Dinner was at the Tremaine household was an extravagant affair. The large dining room was decorated with fresh flowers and the family silver had been laid out for Lord Tremaine's honoured guests. An array of splendid dishes had been prepared, with more than enough food to feed only two adults and three children. Anastasia and Drizella sat either side of their mother, eating far too much rich food. Eve played nervously with her fork, finding herself without an appetite in the grand surroundings – acutely aware that tonight she would be going back to a small cottage in the poor end of town. Cinderella and her father were chatting animatedly, hands waving as Cinderella told Raoul about her latest horse-riding adventure. Eve had met Cinderella's governess, Justine, earlier in the evening and decided she was a vast improvement on her daughters' previous governess. Justine was strict and well educated – although she had been surprised to meet the "clumsy peasant" formally when Lord Tremaine had introduced Eve.

At a word from Raoul, Cinderella invited Anastasia and Drizella to go and play with Samson, her horse. Eve was relieved to have some time alone with Raoul, a thousand questions running through her mind about the house, his family and, perhaps most of all, his wife. She folded her napkin and placed her hands on her lap, looking politely at Raoul and waiting for him to start conversation. He smiled at her and stood, walking around the table to her side.

"I am sorry we have had so little time to talk. My daughter rarely takes the hint that it is time to leave and play."

"I have a similar problem with Anastasia. Drizella is all too happy to run off and read a book but Anastasia can be a little..."

"Clingy?" asked Raoul with a grin. Eve grinned back. "Just like Cinderella. And when I had visions of spending time alone with you that we may become better acquainted." He lifted one of Eve's hands in his, kissing it lightly. She pulled it back, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Perhaps it is better we have not been alone. I'm not sure I entirely trust you."

"Wonderful. Then you won't be too shocked if I forget myself later."

"Shocked, no. Infuriated, yes." She stood and walked away from Raoul, a little flustered. She needed to change the conversation, fast. She knew that Raoul was toying with her and would not really step out of line, but from the rapid pounding of her heart she doubted she could trust herself at the moment. "What was your wife like?"

"Fair-haired, stunningly beautiful and the light of my life. Her name was Psyche and she was my muse." Raoul paused and closed his eyes, thinking back to the day Psyche had died. "She was a Greek beauty, who could sing, dance and write poetry like no other."

"How did she die?"

"Consumption. She just faded away. The doctor suggested we move out from the town and take in the clearer air of the mountains. When she died, I could not return here for some time and stayed in my mountain villa for years, Justine and a few other servants my only company."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"I have been told that so many times, but it is infuriating when the person saying it has no idea of what you have been through. With you, I know you understand the pain I have gone through. The guilt." Raoul took her arm and guided her to the window. "I have to return to Burgundy next week for some time. It would mean a great deal to me if you would come to visit." Eve shook her head.

"I barely know you – I don't think it would be appropriate to..." Raoul spun her to face him and forced his lips to hers. She fought him for a moment, then gave in and raised her hand to caress his hair. Raoul gave a low moan and deepened the kiss, Eve responding despite herself. Finally, Raoul let her up for air.

"I thought I'd never care for anyone again after Psyche died. I spent years unable to talk to another woman, feeling I was betraying her with every word. And then you walked onto that balcony. Do you know how hard this is – wanting you and remembering her? Can you understand why this is so difficult?"

"Yes. I can. It's about as difficult as kissing a man while all you can think of is the father of your child and how very disappointed he'd be in you right now."

"We probably shouldn't do this again," said Raoul sadly. "It's too early, we feel too guilty..."

"Don't be ridiculous. We'd feel like this in ten years, or a hundred years. We should never have been left alone together."

"I should never have asked you to dance."

"I should never have accepted. Well, what are we to do? Two sinners, all alone together." Eve snaked a hand around Raoul's back and reached her other hand to his face. He touched her hand with his, bringing it to his lips and kissing it.

"Will you come to Burgundy?" he asked again, kissing her wrist. When Even hesitated, he nibbled her wrist gently, then stroked his hand up her arm to her neck. Raoul bent his head forward.

"When?" she asked, to stop him kissing her as much as she wanted to indicate her acceptance of his idea.

"We set off next Tuesday. I will need a few days to prepare for your arrival. I shall leave Françoise here to drive you – he knows the way. Leave the Friday after we do – I should have the servants whipped back into shape by then." He reached for her and held her, his heart beating furiously as if to explode. Eve wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his chest. Suddenly, she pushed him away and took a step back.

"I can't do this. The girls rely on me to bring home money from that silly little job of mine and I cannot lose it because of you."

"I assumed you would bring the girls with you."

"You have no idea do you? If I leave to visit you, Marie would dismiss me and..."

"And I would be obligated to take care of you and your family. Not so bad now, is it?" He circled his arm around her waist again. I promise you that your daughters will not starve madam. Come to Burgundy with me."

"Yes," she whispered softly, as Raoul kissed her again. Almost immediately, Cinderella burst through the door of the dining room, bawling loudly. Raoul and Eve jumped away from each other, Eve hastily wiping her lipstick and Raoul running to Cinderella.

"What happened?"

"Drizella pulled my hair. She said it looked like straw and tried to pull it off my head!" Cinderella cried, bursting into renewed sobs. Drizella and Anastasia slithered into the room quietly, trying not to be noticed.

"Drizella! Explain yourself," demanded Eve.

"She wouldn't let me play with her doll! Then she hit me!" shouted Drizella.

"Yes I did too let you play with my doll!"

"No you didn't!"

"Yes I did!"

"No you didn't!"

Eve looked apologetically at Raoul, who rolled his eyes at her. The two girls continued their argument. Eve turned to Anastasia and raised an eyebrow – Anastasia, always delighted to drop her sister in trouble, nodded.

"She did. But Drizella wanted all the dolls, not just one. So she started picking on Cinderella's hair. When she pulled it, Cinderella smacked her on the arm."

"Thank you, Anastasia. Would you wait in the garden please?" Eve walked over to Raoul and whispered something in his ear as Anastasia left. In unison, they picked up their respective bawling child and deposited them at opposite ends of the dining room on a chair, facing the wall. The argument stopped for the moment, they left to join Anastasia in the garden, with the briefest of instructions to Justine to look after the girls. As they walked, Eve touched Raoul's arm lightly. He stopped and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"I apologise for Drizella. She will be punished – I can assure you of that."

"You'll still come to Burgundy of course?"

"If the invitation is still open."

"My home is your home, dearest lady," he replied, pausing before opening the door to kiss her gently on the forehead. While Cinderella and Drizella sat indoors, both sulking and facing the wall, Raoul taught Anastasia to ride; Eve casting an approving eye over the lesson. Perhaps the party hadn't been such a bad idea after all.