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Back Under a Dancing Star
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for Laura Wood
  3. Dedication
  4. Part One: England
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Part Two: Villa di Stelle
  9. Chapter Four
  10. Chapter Five
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. Chapter Nine
  15. Chapter Ten
  16. Chapter Eleven
  17. Chapter Twelve
  18. Chapter Thirteen
  19. Chapter Fourteen
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Part Three: Villa di Stelle
  25. Chapter Nineteen
  26. Chapter Twenty
  27. Chapter Twenty-One
  28. Chapter Twenty-Two
  29. Chapter Twenty-Three
  30. Chapter Twenty-Four
  31. Chapter Twenty-Five
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  35. Part Four: Florence
  36. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  37. Chapter Thirty
  38. Chapter Thirty-One
  39. Chapter Thirty-Two
  40. Part Five: Villa Di Stelle
  41. Chapter Thirty-Three
  42. Chapter Thirty-Four
  43. Chapter Thirty-Five
  44. Chapter Thirty-Six
  45. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  46. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  47. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  48. Chapter Forty
  49. Epilogue: England
  50. Acknowledgements
  51. About the Author

“There is one rule we haven’t mentioned.” Ben lifts a finger in the air, and I wonder what he’s going to say. There is an expectant pause. “You must not, under any circumstances whatsoever, fall in love with me.”

That surprises a laugh out of me. “That certainly won’t be a problem,” I say, when I can speak. “And you must promise not to fall in love with me.”

The derisive noise Ben makes here is actually quite insulting.

“It’s a deal then?” asks Klaus.

I look at Ben, daring him to say no. His gaze is steady and, slowly, he nods.

“I look forward to working together.” I hold out my hand and Ben reaches out to shake it. “I just don’t want you to feel bad if your technique doesn’t work.”

“Oh,” Ben says, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. “You asked for romance, and you’re going to get it.”

I try not to worry that it sounds like a threat.

Part Three: Villa di Stelle

Part Three: Villa di Stelle

July, 1933

Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.

– Much Ado About Nothing, Act V, Scene 2

Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It’s around noon on the following day when an envelope appears under my door. Inside is a note written in a slightly more careful hand than the one summoning me to my art class.

Bea,

This is a romantic letter.

You don’t yet realize it’s romantic because you are new to this, but I wanted to give you a very clear warning so that you could prepare yourself.

Are you ready?

Meet me, my raven-haired angel, on the terrace at 3 p.m. for a romantic rendezvous. My heart aches for you and I count the moments until we are together again.

– B

Raven-haired angel is the phrase that tips me over the edge into hysteria and I end up in a stomach-aching fit of laughter. Not, I imagine, Ben’s desired result. I try to picture myself in the role of romantic heroine and fail spectacularly. Perhaps I’m not suited to this romance business after all. What if Ben tries this sort of flowery romance in person and I laugh in his face? I’m fairly certain that won’t go over well.

Still, I decide if Ben is making the effort then I will too. What, I wonder, stepping over to my wardrobe, does a romantic heroine wear?

For a moment my eyes drift towards my old dresses. I shake myself. Not those. Those are for a different me. Certainly not a me who is being swept into a romantic dare.

Instead, I pick a pair of mossy green trousers that are high at the waist, and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled back to my elbows. I put my hair up as best as I can, jabbing pins into the most unruly curls in an effort to look neat.