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She placed her left hand on his shoulder and let him clasp her right hand. His other arm slipped about her waist with a strong, sure touch that made her suspect Count Nikolai was an accomplished dancer.

Two bars into the music, her suspicions proved correct. He guided her deftly about the floor, neatly avoiding the other couples, and then whirled her into a series of spins that made her red cloak billow out behind her.

She laughed, she could not help it, and he sent her a reluctant half-smile in return. Eliana had the impression he was not one to smile easily, and decided that would be her goal for the evening. After all, they were at the Midwinter Masque, and despite the debacle last year, it was supposed to be a cheery event.

“You are very light on your feet, Mademoiselle Red,” he said.

“And you are quite skilled yourself, my lord.”

“Pruss—that is, we Russians are taught the same social graces as other European nobility.” He stiffened slightly.

“Take no offense, please. I meant no slight upon your nationality.”

He deftly pushed her out into a spin. When she was back in his arms, he lowered his voice.

“That might be, but I hear you English have been rude to a certain visiting prince, calling him unkind names.”

Eliana studied him, trying to read the features behind the mask. Was he truly offended?

“That has nothing to do with the fact he’s a foreigner,” she said, “and everything to do with his behavior. We call him the Ice Prince because he has a heart impervious to kindness or love.”

“He sounds a most unpleasant fellow.” The wolf mask rose as Count Nikolai scanned the crowd. “Is the prince here? Point him out to me, so I might avoid him.”

“Luckily, he has been taken ill and is not in attendance this evening.” She could not help the edge in her voice.

The count looked down at her once more. “What did he do, to make you dislike him so?”

“Last year, at this very ball, he made a fool of my dear friend Lady Peony. He was supposed to propose to her, and instead they exchanged words and he departed, leaving her standing alone in the middle of the dance floor. The next day she received a note that their courtship was at an end.”

“How unfortunate.” The count’s lips pressed into a rigid line. “Perhaps this prince of yours did not know he was supposed to propose that evening.”

“Not know?” She blinked up at him. “He’d been courting Lady Peony for weeks. Everyone knew the prince was going to ask her to marry him very soon.”

“Did they?” There was something dangerous in the count’s voice.

“Don’t side with him, just because you are both foreigners,” she said. “And there’s no need to turn rabid, either. If a gentleman courts a lady and makes certain promises, he ought to stand by his words, and not leave her to be the laughing stock of theton.”

His jaw clenched, but he bent his head in assent. “You are correct, of course. You seem a very good friend to the young lady in question.”

“Friendship is important. Our connections with other people help make us better, in turn.” It was one of the simple truths of her world, though she realized she’d never spoken it aloud.

“I know little of that.” There was something stricken in his eyes.

“My lord—”

He stopped her by whirling them into a series of turns, but her heart ached at the loneliness she’d glimpsed in his expression.

When they returned to a more sedate pace, she caught her breath and vowed to steer their conversation onto safer ground.

“How long will you be in London? Will you be able to enjoy some of our English holiday traditions?” She was half tempted to invite him to come caroling.

“I fear I must depart tomorrow.” There was something forbidding in his tone that kept her from asking further questions. They had already clashed once—and that was one too many times for what was supposed to be a happy evening.

“A pity you can’t stay longer.” She meant the words, a bit to her own surprise.

There was something about Count Nikolai that made her wish they could become better acquainted. He intrigued her, and it was refreshing to speak with a gentleman who was not afraid to disagree with her.

As the waltz came to a close, she cast about for a reason to remain in his company. It certainly was more interesting than making jokes with her companions about the various masks and costumes on display. Not to mention her private crusade to make him smile more.