Page 54 of The Searching Songbird

“Thank...” She turned toward the butler, only to find he'd already disappeared. “...you,” she mumbled. Wincing, she placed a booted foot on the rich carpet, wishing for once that she'd worn the delicate slippers favored by actual ladies. That is, if she'd brought a pair.

With a shrug, she marched over to one of the settees and sat down with a plop. A chuckle sounded from the doorway and she hopped back up with a startled yelp. The baron stood there, watching her with an amused grin. She placed a hand to her chest as she tried to calm her frazzled nerves.

“You startled me.”

“My apologies. I assure you, it wasn't my intention.”

As he continued to watch her from the doorway, she began to fidget, bunching the fabric of her skirts. When a few moments passed and he still hadn't made a move to enter, she finally sank back down onto the settee, taking care not to plop this time. Smoothing her skirts with her hands, she cleared her throat.

“Won't you sit down?”

He smiled, pushing off the door frame as he sauntered over. “Actually, I was hoping I could interest you in a little music before dinner. A duet?” He gestured toward the pianoforte. “I'd be happy to accompany you, if you can put up with my bumbling.”

“I... I'd be happy to, of course.” She started to rise, and he immediately reached a hand out to assist her. Rather than let go of her hand, he raised it to his lips and pressed a kiss against the inside of her wrist.

“I must admit, I've been quite anxious to hear you sing.”

She swallowed. “You... you have?”

“I have,” he confirmed, his voice dropping an octave as he let go of her hand, only to press his own against the small of her back as he led her toward the instrument. “You remind me of someone I knew some time ago. She had the voice of an angel, and I'm curious...” He stopped beside the pianoforte and slid onto the bench, running his fingers lightly over the ivory keys. “...if the resemblance runs deeper than the flesh.”

“Just because two people look a bit alike, doesn't mean they'll sound alike, too.” Lily gave him a bemused look. “I'm afraid you're most likely in for a disappointment, but...” She shrugged. “I'm happy to sing something, if you wish.”

“That's all I ask.” He grinned up at her. “Do you know Sing Me a Dream?”

Her breath caught in her throat, and she shot him a look. “I know it,” she replied, watching him closely. How was it he had somehow chosen the one song that always made her emotional, every time she heard it? Damned embarrassing habit. “I'm surprised you'd choose that one – it's more of a child's lullaby than anything else.”

He held her gaze, and his eyes seemed to be telling her something, but what? “I realize it's an unusual choice, but that doesn't make it a poor choice. Besides, it happens to be a particular favorite of mine. Humor me?”

She hesitated a moment before giving him a short nod. His eyes lit up in response and his fingers immediately began moving over the keys, coaxing out the familiar tune. Closing her eyes, she let the music flow through her until there was nothing else.

“Lying in my bed at night, there's so much more I wish to know.

Places I've only heard about, places I dearly wish to go.”

A single wrong note, out of place with the skillful melody the baron was weaving, drew her attention, and she opened her eyes to glance down at him, only to find him gazing up at her in boyish wonder. She quickly turned her face forward again as a flush crept unbidden up the back of her neck.

“Sing to me of a faraway land,

Where dragons fly over mountains grand.

Tell me a story of the Eldourian knights,

Speak of their valor, tell of their fights.

Pull me deep into the jungles of Myr,

And show me a panther with silky, black fur.”

Her fingers dug into the fabric of her skirts as she tried to ignore the intensity of his stare. She didn't need to turn her head to know it was trained on her. She could feel it.

“Build me a ship and set it to sail,

So tomorrow I might bring you a wondrous tale

Of pirates and castles and mermaid lagoons

And witches that fly on birch tree brooms.”