Waltz With a Stranger by Pamela Sherwood Read Free Book Online Page B

and so much had changed for both of them. Perhaps she’d left the memory of that night behind, along with her past unhappiness, to emerge from her chrysalis newly and joyously transformed.
    And her transformation was indeed remarkable to behold. The new clothes helped. She’d been well-dressed last year too, but the gown she wore tonight fit her better, or perhaps it was merely that she had put on some weight and no longer seemed painfully thin.
    She wore her hair differently too; the waving fringe across her brow and the wispy curls at her temples partly concealed her scar, though he could still detect its tracery upon her cheek, softened by the electrical light. But the skin of her throat and shoulders gleamed with the same pearly translucence as Amy’s, promised the same warmth and satiny smoothness…
    Good God! Startled by the turn his thoughts had taken, James forced them back to the woman sitting beside him: Amy, his lovely fiancée. He wondered uneasily if other men courting twin sisters experienced this sort of momentary confusion.
    The overture ended, and Amy leaned forward, her lips parting slightly in anticipation. Catching the drift of her scent, James let it anchor him to her side and the present moment, as the gold curtains opened on a scene in Venice.
    ***
    Rather to her surprise, Aurelia discovered it was possible to close off a part of her mind and focus on the spectacle before her: the colorful bands of gondoliers and contadine, the lavishly painted sets and backdrops, and the soaring voices of the principal singers.
    As the curtain descended at the interval, Amy turned to her with sparkling eyes. “Isn’t this wonderful, Relia? I think I like it as much as The Mikado , and far more than The Yeomen of the Guard !”
    Aurelia nodded agreement. “ The Yeomen of the Guard was too sad for me. I hated how Jack Point ended up heartbroken and alone—” She broke off, flushing, at the vehemence that had crept into her tone.
    Fortunately, no one else seemed to have noticed. Shaking out her skirts, Amy rose from her chair. “Goodness, I’m stiff! Trevenan, might we take a turn about the foyer?”
    “Of course, my dear. Ladies,” he addressed the other inhabitants of the box, “may I escort you there, or would you prefer to remain here during the interval?”
    “You’ll come, won’t you, Relia?” Amy entreated.
    The last thing Aurelia wanted was to play gooseberry between her twin and Lord Trevenan, but how could she possibly explain that to Amy?
    “Why don’t we all go?” Aunt Caroline suggested, and that settled that.
    Gentlemen in evening dress and ladies in silks and jewels crowded the foyer, talking animatedly amongst themselves. Staying close to her mother’s side, Aurelia caught snatches of conversation as they passed, some pertaining to tonight’s performance, others to subjects completely unrelated; the London Season was in full swing, after all. Various people nodded in passing or stopped to exchange brief pleasantries. To Aurelia’s surprise, several welcomed her back to London with every indication of sincerity, as well as complimenting her on her improved appearance. She smiled and thanked them, bemused that anyone remembered her when she’d done her best to avoid Society whenever possible last year.
    “Amy, dear.” Aunt Caroline’s voice, low-pitched but holding a note of urgency, broke into Aurelia’s musings. Startled, she glanced at her twin and saw her stiffen visibly.
    Two more people were strolling toward them in a manner too deliberate to be accidental: Viscount Glyndon and a young lady, gowned in the height of fashion. Could this be Lady Louisa Savernake? She certainly carried herself like a person of consequence. Indeed, there was an air of the triumphal procession about them both, though the lady looked noticeably more pleased than her companion. “Smug” might be a better word, Aurelia thought.
    Pausing before them, Lady Louisa gushed a greeting. “Why, Lady