Devilish Page 0,137

outside."

A painful shiver of delight spiking down her spine, she turned slowly. He was all in black, and she couldn't tell any details except that his mask was a black mirror of her own, so that his paler skin made a crescent moon amid total darkness.

"How did you know about my mask?" she asked.

"Am I not the omniscient eminence noire? "

"Is that what you are? The costume?"

"Not precisely. I'm lord of the night. Literally and figuratively. I even have stars." He raised his hands, and with astonished delight she saw that he wore a large, glittering jewel on every finger.

She thought of her own naked hands with regret, but before she could comment, he said, "Come, let us play the part of gods, and start the celebration."

He sounded light in spirit, and there were those rings. Could she hope? She went with him, dizzy with anticipation, frustrated by uncertainty, then surprised when he turned behind a secret panel and ran lightly up some dark stairs to where musicians sat.

At his command, the winds ended their faerie music and an introduction to the minuet began. He drew her down the gallery away from the musicians and their candles, then parted a dark cloth so she could see the moon straight on, and the clever containers that gave the star effect. It didn't steal the magic. As long as he was by her side, the magic could never end.

She could also see the dancers, as he'd implied, from a godlike eminence.

"It pleases you?" he asked.

She turned to him. "It pleases me."

So tempting to say more, but he was still a mystery to her, and she would not throw away this moment. Instead, she dared to slide an arm around his waist then turned back to watch the merrymakers down below, him warm by her side, his arm around her now.

She'd never experienced this before, this comfortable twinning in the peaceful, private dark, unthreatened for the moment by urgent problems.

But then, as the first dance came to an end, she realized something, and had to speak. "Could de Couriac be here?"

"No. All the guests have had to unmask for a moment as they entered, and Stringle - the man who captured you - is there to check."

"Didn't people object?"

"They were told it was for the safety of the king. That's him, by the way, in the Roman armor with the gilded helmet. And for this event, all other entrances are guarded. You are safe."

It was his safety that worried her, but she did not say so. Instead, knowing him safe, she returned to happy thoughts. "I could stay up here forever, here with you."

Dangerous thoughts. She wondered how he would react.

He held her a little closer. "Sometimes the gods are kind. I apologize for avoiding you today. We could have spent the day - "

"Don't. Don't put yourself always at my service."

But did he mean it was the last day? That he'd let her leave tomorrow?

He turned to her. "I am always at your service. Are you not at mine?"

Breath caught. Where was that leading? "Of course. But sometimes I need to be alone. I would grant you that freedom, too."

He raised her hand and kissed it, and at the look in his eyes, her heart burst into speed.

Surely that meant -

A trumpet blew.

Diana jumped with surprise and looked down to see that the Grecian temple was illuminated now, and the grassy sward held an adult and children sprawled around in sleep. They all wore wings. Cupids?

"What's happening?" she asked.

He was laughing, perhaps a little wildly. "My special surprise for you," he said unsteadily, "but come too soon. I must have lost track of time here with you, love."

"Love?" she said, but he had taken her hand and was hurrying her to the stairs.

She pulled back. "Stop. What were you going to say?"

He pulled her close and kissed her quickly. "It will keep. Come. You will enjoy this."

With a helpless laugh, Diana let him take her downstairs, back into the crowded ballroom, but once there, they were stuck. Everyone was pressing toward the temple, seeking the best view. Short of rude violence, they could not get close.

"You see," he said, and she still heard laughter, "efficiency exploded to pieces. You were supposed to be in pride of place." He moved backward instead, and swung her onto a gilded bench in a grotto. Then he leaped up beside her, and they had a wonderful view.

His lightness in movement and expression, the look in