Heart Strings (Music of the Heart Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

entered her eyes.
    “As do you.”
    She frowned at the music. “He’s right—it should have been A natural.” She resumed her seat and played it correctly, although few would have noticed her minor error earlier. Then she flipped to the beginning of her music and began practicing. The serenity in her expression, the concentration in her eyes, the graceful movement of her fingers captured his attention, as did the beauty she created as she played. Perhaps it was the lighting or her talent coloring Kit’s perception of her, but Susanna Dyer appeared less a dingy, half-starved waif, and more a captivating young lady he might have been happy to meet during his former life.
    Her fingers paused in their intricate dance with the strings, and she fixed her gaze on him. “Thank you again, Mr. Anson.”
    He grinned to cover his embarrassment that she had caught him staring. “You’re welcome. By the way, we aren’t so formal in the orchestra. My friends call me Kit.”
    His sister had begun calling him Kit when she was little, a name she called him even now that she was a wise married lady, so he had come to think of himself by that name. When he left home, he had begun introducing himself as Kit Anson. The name suited him better, anyway.
    Susanna Dyer glanced at him, offered a strained smile, and returned her attention to the music, a clear dismissal, and without giving him permission to use her given name. He paused, his pride deflating a little. Women seldom treated him so dismissively. Perhaps he had gotten too accustomed to charming any woman he chose.
    Still, he respected that she was a serious musician. Now that he thought of it, he found it refreshing to meet a lady not interested in flirting with him or trying to gain his favor for her own purposes. How unlike ladies in the ballrooms he once frequented before his self-imposed banishment.
    Kit returned to his seat in the front and trained his ears on the harp music floating from the back of the pit while he prepared for performance.
    On stage, all the usual drama and a few mistakes of a theatrical production proceeded. Kit reveled in it all, especially the music, which was as nearly perfect as he’d ever heard, thrilled to be a part of a greater whole creating beauty and power. As the final curtain fell and applause rose and died away, Kit stood, nodded to his stand partner who was probably plotting to usurp Kit, shook hands with Alex, and glanced back at the harpist.
    She sat like a ragged little urchin behind a harp too big for her small frame with her face glowing in after-performance euphoria. He caught her gaze and smiled. She beamed. Under the force of her stunning smile, he nearly dropped his bow. By Jove, she was pretty when she smiled.
    He lost sight of the harpist in the chaos that always came after the curtain fell. As he made his way to the harp to speak with her, he spotted Alex in conversation with her. She nodded, then smiled brilliantly. Kit blinked. Yes, indeed, very pretty when she smiled. Or perhaps part of the beauty came from that portion of her soul she bared when she played.
    Alex nodded and stepped back. As he passed Kit, he said, “I have a few notes for you, as well.”
    Kit moved to the harpist as she covered her instrument. “Miss Susanna, you are heaven-sent.”
    Practically glowing, she let out a half laugh. “Believe me, this was an answer to my prayers.” Her smile faltered. “Not that I wish any harm on the other harpist, but…”
    He chuckled. “I know what you mean.”
    “I thank you for your assistance.” She nodded in Alex’s direction. “The conductor asked me to return tomorrow night.”
    “I’m glad to hear it.”
    She let out a happy sigh, her eyes sparkling like a brook in the sunshine. “Well, good night.” She donned her shapeless, ugly coat. “I suppose I shall see you tomorrow evening.”
    She would be back tomorrow. The thought shouldn’t thrill him the way it did. He had no interest in romantic