Will’s hand . “ L et’s both try something on.”
“We’re up here for you, Julia.”
“Please. I t’ll be such fun .”
“I’ll wear t he jacket for now . The full ensemble on Mi d-summer’s Eve. ”
“D eal.” She scanned the attic for a place to ch ange. “Wait here a tick ,” she said, grabbing the pale blue gown and matching ballet-style slippers . Her heels clicked over the floorboards as she dodged behind another sheeted rack.
Wriggling out of the sundress, she kicked off the sandals and stood barefoot in her pink bra and panties. The vintage gown was fairly sheer against her skin , more so in the sunlight . “I could do with a petticoat . I f you t ake me out in this, I’ll be no better off than before .”
“ Underclothes are in one of these trunks . I’ll look.”
She heard him rummaging ar ound, the clank of keys and a lock being turned, then another.
“Just the thing, ” he said.
A sleeveless white chemise sailed over the divid e.
“Brilliant! ” Julia slid the old -fashioned slip over her head and pulled on the gown . The fit was perfect.
She tied the blue sash under her bust and smoothed the softly draped lengths of cloth. The low décolletage flattered her curves and felt deliciously feminine . If she were properly dressed for the time period her hair would be done up on her head, not in a loose pony tail, and she’d have on a corset and white stockings. As it was, her bra would have to do and her legs would remain bare . S he sli d her feet into the slippers, stepping out from the screen with a flourish .
Will had donned the elegant coat. Even paired with unlikely khakis, it looked divine on him. Julia held her breath as she crisscrossed the sunbeams to where he stood.
His eyes never left her. “You are radiantly lovely, Miss Morrow.”
“ And you are exquisitely handsome , sir.”
“Exquisite sounds rather gay, but thank you . I found something you mi ght like.” With an air of mystery, he guided her to a small table in a shadowed corner.
He blew the layer of dust from a n ornate wooden box inlaid with ivory and lifted the lid Inside were brass workings like the mechanism of a clock. He wound a small gold key in the back until it would wind no more, and released it . The wheels and cogs turned and w onderful m usic flowed forth , the beautiful strains of a Viennese waltz, The Blue Danube .
She clapped her hands . “A music box.”
He bowed. “May I have this dance , sweet Julia ?”
She gazed up into his velvet brown eyes, and he gazed back. She managed a nod and he drew her into his arms. Around the attic he waltzed with her secure in his lead. Everything fell away except this moment while the haunting melody played on, taking her back to that faintly remembered place. She didn’t even stumble, not once. It was as if some inner memory guided her in the steps, even though ball room dancing hadn’t been a part of her lessons.
The music picked up and he swung her around and around. He r dress swirled as he circled. W ith each turn , he was Will –– then Cole, Will –– then Cole , both men in rapid succession , separate and yet the same. Her heart pounded from far more than the whirling dance.
The music faded and Will slowly stopped revolving. They stood, his arms circled at her back and waist, eyes locked on each other.
His brow furrowed. “Julia, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
She ran the tip of her tongue over her lips . “Y ou may be the ghost.”
He tightened his mouth in an impatient line . “Don’t try to make me into Cole again .”
“Will, listen to me. I know it sounds crazy, but I think somehow you already are .”
Dropping his hands , he turned away . “Only because you insist I am.”
She grabbed his arm . “No. It ’s what I saw while we danced. You must believe me.”
“Believing doesn’t make it any easier,” he said flatly.
“Tha t’s because you think I’m misle d.”
He swiveled his head
“We’re up here for you, Julia.”
“Please. I t’ll be such fun .”
“I’ll wear t he jacket for now . The full ensemble on Mi d-summer’s Eve. ”
“D eal.” She scanned the attic for a place to ch ange. “Wait here a tick ,” she said, grabbing the pale blue gown and matching ballet-style slippers . Her heels clicked over the floorboards as she dodged behind another sheeted rack.
Wriggling out of the sundress, she kicked off the sandals and stood barefoot in her pink bra and panties. The vintage gown was fairly sheer against her skin , more so in the sunlight . “I could do with a petticoat . I f you t ake me out in this, I’ll be no better off than before .”
“ Underclothes are in one of these trunks . I’ll look.”
She heard him rummaging ar ound, the clank of keys and a lock being turned, then another.
“Just the thing, ” he said.
A sleeveless white chemise sailed over the divid e.
“Brilliant! ” Julia slid the old -fashioned slip over her head and pulled on the gown . The fit was perfect.
She tied the blue sash under her bust and smoothed the softly draped lengths of cloth. The low décolletage flattered her curves and felt deliciously feminine . If she were properly dressed for the time period her hair would be done up on her head, not in a loose pony tail, and she’d have on a corset and white stockings. As it was, her bra would have to do and her legs would remain bare . S he sli d her feet into the slippers, stepping out from the screen with a flourish .
Will had donned the elegant coat. Even paired with unlikely khakis, it looked divine on him. Julia held her breath as she crisscrossed the sunbeams to where he stood.
His eyes never left her. “You are radiantly lovely, Miss Morrow.”
“ And you are exquisitely handsome , sir.”
“Exquisite sounds rather gay, but thank you . I found something you mi ght like.” With an air of mystery, he guided her to a small table in a shadowed corner.
He blew the layer of dust from a n ornate wooden box inlaid with ivory and lifted the lid Inside were brass workings like the mechanism of a clock. He wound a small gold key in the back until it would wind no more, and released it . The wheels and cogs turned and w onderful m usic flowed forth , the beautiful strains of a Viennese waltz, The Blue Danube .
She clapped her hands . “A music box.”
He bowed. “May I have this dance , sweet Julia ?”
She gazed up into his velvet brown eyes, and he gazed back. She managed a nod and he drew her into his arms. Around the attic he waltzed with her secure in his lead. Everything fell away except this moment while the haunting melody played on, taking her back to that faintly remembered place. She didn’t even stumble, not once. It was as if some inner memory guided her in the steps, even though ball room dancing hadn’t been a part of her lessons.
The music picked up and he swung her around and around. He r dress swirled as he circled. W ith each turn , he was Will –– then Cole, Will –– then Cole , both men in rapid succession , separate and yet the same. Her heart pounded from far more than the whirling dance.
The music faded and Will slowly stopped revolving. They stood, his arms circled at her back and waist, eyes locked on each other.
His brow furrowed. “Julia, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
She ran the tip of her tongue over her lips . “Y ou may be the ghost.”
He tightened his mouth in an impatient line . “Don’t try to make me into Cole again .”
“Will, listen to me. I know it sounds crazy, but I think somehow you already are .”
Dropping his hands , he turned away . “Only because you insist I am.”
She grabbed his arm . “No. It ’s what I saw while we danced. You must believe me.”
“Believing doesn’t make it any easier,” he said flatly.
“Tha t’s because you think I’m misle d.”
He swiveled his head
Similar Books
