Nightingale by Juliet Waldron

keys, with such mastery – and pressed it against one hard-budded breast. Fired by her urgency, he caressed through the gown. A moment later, his deft fingers had opened a button, had made their way to the fine muslin of her shift, to the swelling beneath. Oh, how much more they wanted! Her nipples rose, straining at the thin barrier. Gently, he tugged the aching points, all the while sipping her lips, inhaling her fragrance, breathing love words which wove about the melody of her name.
    The ecstatic minuet of their stolen moments could not last. Heavy feet would come clumping, either Liese's clogs or the boots of Messer. Panting and aching they'd move apart, straighten their clothing and hope flushed faces would not give them away.
     

 
    Chapter 5
     
     
    "It's the Adambergers, Fraulein," said Liese. "May they come in?”
    She had barely got the words out when the door to the parlor burst open. Into came trooping a burly, great bellied man with a villain's black beard and a short, round and rather disheveled woman.
    The Adambergers were also singers, some years older than Klara. Florian's talent paid their bills, for Olympia's voice had never been exceptional, although for a time, her acting, or perhaps it had been her heart-shaped ingenuous face and sprightly, spontaneous personality, had brought her some Viennese success. Too many babies in quick succession had ended her career.
    Florian was a deep bass baritone who usually played the part of villains. He had been Klara's nemesis in two of the first operas in which she had sung a leading role. Shy among the sophisticated singers of the Court, Klara had been particularly glad for Florian's kindness.
    Count Oettingen hadn't interfered in her relationship with the older couple. In fact, he approved, recognizing that it was natural and desirable for Klara to attach herself to an experienced singer who knew his way through Court theater politics. That the Adambergers were not only older but very married made them eminently suitable for friends.
    " Vogelchen !" Olympia rushed to give Klara a kiss. "Are you well? How is your voice? "
    "Better, thanks to his kind and clever gentleman," said Klara. Smiling happily at Akos, she began an introduction. "Herr Florian and Frau Olympia Adamberger, please meet my new friend, Concertmaster Akos Almassy. Herr Almassy is in service with Prince Vehnsky."
    "Where he performs music as well as healing," rumbled Florian in his rich deep voice. "Sir, I listened with vast approval while you handled both cembalo and violin last year at the Musician's Charity concert."
    "I am honored that you remember such a trifle, Herr Adamberger. In return, I must say that memory of the Death you sang last year in Alceste still gives me a chill."
    After the exchange of compliments, the gentlemen bowed again. Adamberger had had a long career in Vienna, riding Dame Fortune’s wheel. When Olympia had lost her voice after a difficult childbirth, the couple had shared the pain and financial privation. Fortunately for them and their ever growing family, not only had Florian's voice steadily improved, but appreciation for it continued to grow. It was now widely agreed among Vienna's connoisseurs that the last two seasons had been among Herr Adamberger's finest.
    Florian had always been a good actor, too. In Olympia's h eyday, when they'd married, he'd actually been doing more acting than singing. These days, his portrayals of evil, those swaggering, basso villains, profited from his acting. Olympia, resigned to her fate, said she had too many children to even think about the stage anymore. And why should she spend her life fighting with those dreadful Italian donnas for scraps?
    "We're sorry we only sent a note earlier, Liebchen , but you know how careful Florian must be."
    "Oh, indeed!" Klara said. "Please don't come anywhere near me, Florian. I would be devastated if you caught anything."
    "You will think me an awful coward, but I believe I will salute you from