But there is one more request I’d like to make of you.”

“And what is that?”

“You know I love you, I adore you, my dear…but when we were in Paris, and you were bathing…you were humming.”

“I was trying to keep from hearing you splashing about and wondering…imagining…what you were doing.”

He smiled. “Ah. Well, now that you don’t have to imagine any longer, my love…would you mind…not humming so much? You tend to be terribly off-key. Usually flat.”

“Is that so?” She smiled, her eyes lighting with humor. “So now I know precisely how to get whatever I want from you. I shall hum, or sing—which I’m even worse at—until you give it to me to silence me.”

Voss laughed with deep, filling pleasure. He’d had no idea that his life had been so bleak and dark—but now it was filled with light and humor. “My dear, you don’t have to resort to that. I’ve given everything to have you…and I would give anything for you. Just…don’t sing.”