SHE DANCED ALONE IN THE EMPTY BALLROOM AFTER MIDNIGHT-UNAWARE THE DUKE WAS WATCHING

had just taken lines. He watched her lower her head a small, polite fraction as if a partner had just bowed to her, stepping and turning again.

The candle wax burned his thumb at last, but he did not flinch. He shifted the candle to his other hand and kept watching.

She reached the end of the dance she was hearing and stopped in the middle of the floor.continue reading …