The room was huge, floored in black and white tiles and roofed in vaulting plasterwork dangled with glittering crystal chandeliers. Some of the pillared walls led to alcoves and other rooms, some were faced with mirrors polished to a perfect sheen. In the air hung the sound of a bubbling stream, and the smell and shadows of a forest glade. As most of the guests had descended the sweeping staircase to the floor they had gasped at the grandeur or remarked that there may have been tens of thousands of masqued dancers parading around the room. He did neither. The very moment he had passed through the doors he had seen her, and his eyes never left her as he descended to the floor and took her hand.