Russian Winter Nights by Linda Skye

Author:Linda Skye [Skye, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Anthologies, Historical, Collections & Anthologies, Historical Romance, Series, Harlequin Historical
ISBN: 9781460323625
Google: 6bgrAQAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00G0J9C86
Barnesnoble: B00G0J9C86
Goodreads: 19087237
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

It was Christmas Eve, and the Empress was hosting a grand ball in the newly unveiled Hall of Light. Ekaterina wandered through the crowd of guests, completely surrounded yet completely alone. She didn’t really mind. She was content to bask in the beauty of the fruition of Andrey’s planning and hard work—his ultimate creation.

During their few and precious stolen moments together, he had alternated lavishing her with sensuality and describing his ongoing project. Rastrelli had given him free rein, and Andrey had created the pinnacle of beauty in the Catherine Palace. Ekaterina’s heart swelled with pride; this hall would be a place remembered for generations to come.

True to its moniker, the hall glowed golden with reflected light. The walls and ceilings were covered in mirrors, each framed in polished gold. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the floor was done in two-tone marble. It was a masterpiece of architecture.

Ekaterina aimlessly admired each gilded frame; they were unique yet unified in design, and she marvelled at the attention to detail. Besides, it distracted her from the spectacle at the other end of the hall. Her aunt sat poised on a golden throne, and Andrey was seated on a cushioned stool to her right. Ekaterina tried to avoid sneaking glances their way, only slightly mollified by Andrey’s stiff composure. She gritted her teeth and turned away once again as her aunt continued to fawn all over him. She couldn’t be angry with him, since neither really had a choice in the matter. When the Empress called for his company, he had no choice but to attend to her. So far he’d been able to fend off her amorous advances, but there was no telling when her aunt would tire of the endless game.

* * *

Meanwhile at the head of the Hall of Light, Andrey was fighting the urge to slap the Empress’s hand away. She was clinging to him once again, and he felt nothing but revulsion for the woman who so tormented her subjects. But there were niceties to be observed in order to stay alive, so he managed a few tight smiles and curt nods to satisfy her. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a woman.

Ekaterina.

She was clad in a stunning scarlet gown trimmed with gold, her midnight hair tumbling freely over her pale shoulders. He subtly followed her movement across the hall, watching as she paused before each of his individually inspired creations. Sometimes, she would reach out to run a fingertip over the design, her blue eyes awed. It gratified him to watch her admiring his work, making the evening somewhat bearable.

The musicians suddenly struck up a familiar tune. The guests hurriedly rushed to take up dancing positions on either end of the hall.

Ah, Andrey thought, here is my chance.

He stood and offered his hand to the Empress.

“Would you care to dance, Empress?” he invited with a bow.

“Oh, no,” she answered with a pout and a dismissive wave of her hand.

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