"Did you really stand up to a man with a gun and call him pathetic?"

The question caught her off guard and Violet faltered. She had just returned to Angelica's side after dancing with a partner who was a little too forward for her tastes. That in itself hadn't shaken her, but the scent she had caught on her way back was playing havock with her balance. Of course he was here. Patrick and Angelica were close and they frequented the same circles; it was only natural but it didn't mean she was comfortable.

"Christopher, manners please," Angelica reprimanded.

"Oh, I'm sorry Lady Violin, I didn't mean to give offence. You see, my father told me about what happened at the Circus, well and I was wondering if it was true. Because I mean, if you get shot you can't heal or anything can you, I mean you would have died." Christopher spoke quickly, a trait shared by many children that Violet found quite adorable.

"Christopher!" Angelica reprimanded yet again, but Violet held out her hand.

"It is quite alright Angelica, he is just curious." Turning her head towards the boy she answered him simply: "Yes, I might have died, but if I had not stood up to him he would have shot someone else, someone innocent."

Christopher seemed to take that in for a moment before he said, "Yes, but you are innocent too, aren't you Lady Violet? I do not think you should have put yourself in harms way."

"Spoken like a true man!" Angelica laughed, but Violet only smiled faintly. She was not innocent, no. Her life was darker than the little boy could ever imagine and what she planned to do made her the very opposite of innocent. She knew Ismail deserved to die for what he had done to her father, to her, but killing the man would taint her with sin as well, she had no delusions about that. If there had been another way, if someone could have brought the man to justice, she would have been satisfied to see him rot in jail. But they couldn't bring him to justice. No human jail could hold a blood drinker.

"Oh, there is Patrick."

Violet could hear the happiness in Angelica's voice and frowned. If only someone would ask her to dance before he came over...

The air filled with the scent of heather and mountains and she knew it was too late.

"Good evening ladies." Patrick's voice felt like a caress. Oh God, she had to keep aloof. "May I present Lady Winslet?"

The overwhelming smell of sweet orange blossoms accompanied Lady Winslet as she stepped up beside Patrick.

"Lady Winslet, may I introduce Princess Angelica Kourakin."

"A pleasure," Angelica said warmly.

"The pleasure is all mine, Your highness," Lady Winslet gushed. Her eager to please tone rankled, and Violet decided she disliked the woman.

Patrick continued the introductions, "Lord Christopher Langdon."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Winslet."

"Yes. A pleasure." The lady's tone let on that she was among the members of the ton that believed children should not be allowed at gatherings. Another reason not to like her, Violet thought with annoyance.

"And this," Patrick turned his body towards her. She could feel his heat and wanted more than anything to step closer to him. Squashing the absurd impulse she concentrated on the introduction.

"...Lady Violin."

"It is a pleasure, Lady Winslet."

Lady Winslet said nothing for a moment before laughing, "Ah yes, now I remember. You must be that circus performer I heard about. How entertaining."

Violet smiled at the insult. If the woman thought to get a rise out of her, she was going to have to try much harder.

"I am glad you find me entertaining, Lady Winslet. Our livelihood at the Circus is dependent on amusing such exalted personalities such as yourself."

"Oh?" Lady Winslet did not sound amused any longer, "Well Lady Violin, I think..."

"I think I will ask the Lady Violin to dance now, if she agrees?" Patrick cut the woman off, taking Violet's hand before she could say a word.

"But Patrick!" Lady Winslet's protests faded as Patrick led Violet onto the dance floor. They fell into step with the music, neither speaking for a long time. 

"You waltz well," Patrick broke the silence between them and Violet was grateful for it. Now that her temper had cooled somewhat from the encounter with Patrick's lady, she was becoming all too aware of him and of his hand around her waist.

"Thank you." It was sheer luck that she remembered how to dance the waltz. Cook's younger sister had taught her the steps when she was six. They had  practiced in the dusty but grand ballroom of her old home, dancing to the beat of Cook's terrible humming.

"I missed you." Patrick said all of a sudden. 

"Yes, I can see you have." Violet frowned the minute the words left her mouth. She had not meant to say that. It was good that Patrick had focused his attention elsewhere, it was very good. That stupid woman and Lord Bruce deserved each other.

Patrick's hand moved a fraction, pulling her closer as he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Jealousy? From you Lady Violin?"

Violet fumed at his amused tone. "Jealousy, Lord Bruce? You are dreaming."

