Page 32 (1/2)

Villiers had been leaning against the stone railing, but when Lisette and Roland began to sing, he joined her

For a few moments they just listened The lutes had a tremulous sound, as if notes were barely shaped before they slipped away "Who spoke to death?" Lisette sang, high and clear and beautiful "Let no one speak of death," Roland answered her His voice was a silky honey-smooth tenor that wove around hers "What should death do in such a ether

Eleanor took another sip of her anisette and leaned her head back Far above their heads the stars shone like silver buttons on a dandy’s waistcoat

"Beautiful, aren’t they?" she said to Villiers

"Pearls," he said laconically "Crushed to make stardust"

She turned to o elsewhere--" Lisette sang, and broke off at Roland’s iain Listen" He played the refrain again And again

"You look extreht," Villiers said suddenly

"Me?" Then she remembered that Anne had painted her beautiful and s the poor poetat her so coolly that she didn’t knohat he thought of Roland’s adht like to marry Roland instead of himself? She took another drink and the liqueur burned down her throat It sang to her of confidence and passion, of men ould never leave her

"I’d like to kiss Roland," she said, "before I make a final decision"

It was only when he made a small incredulous noise in the back of his throat that she realized she had been less than clear "Before I decide whether to marry him instead of you," she clarified

"You’ll decide on the basis of a kiss? His kiss?" A strand or two of Villiers’s hair had fallen fro near the curve of his jaw It wasn’t a poet’s jaw It was a harsh,to a man likely to issue decrees And feel that women should pay attention to his proclaain, so about love this tiether "He was my lord for the space of a moon"

"The space of a moon, my arse," Villiers said into her ear

Eleanor started She hadn’t realized he’dwhat they ave him a frown

"You’ll decide whether to rowl, and hung on the air

"I put a ring on his finger and brought hi, and Roland joined in: "I clothed him in hyacinth and fed him honey-berries"

Eleanor let her head fall back and examined the hyacinth-colored sky Villiers e of power She knew exactly what to do She turned her head, just slightly She didn’t even smile at him; she just allowed the invitation to be in her eyes

"Are you playing the siren with me?" he asked, his voice low, almost incredulous

"Only for the space of thetoward her His lips tasted of anisette, like spice and like ainstantly how delicious a kiss could be How the touch of lips could change the whole feeling of her body She leaned toward hi he wanted

And he took it