Page 35 of Duchess By Accident
“It sounds more like you are torturing the thing.” Adrian replied taking a step towards her and gesturing to the instrument. “Is it even in tune?”
“I have no idea.” She shrugged. “I find it rather tiresome to check such things before I play. Besides, I am only practicing.”
Adrian took a deep breath and smiled back at her. “Then might I suggest you practice elsewhere. I am trying to get some work done.”
“But this is the music room.” Natalie gestured around them.
“It is not. It is a drawing room.” Adrian resisted the urge to massage his temples with the knuckles of his hand.
“Itwasthe Eastern drawing room, but the acoustics in here are far too nice to be only a drawing room.” Natalie picked up her violin and began to play again.
Adrian strode towards her. “You will cease this at once. You are not even holding the bow correctly!”
“Perhaps I like to hold it like this.” Natalie replied, her voice silky and full of amusement. “Or perhaps I simply do not trust that you would know the right way to hold a bow.”
“Then perhaps I should show you.” Adrian crossed the distance between them, leaning over Natalie as she sat in her chair.
He towered over her, the smell of her perfume wrapping around him like a silk scarf. “Give me the violin, Little thief.”
Her lips parted, and he saw fire in her amber eyes. He wrapped his fingers around hers, carefully easing the instrument from her grasp and then taking the bow from her as well. She did not gasp. Did not fight, simply watched him as he moved the violin into the correct position.
He straightened, standing high above her, plucked a few notes, turned the pegs of the violin so that it was in tune. “Some of us like to do things properly.”
He smiled at her, his eyes full of challenge, and he began to play. With satisfaction, he saw her eyes widen in surprise, though only for a moment.She is getting better at hiding her emotions.
For some reason, the thought troubled rather than comforted him. He played one of the more romantic pieces he knew, letting the notes fill the room with suggestion. His eyes danced, and he refused to look away from Natalie as he played.
When he was done, he placed the violin and the bow in one hand, and swept into a bow. She did not clap. She stood up, and held out her hand for the violin.
He chuckled and shook his head. “I do not think so, Little Thief. Your little rebellion is getting tiring.”
“Is it indeed? Such a shame that I have worn you out so quickly.” She laughed and slid into a seat by the piano.
“Do not play that.” Adrian placed the violin on the vacant seat, moving towards Natalie.
“Why not?” Natalie placed her fingers on the keys.
“I will not warn you again.” Adrian was standing beside her. “Do not start what you cannot finish, Little Thief.”
She peered up at him from her seat at the piano. His hands were either side of her, resting against it. He expected the usual spots of colour to appear on her cheeks. For this bravado to fade into stumbling awkwardness.
The air between them seemed to thicken, and he smiled. Her eyes searched his face, and a hand reached up, towards his neck. His breath caught as her soft fingers brushed his skin. Her lips quirked upwards.
He was frozen. She moved to his cravat, straightening it gently. “What makes you think I cannot finish, dear Fox?”
She let her hands drop and ducked out from him. Her eyes were alight with mischief.
“You are not the only one who can set a snare, or so it would seem.” She inclined her head towards him. “Perhaps it was you who underestimated me.”
She turned from him, picking up the violin as she left and then calling over her shoulder. “You play rather beautifully.”
Adrian watched her go, unsure if she was talking about his music or their little acts of antagonism. Unconsciously, he rubbed at the place on his neck where her fingers had touched.
“It seems my Little Thief is learning new tricks.” He could not tell if he was worried or impressed.
Chapter Eleven
“And that tree is my favourite. Her name is Martha.” Melody pointed to an old oak tree.
