His Heart's Delight

by Mary Blayney

  ~ ~ ~

  Christiana awoke early. With her eyes closed she smiled at the sense of anticipation that was her first waking thought. What was so exciting about today? The masquerade. Finally. Today was the Hawthornes’ masquerade.

  The last few weeks had been diversion enough but finally it was here. This party was the climax of the Season. There might be grander balls and finer dinners, but a masquerade was her idea of the perfect entertainment.

  Everyone had a chance to be someone else. She and Joanna had spent hours, days even, perfecting their costumes of Starlight and Sunshine, but that was only half the fun. Who would Morgan choose to be? Would she be able to recognize him or would his disguise be so deep that she would dance three dances before she knew?

  She snuggled down into bed. Oh no, it could never take three dances to know him. The thought of three dances made her smile as well. Would more than the conventional two be allowed? That was another secret pleasure of a masquerade. Not only could you appear different, but you could carry the game deeper and behave differently.

  Of course, it would be difficult to fool anyone for long. They were all so well known to each other now.

  The guest list would include the same circle they had spent the last few months with. Had anyone thought to change the way they walked as part of tonight’s charade?

  Christiana jumped from her bed and pulled a bit of the curtain aside. Was that sunshine? She could barely see the sky for all the tall houses that lined the street, but she thought it looked promising. Would the day hold fair into the evening and allow for walks in the Hawthornes’ garden? She dove back into bed, snuggled into the covers, and turned her pillow so it felt cool against her cheek.

  It was going to be perfect, absolutely perfect.