Girl on a Diamond Pedestal (16 page)

H
E
loved it when she wore red at the piano. He was certain she did it to tease him. And it always worked. Two years of marriage hadn’t seen any of the spark dim in their marriage. If anything, it burned brighter now than ever before.

Ethan watched from the first row of the concert hall as Noelle started to play the grand piano, her fingers tripping lightly over the keys, her slender shoulders working with the rhythm.

The house was packed tonight, filled with people who had come to listen to her music.

Pride surged through him. She’d been playing in theaters along the east coast regularly for a while now, thanks to her resurgence of fame after playing in Jacques’ orchestra. And now Noelle played her own music, on her own terms. Not in world-famous music halls as she’d done once, but she never seemed sorry about that. Not even for a moment.

Ethan picked up the program that she’d handed him before the start of the show and opened it. There was a handwritten note inside, done in Noelle’s neat style.

Ethan’s throat tightened and he looked up at the stage, at the woman he loved. She looked back at him, her eyes shining in the spotlight as she played.

Later he would have to remind her of all the other things he’d taught her. After the show. And after he’d thanked her for all she had shown him.

And for bringing love into his life. Because there was no amount of fame or money that could rival the love they shared. Those things were easily lost, and they both knew it.

But their love was forever.

* * * * *

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

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First published in Great Britain 2012
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

© Maisey Yates 2012

ISBN: 978-1-408-97384-4