Silk and Shadows by Mary Jo Putney Page B

truant proper behavior at a London ball?"
    She whirled, her heart pounding from surprise even though Prince Peregrine's soft, accented voice was instantly recognizable. "It is acceptable to slip away for fresh air, but not to startle other guests out of their wits," she said severely. "You could give a cat lessons on silent stalking."
    "On the contrary, I once took stalking lessons from a cat." He smiled reminiscently. "A snow leopard, to be exact."
    Black-haired and dark-garbed, he belonged to the night, as intensely alive as he was irresistibly attractive. No, not irresistible; Sara was a woman grown, in control of her emotions. "Did you stalk the leopard, or did it stalk you?"
    "Both, in turn. At the end I could have killed it, but could not bear to. It was too beautiful." He chuckled. "Don't tell anyone I said that—I don't think noble savages are supposed to be so sentimental."
    Sara considered his remark. "You may be many things, but savage is not one of them. A savage knows nothing of the rules of civilization. You know them, I think, but do not always choose to follow them."
    "As usual, you are uncomfortably perceptive," he said after a moment. "But enough of seriousness. Will you dance with me?"
    "No, thank you." She looked down and smoothed a wrinkle from the lace trim of her low-cut bodice. "I do not dance."
    "Do not dance, or cannot dance?"
    "Do not," she said shortly. Then, fearing that she sounded rude, Sara glanced up and added, "I could probably manage most of the steps, but I prefer not to invite the pity of old friends who remember that I was once graceful."
    "In that case, you are a perfect partner for me," Peregrine said, his velvet voice coaxing. "I have had some instruction in European dancing, but have not yet dared my skills in public. Come, we can dance gracelessly together."
    Before she could protest, he drew her into waltz position, his right hand at the waist of her turquoise silk gown, his other hand clasping hers, a correct twelve inches between them. As they began moving to the music, she said with amused resignation, "I can't believe that there is anything you don't dare."
    "To dare is the last resort. I prefer arranging matters so that the outcome will not be in doubt."
    Though the prince did not dance with the unthinking ease of long practice, he had been well taught and his natural physical grace compensated for minor flaws in technique. Sara could not say the same for herself. Though she tried to relax, she was rigid and awkward, convinced that disaster was just a step away.
    Her fears were confirmed when she stumbled on a turn, her weak leg unequal to the sudden shift of weight. But instead of a humiliating fall, there was only a slight irregularity in their progress as the prince's strong clasp carried her through the moment of weakness. He smiled down at her. "Was that so bad?"
    Sara did not answer out loud, just tilted her head back and laughed. Now she relaxed, her body soft and pliant as she yielded to his lead. When Peregrine had taken her up on his horse, he had freed her of the fear of pain. Now he was freeing her again, this time of the fear of making a fool of herself. Why had she let pride prevent her from dancing? The risk of being thought clumsy was a small price to pay for this pleasure.
    As they swirled across the flagstones, he said teasingly, "I'm disappointed in you, Lady Sara. I expected gracelessness. Instead your dancing is the equal of any other lady here."
    "You were also flying false colors, Your Highness," she retorted, "for you could be giving lessons, not receiving them."
    "Not quite, but I thank you for the compliment."
    As they spun across the rectangles of light cast by the French windows, the sheer sensual pleasure of dancing filled Sara's being. In the months and years after her accident, she had done her best to detach her mind from her body as the only way to survive the endless pain. Now, in the joy of the waltz, her spirit and body were one again for the