"Dreaming?" Patrick pulled her yet another inch closer. "Should I show you what I've really been dreaming about, Violet?"

A shiver ran down her spine. Damn it, how could he do this to her when the Winslet woman was standing just a few steps away? She had to focus on the woman; that idiot was the key for her to resist jumping into Patrick's arms. 

"So where did you meet Lady Winslet?"

Patrick laughed as he spun her gracefully.

"She means nothing to me, and you know it. I haven't slept with her if you are wondering, nor do I intend to. You are the only woman I plan to take to my bed tonight."

"You arrogant bastard!" Violet began to pull away, but Patrick held her tight and walked her quickly off the dance floor. He didn't slow down, even when a few acquaintances called out to him, and dragged Violet down a hallway off the ballroom. A moment later he was pushing her into an empty room and closing the door behind them.  

"I know you want me, so spare me any accusations Violet and just tell me why."

There was no point in asking meaningless questions when they both knew what he meant.

"I told you I can't afford distractions."

"Woman, you distract me whether or not you are with me. Is it not the same for you?"

Surprised at his anger, Violet took a step back and stumbled over a footstool. With a small shriek she braced herself for the impact of the floor, but it never came. Instead, Patrick's arms wrapped around her and let her down to the ground slowly. His body covered hers, hitching the breath in her throat.

"I even missed saving you from disaster."

Violet smiled despite herself, "It was hardly a life and death situation this time."

"Nevertheless, I think you owe me a thank you." Patrick's hand came up to trace her jawline and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Thank you," Violet said slowly. The feeling of him so close to her, brought back all sorts of pleasurable memories she would rather not have remembered.

"No, sweetheart," Patrick reprimanded as he leaned closer, his lips only an inch away, "The kind of thank you that you gave me when we first met."

Violet remembered the kiss they shared the first night he had saved her from the lion and couldn't stop herself. Giving in she lifted her hands into his hair, loving the feel of the silky mass under her fingers. She inched forward, their breaths mingled...

"Highlander?"

The knock on the door pulled Violet out of her trance and had her scrambling from under Patrick.

"Hold on," Patrick called to his friend. Two hands helped her up by her elbows and then held her still.

"Don't worry sweetheart, you look perfectly respectable."

Violet said nothing, waiting for the moment the door would open so she could escape. She had to have lost her mind to have allowed him to drag her here.

"Highlander?" The knock came again.

"What?" Violet heard Patrick unlock the door and open it. When on earth had he locked it and how had she not noticed?

Violet could feel Patrick's friend looking at her and felt her cheeks burning. She had met him before, his scent was familiar. He was the man who had showed up at the theatre.

"Princess Angelica is looking for you. Lady Violin."

"Thank you," Violet made a quick curtsy incase he was a man of rank and walked past the silent men. Out in the hallway, Violet hesitated for an instant unsure of where the ballroom was. She took a deep breath, but what she heard next froze her blood. 

"I've said it before, Ismail, you have deplorable timing."

*****

Patrick frowned at Ismail, angrier with himself than the Ottoman. Distraction. Violet saw him as a distraction. Well, he had considered her one himself, but so what? She was performing at a Circus, why the hell couldn't she afford distractions?

"Stop frowning, Highlander, the Princess was worried. I can't have a pregnant woman worrying."

"I'm not frowning, at least not at you," Patrick paced the length of the room, then looked at his friend.

"Why could a woman who works at a circus as a violinist, not afford distractions?"

Ismail frowned, "Did she say you were a distraction?"

Patrick blew out a frustrated breath that was answer enough.

"I told you not to ask for complications," Ismail shrugged, then continued in a matter of fact tone, "maybe she doesn't want you, Highlander and is using that as an excuse."

"I'm not arrogant enough to imagine attraction Ismail," Patrick paced again. "No, she definitely wants me, but for some reason..."

Suddenly a dark feeling built inside Patrick's stomach.

The lion.

The man with the gun.

At the time he had believed the event's to be unfortunate coincidences, but what if they were not?

Everything made sense all of a sudden and the conclusion sent rage through him.

"I have to go."

"Go where?" Ismail asked.

"I have to set things straight with our violinist and very possibly break some bastard's bones as a result."

The Ottoman's expression did not change. "If there is any breaking to do, I will expect a summons."

Patrick nodded and left to look for Violet.