Free Moonlight and Ashes by Sophie Masson Page B

captured the attention of the Prince. Feeling more and more uncomfortable, the pleasure I had first derived from being singled out changed to an anxiety that I would be found out if I kept attracting so much attention.
    To my relief, before he could ask me to dance again, a footman came over bearing a folded slip of paper on a silver platter. The Prince took the paper and read it, then bowed to me and said, ‘Mademoiselle, I must regretfully leave you for a moment as there is an urgent matter awaiting my attention.’
    I gave him a deep curtsey. ‘Of course, Your Royal Highness.’
    â€˜Don’t go away, though, Mademoiselle,’ he said with a dazzling smile before he strode off through the crowd that parted before him, the men bowing and the women curtseying as he passed.
    After he had gone, a great many curious eyes turned back in my direction. I made as though I did not notice and, with my head held high, moved in the direction of the supper room just beyond the ballroom. I was famished and dearly hoped no-one would waylay me with questions or an offer of another dance before I got to those tables groaning with delicious food. Reaching the supper room without incident, I was able to fill a plate without too many people looking at me (though I could feel their eyes burning on my back). I slipped away, not wanting to eat under their stares, and went from room to room till I found a quiet little antechamber which contained a small table, a chair and not much else. The lamp on the table was unlit but that did not matter for the room was bathed inmoonlight coming through its one window so that everything was nearly as bright as day.
    I sat down and with a sigh of relief started on the food. Just as it had looked, it tasted wonderful: caviar on croutons, lobster in tarragon cream, steamed young asparagus with a lemony sauce, tiny pheasant pies, some anchovy eclairs and a preserved artichoke salad which tasted of the sun. It was the kind of thing I could normally only dream of and I took my time to savour each mouthful.
    â€˜Well, here I was thinking I’d get some quiet in here,’ came a soft, amused voice behind me, making me jump. I turned to see that someone had noiselessly come in through that door at the other end of the room. He was a young man about the Prince’s age, as tall and broad-shouldered as Leopold, his eyes also blue but veering more towards grey, while his hair was coal-black. He had a pleasant face but wasn’t particularly handsome. He was dressed for the ball in a smart dark brown uniform with silver epaulets, but carried a book under his arm. He saw me look at the book and smiled ruefully.
    â€˜I’m not much of a one for parties and crowds. I thought I’d just hide in here and read awhile.’
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ I said, flushing, ‘but I thought nobody would come here so I –’
    â€˜Don’t apologise, it is I who should do that,’ he said. ‘Coming in like that and frightening you away from your food.’
    â€˜Oh no, you didn’t, I had already finished,’ I lied, embarrassed to have been caught gluttonising like that all on my own.
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you sure?’
    â€˜Quite sure.’
    â€˜Well, then you won’t mind if I eat one of those eclairs, will you? They’re one of my favourites.’ I nodded and he took one and popped it in his mouth. ‘I wasn’t as clever or as far-sighted as you to get myself a plateful of food before I fled that ballroom,’ he went on, and picking up a pie, ate it as well. ‘Did you ever see such a crush! Glad I’m not in Leo’s place and can escape without anyone noticing.’
    Leo. He had called the Prince ‘Leo’. He must know him very well. Not just a courtier, then, but a friend who had come with him from Faustina.
    He must have read my expression, because he said, ‘Forgive me. I’m being rude again. My