Page 233 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

She wanted to say no—to be petty, to be bitter, and flounce off and dance with every other man in the room.

Only there wasn’t a single man in the world she wanted to dance with more.

‘That would be lovely.’

She had never danced to an orchestra, and she had never done any formal dancing—just watched it on the television. But either some of it had caught her attention or she had the perfect partner, because Dante made it smooth and easy, even when she faltered.

‘Left...’ he said, and then, ‘Just one little step back...’

It was enough for her to dance without thought.

‘I’m a fraud!’ She smiled. ‘I know only one dance step.’

‘I don’t think I’m thinking about your feet.’

‘Please don’t flirt.’ She looked up at him.

‘That’s an impossible ask,’ he told her.

But the compliments stopped, and they danced in silence, and she wished the music would never end.

For a while it didn’t—but Dante was not here just for fun.

‘I have to dance with a few guests,’ he told her.

‘Of course.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘Go.’

And it was fine being there alone. There were plenty of offers to dance, and gorgeous people to talk to, and even had Dante not been there it was something she wouldn’t have missed for the world.

The tables were filled with scented blooms and gorgeous treats and she wasnotgoing home with Dante, Susie told herself.

Promised herself.

No matter how tempted, no matter how smooth his delivery, she would decline.

She would be leaving tonight in utter control.

‘Scusi...’someone said, and she realised she was standing at one of the exits.

She moved a little closer to a table as the music was silenced and the speeches began.

There were a lot of thank-yous, and then an elderly, very distinguished-looking man took the microphone and spoke so fast that even with all her classes and language lessons she could barely understand what was being said.

‘Sevandro Casadio...’ the MC said, and then corrected himself. ‘Scusi...Dante Casadio...’

‘Grazie...’

Dante thanked all the people who had already been thanked many times, and then he thanked Christos and his wife, saying that without their skill the wine would not be as rich. He thanked the orchestra, and then he spoke of how this night meant spring was here...all colour and beauty.

‘My grandfather and his beautiful wife Mimi are delighted to support this night, loved by so many...’ He slipped it in smoothly, and even if word had already spread like wildfire there were a couple of gasps of surprise and then applause. ‘I haven’t attended this ball for a very long time,’ Dante said. ‘And I know I have been absent too long.’

She’d been proud of how she’d mostly kept up with his speech, but then he said something she thought she didn’t understand...or perhaps she was fighting not to cry.

‘It is good to be here and to be home.’