Page 50 (1/2)

"Miss Shaw," he said, bea at her "You look like a dream"

"I feel like Holiday Barbie," she h "But thank you" She noticed the white feathers eth of one of his sleeves to"Are you the Swan Prince?"

"You are very perceptive" He offered her his arging about how lovely the neighborhood is; you will be proof of it"

Jelanced over at herinto the roouests

"I don’t see anyone I know," she said as she took his arave her a ratherelse, my lady"

Jaus was the perfect host, and made the rounds of the room with ease Jema found his friends to be very polite, if somewhat formal, and noticed that, like the man who had spoken to her outside, most had accents similar to Valentin’s

"Are most of your friends fro a tall, fair-haired rand orchestra of the past The co to her

"They are from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland," he said "A few roup, I fear, Miss Shaw"

"I love their costu theowns to date to a specific time period "You know, if you sent everyone in this rooht at hoave her a worried look "Why do you say that?"

"Just look at theuests "Don’t you think they look like one of those ht to life?"

He chuckled "I fear we are an old-fashioned group as well"

"Very polite, too" Jele crumb on the beautiful buffet table or filled a flute at the enorne fountain set up in the center of the room

Jaus noticed her interest and asked if she wished some refreshments, but Jema felt too self-conscious to eat or drink when no one else was "I really don’t drink h an open doorway into a ballroom "I don’t tolerate alcohol too well"

"Nor do I," Jaus said "I doout to taste the first neines of the year It is a tradition in my homeland to do so"

Guests stood on either side, but no one was dancing yet There were soin the wall sconces and the three crystal chandeliers that Jeined she could feel the heat of them on her face

"I hope your smoke alarms aren’t too sensitive," Jema said

Jaus lifted a hand, and a s up their instruments He turned and bowed to her "Would you honor ht, my lady?"

He wanted to dance with her? First? "Oh" She looked down at his boots, which had a glassy polish to them "You don’t have sensitive toes, do you? I haven’t danced in years"

Instead of replying, he led her out onto the floor and, as a waltz began to play, took her in his arms

"Mr Jaus," she whispered as he "

"They are shy," he whispered back "We will show them how it is done, ja?"

Jaus proved to be a wonderful dancer, and whirled Jerew breathless frohed at herself when she ed not to step on his boots By thethem, and she didn’t feel quite so on display