Free Masquerade by Sarita Leone

company.”
    They stared at each other for a long moment. Had they not been masked, the look they exchanged might have raised eyebrows and set tongues wagging, but under the circumstances, it was almost entirely appropriate. Besides, no one paid them any attention. Everyone else was too busy savoring every last dance step.
    He cleared his throat. “So…a new gown and an attentive suitor. That leaves one wish…”
    Sophie gathered her courage and gave him a small smile. Then, she shrugged and took a step closer to him. Only a few inches of air remained between his body and hers when she tilted her head back and looked deeply into his eyes.
    They were close enough that they could have kissed.
    “What does every woman wish for on Valentine’s Day?”
    “I don’t know. Tell me.”
    His breath brushed the nape of her neck, beyond the mask. Sophie’s cheeks felt aflame. The impression was glorious, one she had not experienced before, but, now that she had done so, it was a feeling she prayed would come over her time and again. She was on a slow, steady simmer—and relishing the new sensation.
    Emboldened by the desire coursing through her veins, she whispered, “I wish for a man who will steal my heart.”

Chapter 5
    A finger prodded Sophie’s shoulder. She burrowed deeper beneath the bedcovers, and silently begged that whoever owned the intrusive finger might simply give up and leave her in peace.
    Inching her toes out from where they hid just above the hem of her nightdress, she tentatively touched the warming pan. It was as she feared it would be, as chilly as the skim of ice that would surely be on the surface of her washbowl. The coals inside the heavy metal pan had long since grown cold. She pulled her toes back, and snugged her chin against her chest.
    Back to sleep…I shall go back to sleep. I was having such lovely dreams…
    The dream! It was not a dream at all—last night had actually happened! The romantic moments playing in her mind were real memories. Her memories. They were not idle mental yearnings or hallucinations.
    Sophie’s eyes flew open. She sat up just as Rachel was about to give her another jab in the shoulder.
    “You must have tired yourself out completely with all the dancing you did last night.” Rachel placed her hands on her hips and stared down at Sophie with a grin so wide she looked like a cat with a canary in its mouth. “I wanted to wake you an hour ago, but Mother said I had to wait. Well, I have waited as long as I can stand, so get up this very minute and tell me all about what you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome talked about all night long. Why, he completely monopolized you, Sophie! Although I must say in his defense that you didn’t seem to mind. No, you didn’t raise a breeze over his extraordinary attention, did you?”
    Rachel wore a brown morning dress, the cuffs at her wrists turned back so its bright red facing gave a splash of color. Her hair was pulled up simply, and a red ribbon wove through the thick locks. She looked ready to face the day, while Sophie yearned to pull the covers over her head and shut her eyes again so she could relive the previous night’s memories in quiet contemplation.
    It was clear Rachel wouldn’t be put off, so Sophie sat up, swung her legs over the side of the bed and stuffed her feet into her slippers before they touched the chilly floorboards. Then, she grabbed her robe and stuck her arms in the sleeves. Pulling her long thick braid out of the neckline of her robe, she yawned.
    Across the room, the other bed was neatly made, its coverlet smoothed and the pillow plumped.
    “How long have you been up?” The query was designed to stall. If she didn’t take charge of the conversation, Rachel would inundate her with an endless variety of questions.
    “A long time. We’ve all been in the library, dawdling over toast and hot chocolate. Mother, Father, and Brian have each had two cups apiece, and have been sipping as slowly as possible.