Page 90 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

He was her friend and her lover. And neither of them had wanted more. She was going to treasure the memory of this evening for the rest of her life.

She glanced around the box. It was delightfully decorated with paintings of scenes from the tempest.

A waiter brought them champagne.

‘To my beautiful partner,’ Damian said, raising his glass.

For a moment her heart seemed to stop beating. Business partner, he meant. She blinked back the hot moisture that had welled in her eyes and sipped at the wine while the waiters delivered a salad and roast chicken among other dishes.

‘Thank you so much for doing this. How on earth did you manage to get them to open for just two people?’

He looked a little guilty. ‘The owner is indebted to me.’

‘Oh. Don’t tell me. You forgave his debt.’

‘I did. Not very businesslike of me, but worth every penny. Besides, who knew when he would be able to pay me back, if at all. I am pleased you like my surprise.’

‘It is wonderful.’

While they ate, a soprano joined the orchestra and sang a selection of songs from various operas.

‘Will you dance with me again?’ he asked when she finished her dessert, a delicious cheesecake.

‘I would love to.’ She would dance with him as many times as he wished, because after tonight she would likely never dance with him again. After the ball, she would find and leave for her seaside cottage and he would be travelling to the other side of the world.

This evening was like a fond farewell.

Her heart ached.

But how could she be sad when he had gone to so much trouble to give her such a wonderfully special gift? She gave him her brightest smile as he led her on to the dance floor.

They did not talk as they danced. The music and the movement of their bodies seemed to be the perfect conversation. A harmony of spirits.

She closed her eyes and sank into the pleasure of being held in his arms as if the world no longer existed.

Reality would return tomorrow, but tonight she would enjoy the dream.

A bell rang in the distance and it seemed to be some sort of signal because the orchestra ceased playing.

‘There are some sights you should see while you are here,’ he said, tucking her arm under his and matching her steps perfectly. He led her away from the pavilion and down one of the lantern-lit walks.

They strolled along the Grand Walk and when they turned into a narrower walk they discovered a beautiful waterfall in a bucolic country setting and lit by strategically placed lights. This was the famous cascade.

‘It really does look like water,’ she said in amazement, knowing full well it was a mechanical display. ‘And sounds like it, too. Oh, and the water wheel actually turns. How wonderful. How very clever.’

For a full ten minutes they watched as the water cascaded down into a pool and mechanical people, carriages and wagons crossed over a bridge.

She was so wrapped up in the spectacle that it was a while before she glanced up at Damian to see his reaction. He was looking at her with an odd expression on his face.

‘It is quite marvellous, isn’t it?’ she said.

He smiled. ‘Yes. Marvellous.’

Why did she have the feeling he wasn’t talking about the mechanical wonder before them?

The performance came to an end and curtains painted with a country scene closed over the tableau.

‘That was lovely,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’