced the parlor floor, wondering hoould get though the night to co Analisa dance with one man after another This was the last time he would play the role of chaperone In the future, Mrs Thornfield could acco her presence, his body tightening as he waited

She appeared at the head of the staircase, a faint s her lips as she moved toward hirinned inwardly as his gaze moved over her costume Apparently she had taken his words to heart It was no siren co down the stairs Quite the opposite She was clothed as an angel in a long white gown that floated around her like a cloud A golden halo sat atop her thickblack hair Lacy wings fluttered with each movement she made

She paused at the bottom of the stairs and struck a pose "Do you approve, ion of his heart Since his decision that she should make the acquaintance of other men, she rarely called him by name

"It was to be a masquerade," he said "And yet we have both chosen costuaze took in his costume "Are you a devil, then, el?"

She took her cloak from the hall tree where Frannie had left it for her "It doesn&039;t matter what I think," she answered as he took her cloak from her hand and placed it over her shoulders "Is that how you see yourself?"

"A devil is the nicest thing I ao?"

The horeen expanse of carefully manicured lawn Gaily colored lanterns lined the broad, winding road to the house Lights glowed in every ; the strains of a waltz floated on the night air

Analisa felt a flutter of excitement as she tied her e She had been a stranger at the last function she had at-tended; here, she would be welcomed as a friend of the host

Alesandro offered her his arm and they entered the house A maid took Analisa&039;s cloak The house was filled with s and queens, a horse danced with a ballerina, Cleopatra danced with Cupid, Hercules stood in a corner, whispering in the ear of a plu on the arne with a Cossack

The ballrooht Benches covered in rich red velvet lined the dance floor Musicians stood on a dais at the far end of the roouests, offering chane and sweetmeats

Analisa looked up at Alesandro "Will you dance, my lord?"

With a nod, he swept her into his arel, hea piece of heaven in his arht shimmered in the wealth of her hair He had fed earlier, but her nearness stirred his hunger even as it stirred his desire Tientle curve of her throat, to the pulse beating there Each beat of her heart called to hier as she did No other filled his heart with such aching tenderness, his soul with such peace Analisa

She looked up at hih he had spoken her na her lips

"I love dancing with you," she murmured

"And I with you," he replied, and then scowled as he glanced over her shoulder

"You look troubled,Geoffrey couised jealousy in his voice pleased her beyondher wonder if he had stopped caring for her But the look in his eye, the jealousy in his voice, proved otherwise Perhaps she would tweak his possessiveness just a bit

She smiled at Mr Starke as he cut in

With a curt bow, Alesandro surrendered her to the other lad you were able to make it," Geoffrey said as he took her in his arms

"Thank you Your home is lovely"

He nodded "I can&039;t take credit for it My lateit"

"She had excellent taste"

"Indeed" He smiled at her, his eyes filled with admiration "Your costuht up a lock of her hair, let it run through his fingers "I&039;uess I should have worn a wig"

He shook his head "It would be a sin indeed to cover such beauty"

"You are too kind, Mr Starke"

"Geoffrey," he said "I would be pleased if you would call iven name"

"Perhaps," she said, "when I know you better"

He laughed softly "An occasion I shall look forward to"

The next hour passed swiftly, and not the way she had planned She had hoped to ht in her own trap, watching in silent fury as he dancedwith one wo the the him, she paid little attention to her partners, hardly aware of who they were or what they said

And then, to her diso in search of hiht appeared before her A silver helauntlets on his hands

"May I have this dance?"

She started to refuse and then thought better of it If Alesandro didn&039;t want her, then she didn&039;t want hiht, let herself be led onto the dance floor once again

For a moment, they danced in silence, which suited Analisa quite well She couldn&039;t stop thinking about Alesandro, couldn&039;t help wondering if he had gone in search of some private corner where he could be alone with his last partner

"Your thoughts are far away"

The knight&039;s words brought her back to the present She looked into his eyes, pale gray eyes barely visible through the slit in his helmet - and felt a chill slide down her spine She had never seen such empty eyes, almost as if there were no soul behind theht&039;s hold on her tightened A knowing smile played across his face "Not yet, my pretty one" His voice was a low rasp, filled with carefully controlled rage and subtle aze Looking into his eyes was like looking into the face of death "What do you ith hed It was a cold, bitter sound, like dry leaves rattling over a grave "Can&039;t you guess?"

"Rodrigo!"

He inclined his head "At your service, roith each passing moment "You killed Sally," she said, surprised to find that her anger was stronger than her fear "Why? Why? She&039;d done nothing to you"