Page 30 of An Earl Unmasked
“There are dangers lurking about, just not men with bayonets.”
They entered the ballroom, sheets draped over the stacked chairs and tables. Diana had never ventured to this part of the house before. She closed her eyes and let her imagination run free. Glittering candles. The warmth of Randal’s hold. She imagined dancing with him, swaying in time to the music.
Randal strode to the center of the room and looked up. A chandelier. Two bars of iron twirled about but in opposite directions. Randal peered down at her. “My papa did not anticipate your injury.”
Diana’s heart fluttered. “Do you believe he meant for us to dance?”
“Mayhap.” He glanced about the room. He tightened his hold on her and approached what looked to be a pianoforte. “Do you know how to play?”
“I am a gently bred lady, am I not?” Diana attempted an offended look.
“Beg pardon, I did not mean to offend.”
“Of course I know how to play.” Diana let a giggle slip. “I simply do not play well. Isadora’s the musician in our family.”
“And is Lady Isadora a virtuoso?”
Diana laughed mightily. “Hardly.” She leaned forward to remove the dusty cloth and sneezed. If he wasn’t holding on to her securely, she would have toppled to the ground. Instead, she found herself in his lap as he took the seat in front of the instrument. He slid her over, and he lifted the lid to reveal the ivory keys.
“Do you play?”
“I am a gentleman, am I not?” He teased.
Discovering this more refined side of Randal was both pleasing and perturbing.
He interlocked his long fingers and stretched them. Fingers that had been wound around her waist were now poised over the keys.
“We are missing the sheet music.”
He began to play, and his eyelids closed, covering his dual-toned eyes. “Do you recognize the tune?”
She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on the melody, not the feel of his arm next to hers. “Nay.”
“Listen closely.”
She did, and the vibration of the notes flowed through her. She opened her eyes to peek at Randal. It struck her he was classically handsome in the family portraits, but in real life, his features were scarred, but it gave him a wealth of character, and she wanted to learn about all his adventures and experiences. The melody became familiar, yet she couldn’t recall its name.
He opened his eyes. “Can you guess?”
“I believe I have heard this when I was younger.”
“You may have.”
“Is it the piece purported to be of Orpheus and Eurydice?”
“Aye. It was written to convey Orpheus’s desire to see Eurydice once again, to resurrect her from the underworld.”
“I can feel the longing…the need…the deep pull…when you play the song.” She looked at him quizzically. “Are you the composer?”
Randal laughed. “I am old but not that old. I believe neither of us was born when this was first performed.” Eyes closed, his fingers glided over the ivory keys. Randal’s arm brushed against her, and it was as if the music flowed through him and straight to her heart.
“What does the song mean to you?”
“After my mama died, my papa played this late at night when he believed my brother and I were fast asleep.” He abruptly stopped playing. “My mama was his world, and when she departed, she took the best part of him with her.” His spine stiffened, and a chill ran down Diana’s back. She didn’t believe in ghosts, but there was a distinct shift in the air about them. Randal shifted closer and bent to pick her up once more.
Seeking out his warmth, she wrapped her arm securely around his neck and settled into his arms. “I’m not certain we have found the answer to this clue.”
“I would agree.” He carried her to the opposite corner and stopped. “The solution must be here.”
