Granny Dan by Danielle Steel

the Czarina discreetly for the dress she was wearing.
    “You must keep the gown, my dear. None of us will ever be able to wear it as you do.” And Danina could see instantly that she meant it, and was even more touched by her continuing generosity and kindness.
    The dinner for four hundred guests was in the Silver Room. The gentlemen withdrew for a short while after that to the famous Amber Room, and then the entire party moved into the Great Gallery for dancing. It was an exquisite evening. And Danina had more energy than she'd had since she'd been ill. She was excited just to be there. It was a night she wanted to remember, in every impeccable detail, forever.
    And when Nikolai led her onto the dance floor, she felt her heart give a little flutter, but not for an instant did she allow herself to think of what he had said to her two weeks before. That chapter in their lives was already over. All they had between them now, or so she told herself, was camaraderie and friendship. But the look in his eyes as he swept her around the floor gracefully in a waltz told an entirely different story. He looked unbearably proud of her, and his gentle touch as he held her as close as he dared would have told her all he couldn't say, if she had let it. Even the Czar mentioned something to his wife when they were dancing.
    “I'm afraid Nikolai is smitten with our young visitor from the ballet,” he said by way of observation, without criticism or comment.
    “I don't think so, my dear.” The Czarina denied it. She had seen them together frequently, and saw nothing unseemly in their friendship, or behavior.
    “It's a shame he's married to that dreadful Englishwoman,” he said, and the Czarina smiled in answer. She wasn't fond of her either.
    “I think he's only concerned with Danina's health,” she said firmly, far more naive than her husband.
    “She looks lovely in that dress she's wearing. Is it one of yours?” The Czarina was wearing a red velvet gown that was spectacular, with a full set of his mother's rubies, which became her remarkably. She was a beautiful woman, and he loved her dearly. They were both happy he was home again, and at least able to forget the war for a few brief moments.
    “It's Olga's actually, but it looks so pretty on Danina, I told her to keep it.”
    “She has a lovely figure.” He smiled down at his wife then, no longer interested in talking about their guest. “But so do you, my love. I think Mama's rubies look extremely well on you.”
    “Thank you,” she said with a smile, and eventually they left the floor and circulated among their guests. It was a most successful party. And Nikolai and Danina danced half the night away. It was hard to believe she'd ever been ill, and she certainly didn't feel it as she danced with him. It was after midnight when he finally urged her to sit down for a while and rest, before she wore herself out completely. She was having such a good time, she didn't want to stop dancing for a minute.
    He brought her a glass of champagne, and smiled as he handed it to her. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bluer than ever, and her bosom tantalizing and creamy. He had to force himself to look away for a moment. But when he looked at her again, he found he couldn't resist her, and moments later, he was dancing with her again, and she looked happier and lovelier than ever.
    “I feel like a dismal failure as the guardian of your health,” he confessed as they danced another waltz, looking as though they had danced together forever. The only time he had ever danced with his wife was at their wedding. “I should be forcing you to go home and rest, but I can't bring myself to do it. I'm afraid you're going to be exhausted to the point of feeling ill tomorrow.”
    “It will have been worth it,” she said, laughing up at him with the sound that enchanted him unbearably. Just as she did, he wanted the night to go on forever.
    It was after three when they finally left, and they were