Dance of Love

By Kristi Ahlers

Ballerina Adrianna Sinclair has returned to London in order to dance Prima Ballerina for the Ballet de la Rose Anglais. She jumps at the chance to finally realize her dream even if it means leaving Paris for London. The night of her opening, she is shocked when Christian Tremont, Duke of Aimsworth approaches her. Years earlier they were in love, but duty forced both of them on different paths. He claims to still love her, but can she trust him with her heart again? She never stopped loving him and has never forgotten the hurt he caused her. Is their love strong enough to overcome the obstacles in their way, becoming a holiday gift of the heart, or has their love had its swan song?

• Language: English
• Publisher: DCL Publications
• Release date: Apr 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781921347832

Kristi Ahlers

Kristi Ahlers is a California girl! She grew up in Northern California in a small city called Yuba City. Since then she’s lived in Brussels, Belgium, and England along with a myriad of other locations. A former flight attendant, she was able to continue to feed her love of travel. This has greatly influenced her writing, allowing her to pen stories about places she’s managed to visit and things she’s experienced. Kristi loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at [e-mail] or visit her at her virtual home at www.kristiahlers.com

Book preview

Dance of Love

By

Kristi Ahlers

DCL Publications, LLC

www.thedarkcastlelords.com

© 2009 by Kristi Alhers

All rights reserved

First Edition February 2009

DCL Publications

36 Monash Street Melton South Victoria Australia

3338

www.thedarkcastlelords.com

ISBN 978-1-921347-83-2

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

PUBLISHED IN AUSTRALIA

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

Author: Ahslers, Kristi.

Title: Dance of love/ Kristi Ahlers. ISBN: 9781921347832

Dewey Number: 813.6

CHAPTER 1

London, England December 5, 1889

Life, Adrianna Sinclair realized, brought great joy and extreme heartache. It was how you dealt with the sweet, bittersweet and yes, the sour moments of life that determined your strength. This way of thinking had always served her well in the past.

A light snow fell as Adrianna stood in front of the Ballet de la Rose Anglais on Rose Lane. Although it was not the Royal Theatre, the la Rose was highly respected in the world of dance and when Lord James Minden traveled to Paris in order to offer her the position of Prima Ballerina she could not believe her luck. He was offering Adrianna her heart’s desire. She loved dance with a passion and all of her sacrifices had led to this point in her life. With a fond farewell to her friends and fellow dancers, Adrianna packed her bags and returned to England. And her past heartbreak…Christian.

Christian. Simply thinking his name conjured a plethora of feelings. Some wonderful, others sad. Christian Tremont, the Duke of Aimsworth, had been the love of her life.

She met him when he accompanied his friend backstage after a performance where her friend Violet shone in the lead of the ballet Giselle. While Violet spoke with her admirer, Adrianna stole glances of the handsome dark headed lord, never imagining he would be the man to introduce her to the wonders of love or heartbreak.

Her loving mother warned her of the dangers the young lords could represent to a beautiful young dancer but there was just something—a warmth—about Christian that drew her toward his flame. Looking back, she wished she’d listened to her mother. For the intense fire that burned between her and Christian seared them both, leaving them scared and wounded and ultimately alone.

Duty was a foul four letter word but one Adrianna eventually came to understand. Despite the pain of their parting, Adrianna cherished the time they had spent together.

Her heart was never hers after willingly and lovingly gifting it to Christian. Time had softened the hurt and distance offered clarity.

Her personal introspection was interrupted when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

I am sorry madam, I did not mean to startle you. But it is beginning to rain, let us remove to the theatre so you may have a look around, Lord Minden’s secretary, Mister Tidwell, said as he ushered her up the stairs to the entranceway of the theatre.

You will be introduced to the company on Monday which will be the first day of practice. We hold practice everyday. We are a family off and on stage. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask.

Adrianna nodded her head in acknowledgement of the dance schedule, as she absorbed the beauty of the theatre. It took her breath away. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was not just grand, the word Stately came to mind. The perfect stage. A sense of peace and belonging came over her as she stood there absorbing the ambiance. She was home.

"It does take ones breath away, does it not, my dear? The Minden Family has done well with their holdings and this theatre is highly respected, but I don’t