Mystic Mountains

yourself."
    "Thank you, Your Excellency. I 'm sure I will." Isabella curtsied before the Governor as Thelma had taught her. Then her bemusement increased as she was introduced to his wife. Elizabeth Macquarie wore a dress of black velvet, its scooped neckline trimmed with a white flounce. Around her neck she wore a necklace of diamonds, a fortune in precious stones.
    "How is your son, madam?" Isabella asked. Thelma had prompted the question. The entire colony was aware of the Macquarie 's pride in their boy, a pride magnified because their first child died at three months, before Lachlan Macquarie was appointed Governor.
    "How sweet of you to ask," Elizabeth Macquarie answered with a smile. "Lachlan is my great joy. He has known his letters for more than a year now, since he was three years old. I am convinced he will be a great scholar."
    "I'm sure he will, madam" Isabella agreed, then Tiger moved her smoothly on.
    "I can 't believe I really met the Governor and his wife," she whispered.
    "You really did," he said. There was a teasing light in his eyes that sent her pulses reeling. "Come, let 's dance," he offered as they entered the ballroom.
    Draperies of deep blue dropped in lush folds at the long windows, secured by golden ropes with heavily tasseled ends. The plush padding on the gold legged chairs and sofas arranged around the sides of the immense room was of the same color.
    A quartet of musicians positioned on a small dais in a corner wore matching black jackets over flounced white shirts and black breeches. Isabella vaguely recognized the melody they played. Many couples were already waltzing. Tiger had told her about this exciting new dance currently very popular in Europe. She longed to give it a try, even while she shivered with apprehension. The gowns were splendid, their skirts swirling as their partners spun them around. So many silks and muslin, in every conceivable color, met, meshed then swung apart, reminding her of a kaleidoscope she'd once seen. In their finery and jewels the women exuded a confidence she doubted she would ever feel.
    " 'Tis better to have this first one with me than to begin with a quadrille where you will be off with other partners," Tiger said, his mouth near her ear. Did he feel the tremors that raced through her?
    "No." Isabella 's eyes went to the dancers again, then up to him. With a hand at the base of her throat she swallowed the distressing lump threatening to choke her. She had no intention of being off with other partners; the thought of dancing with him was daunting enough.
    Ignoring her small denial he led her onto the floor. "Just remember what I taught you. Follow my lead. Don 't worry, I will not let you make a fool of either of us, little one."
    "Tiger. "
    He chuckled softly at her hus ky whisper. Isabella glanced at his curved lips.
    "Isabella," he murmured, and her eyes widened. He 'd never called her that before. She was usually a wench, chit, or biddy, if not Bella.
    "Yes?"
    "That's the first time you've called me Tiger." He stared at her oddly. Isabella ran her tongue over suddenly dry lips at the strange glitter in his eyes.
    His hold on her tightened. By now they were in the middle of the great hall, surrounded by other couples, each so engro ssed in their own partners nobody appeared to have the slightest interest in a woman with a limp. That didn't seem half as pronounced this evening either. Isabella presumed the looks cast their way were directed at the tall, elegantly dressed man who deftly guided her, his paces sure, his demeanor confident. It was as it had been in the kitchen. He led and she followed.
    "There, easy isn 't it?"
    "I think perhaps everything you do is made to appear easy," she said pertly, and his grin widened.
    Isabella didn't want the dance to end, but the music stopped much too soon. "You're always right," she told him with a lift of the chin. It had been so easy she wanted to go on dancing all night.
    Tiger led her to the side of the hall, his hand on her elbow as he slowed his gait to match hers. "Come, we 'll meet some of my friends," he said. Isabella stifled an urge to escape to the ladies' parlor. Tiger must have sensed her unease for he said softly, "Don't worry. It will be all right."
    And when he introdu ced her, she wondered why she'd gone into a panic. Nobody seemed to think it extraordinary he'd brought one of his servants to the ball. In fact after a few minutes of conversation it became clear to Isabella that a good