Simply Magic

It was. That had been easily the happiest half hour or so of her life.

Now she was waltzing again-with the man who had waltzed with her then, and with the man who had been her lover on that hill. And if she was not perfectly happy now, the reason was that she was allowing past pain and future unhappiness to encroach upon the magic of the moment.

It was magical.

“Let’s just waltz,” she said to him.

The smile deepened in his eyes.

“Yes,” he said. “Let’s.”

And for what remained of the set they did not speak at all but just danced and smiled into each other’s eyes.

She was glad he had come, Susa

But she would not think of tomorrow.

She danced, aware of their splendid surroundings and of the company and the music, all her senses sharpened. And she was aware too that the man in whose arms she danced was the man who had kissed her and caressed her and been deep inside her body.

She could never ever regret that she had had that experience once in her life.

Once was enough.

It would have to be.

He laughed aloud as he took her into a swooping turn before the orchestra dais, and she laughed back at him.

15

“And so that is that,” Claudia said with a sigh as she stepped inside the school with Susa

They had just said good-bye to Frances and the Earl of Edgecombe, who had insisted upon giving them a ride back from the Upper Rooms in their own carriage despite Claudia’s protestation that she and Susa

“But it was very good,” Susa

“Well, now it is back to business,” Claudia said briskly, taking off her cloak and looping it over her arm. “We have a school to run, Susa

“Did she really?” Susa

“The duchess has persuaded Mrs. Thompson to take up residence in a cottage close to Lindsey Hall,” Claudia said. “Miss Thompson is expected to move there with her, of course, but she says she feels she will be losing some independence when she leaves their own cottage and village behind. She will feel like a poor relation of the Duke of Bewcastle, she says. I can well understand that that would be a ghastly fate indeed. But it is interesting, Susa

“Has she taught before?” Susa

But Claudia was prevented from replying by Mr. Keeble, who was clearing his throat in such a pronounced ma

Agnes Ryde, one of the new charity girls, had had an almighty tantrum, it seemed, and reduced Lila Walton to tears and consequently aroused the wrath of Matron, who had sent the girl to bed in the middle of the afternoon and promised dire consequences as soon as Miss Martin returned.

Claudia sighed.

“Thank you, Mr. Keeble,” she said. “This is returning to reality with a crash, is it not? Where is A

“She did,” Susa

“Poor Agnes indeed!” Claudia said, tossing her glance at the ceiling. “But go if you wish, Susa

Susa

Susa

“ You was a charity girl, miss?” she asked.

“I was indeed,” Susa

“Everybody does laugh at me, ” Agnes said fiercely. “Next time I’ll pop ’em a good one, I will…miss.”

“Everybody?” Susa

By the time she went back downstairs Susa

“It is just what I have been telling her,” Claudia said. “Now, we will have a cup of tea together and you can have an early night, Lila. And I will take your study hall for you tomorrow evening so that you may have some relaxation time. I daresay I ought to have brought Cecile Pierre in to give you a hand today even though I had declared it a holiday from classes, since Susa