As she listened the sound of the string instruments as the notes wafted through the air and she saw the expression on his face, she forgot her previous question and softly asked, “You like this piece?”

He opened his blue eyes and smiling he nodded as he stepped forward and bowed. “May I have this dance, Miss. Ward?”

For the first time ever, she felt her heart flutter at being asked to dance and unable to find her voice she nodded. She watched as he moved closer to her and she felt the blush on her cheeks grow brighter as he rested his hand on her waist as he took her hand in his and started to waltz to the strains of the music.

She hadn’t realized how tall he was till he had taken her into his arms. The man towered a good foot over her! What was he? she wondered, Six two, six three? But, his height only caught her attention for a moment; she was much more interested in how she felt in his arms. Sure that she was as red as the dress she happened to be wearing, she kept her gaze securely fixed on the sapphire pin holding down the cravat that was part of his formal attire.

He couldn’t help but smile as he gazed at the thick, copper curls artfully arranged on the top of her chest and then he chuckled and spoke softly. “You weren’t afraid to look at your other partners, Miss. Ward.”

At his words she finally dared to peek up at him and she couldn’t help but smile back at him as she saw his crooked grin. It didn’t take her long to realize that his eyes were just as blue as the pin she had been staring at moments before. As their eyes met she felt her heart start to pound in her chest so hard she was sure that he would be able to hear it over the music. She noticed that intensity entered his gaze and he pulled her slightly closer, perhaps a bit closer than propriety dictated, but she didn’t mind.

At that moment she decided he was the handsomest man she had ever seen, even more handsome than her long lost angel doctor. She found his sapphire colored eyes, light brown hair, and chiseled features were sheer perfection. Everything about him right down to the slightly messy hair and the crooked smile drew her in like a moth to a flame.