Vanishing Point (Circle of Spies Novella) Read Online Free Page B

warning you, I haven’t danced in years.”
    “That’s a shame. No time like the present then. I promise, I won’t cry out if you step on my toes.”
    Marisa giggled. Was she flirting? She certainly didn’t mean to be. She loved Stephen. Yet, this dance, this party, felt like a different world, like she was a different person. A flattering sexy dress hugged her body. When was the last time she felt beautiful? Or sexy?  
    The man was indeed a supreme dancer. He led with grace, shielding her from bumps into other couples, and practically guiding her through the steps. She had watched plenty of Dancing with the Stars so that must be playing into her performance too. She tilted her head in just the right position like the judges liked and made sure her arm was in line with her body. The judges would certainly award her top scores.
    “Do you have a crick in your neck?” the man graciously asked. “We can stop if need be.”
    Marisa relaxed her neck and fake-laughed to cover her humiliation. “Why no, not at all.”
    After several swirls across the floor, exhilaration filled her. Tonight she was Cinderella. The music. The dancing. The beautiful dress.
    “You are an outstanding dancer,” the gentleman whispered in her ear. “Now that we have been acquainted, you must tell me your name.”
    Name? She gulped. She didn’t dare give out her real name. She needed an alibi, a fake name, complete with history and background, but she didn’t have time to brainstorm. This kind of thing would take her weeks. Who did she want to be? The name from her latest romance popped into mind and spilled out her mouth before she could stop them. “DeWilflower. Beatrice DeWilflower.”
    “What a lovely name, Ms. DeWilflower. Do you live in the area?”
    Damn. She needed to extricate herself from this situation and find Rottingham. Fast! “Not too far away.” She had to gain control and ask him the questions. “What is your name if I so may ask?” Ugh. Did she really just talk like that?
    A smile played on his lips. “You may. Edward Rottingham the Second.”  
    She couldn’t help but gasp. Edward Rottingham. She’d found him without even trying. She threw questions at him in an attempt to keep him entertained just like Will told her to do. Where did he live? What did he do? What was his favorite color and dessert? The song ended and Edward Rottingham the Second excused himself and mingled with the crowd. She let him go with the plans to engage him in conversation later. For now, she wouldn’t let him out of her sight. If only she could do a little eavesdropping on Will too.  
    It was right at that moment that good fortune lent a swift and gentle hand to Marisa. An extremely tall and well-endowed woman of importance strutted past toward Will. Marisa thought about hiding behind the woman’s dress and large hat with drooping feathers. The woman of importance stood close to Will chatting with another woman of probably greater importance. Marisa finally could have listened to Will’s conversation.  
    Except after drinking more than her fair share of champagne and dancing like a star, Marisa had to pee. In fact, she couldn’t wait one more second. Will’s conversation would have to wait.  
    Minutes later, roaming long hallway after long hallway, stopping and crossing her legs every few steps, Marisa realized there would be no door with a picture of a female on it.  
    This wasn’t McDonalds.  
    She absolutely could not find a rest room in the mansion so she opened the door to yet another large and seemingly useless room. This one was absolutely gorgeous, with money practically dripping from the window shades and lining the soft Persian carpet. The large ferns emitted wealth. The grand piano in the back of the room was rather grand, and Marisa felt smarter just studying the number of books on the shelves.  
    She had to enter and breathe in her surroundings. Peeing would have to wait a couple more minutes because she might never