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Without preamble, she grabbed him by the hand and quickly pulled him behind the blind. Startled, the musicians began to rise, but she motioned them back down, addressing them in an authoritative tone. “Mes amies, préparez à jouer la valse maintenant!”
Delighted, they immediately began shifting the pages of their set.
Lord Ludley, who happened to be standing nearby, bustled over. “Melly, it’s too early!” he hissed. “What are you about? Where is Stanton?”
Mélisande turned to him with a careless laugh. “Change of plans, Luddy, darling. I’ve a new partner! Be a gem and announce it, won’t you?”
“But—” His eyes fell on Gravina, and his panicked expression evaporated. Smiling, he scuttled back around the blind. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he addressed the milling throng, “I’ve prepared for your entertainment tonight the special exhibition of a new dance...”
Behind the screen, Mélisande faced Alessandro. Giving him a siren’s smile, she took his arm.
They walked out from behind the screen and moved to the center of the floor, ignoring the murmurs and gasps that followed.
Upon seeing them take positions, Ludley hastily wrapped up his speech and frantically motioned for the musicians to begin.
As the opening strains commenced, Alessandro tugged his partner’s hand sharply and pulled her close, wrapping his other hand snugly about her waist, acutely aware of its lack of a corset.
The tempo increased and the pair began to move in unison. Beginning with small steps, they swayed back and forth; then the music swelled and the world disappeared.
Mélisande’s long legs matched him step for step as they began to spin and glide in widening circles, never stumbling, never hesitating. He was sure and confident in his movements, a skilled dancer. Apparently pleased, she allowed a bit more give in her waist, encouraging him with her body. When he did not immediately respond, she eyed him askance, raising a brow as if to taunt, Is this the best you can do?
He answered her with a satyr’s grin, pulling her closer on the next turn and pressing his hand hard against her pliant waist.
The pair took flight. Across the ballroom they soared in great, sweeping arcs that seemed impossible without the benefit of wings. Mélisande laughed aloud with unrestrained delight. Held securely in his embrace, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back.
When she looked back at him, her eyes blazed like living jewels full of joy and desire. In that moment, Alessandro knew he’d lost his soul.
“Outrageous!” Mélisande heard one old matron gasp as they passed by.
“That dance belongs between the sheets, as does that vixen!” another gentleman commented more appreciatively, earning a few chuckles of agreement from his cohorts.
“The impropriety!” trumpeted another woman. “I should disown her at once were she my daughter!”
“Shocking! No wonder Pelham wouldn’t marry her—she’s too brazen even for him!”
One after another, onlookers offered up their vicious observations.
As the pair continued to dance, however, the exclamations of disapproval were slowly overwhelmed (for the most part) by murmurs of admiration from among the younger set.
The waltz ended, and they glided to a halt, inches apart.
Mélisande was oblivious to all save the want consuming her. Her partner’s hot, black gaze held her, telling her of his matching desire. So wrapped up in each other were they that the wild applause and excited babble of their audience didn’t even register until they were completely surrounded.
Alessandro released his hold on her waist but kept hold of her hand, concealing the connection in the folds of his coat skirts as they stood close amid the press of bodies.
Ludley, appearing much relieved to see the majority of his guests congratulating the pair rather than running them out of his ballroom in disgrace, wriggled through, parting the waves of the crush like a charging walrus. “Magnificent!” he bellowed. “Melly, my dear, when you first suggested it, I’d my doubts, but you’ve certainly proven me wrong!” He frowned. “Of course it’ll probably be banned; but nevertheless, I’m sure it’ll be all the rage in a few years’ time. Forbidden fruit and all that, you know.”
Mélisande’s blood hammered in her ears, pulsing through her awakened body, threatening to incinerate her. After an interminable few moments spent receiving compliments and automatically answering countless inquiries regarding her dancing instructor, she’d had enough.
“Oh dear, I’m afraid I feel a bit unwell,” she said quite clearly, squeezing Alessandro’s hand hard before letting go. Feigning weakness, she leaned on his arm as if in need of support and opened her fan to cool her glowing cheeks.
Taking her hint, Alessandro played along. “Come, my lady, and let us take the air outside. It’ll be cooler.” Pressing forward with polite apologies, he forged a path through their admirers. When they finally made it to the terrace doors, he flipped a coin to the attendant.
The young man caught it deftly and shut the door behind them, standing before it to prevent anyone else from immediately following.
It was only a brief delay, but it was all they needed. The second they were outside in the blessedly cool night, Mélisande dropped all pretense of weakness and grabbed his hand. Immediately, she yanked him hard to the right, forcing him to keep up as she broke into a run. Keeping close to the wall, she led him around the corner instead of toward the stairs.
The balcony here appeared to wrap around the building for a short distance and then simply end in a wall. Knowing better, Mélisande continued to lead him along to the end and then suddenly darted to the side—directly into the wall. For an instant, Alessandro resisted and tried to pull her away in the opposite direction, but then he, too, was pulled into the gap.
