My Stardust Melody, Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Luke and Damian met on the stairs on their way to this evening's entertainment. Both were dressed in replicas of 1920s tailcoats, a New York tailor having been hired to create both their looks. The cuts were divine, even if it did make Luke feel a little ridiculous to be dressed like Fred Astaire.
"Ready?" Damian asked.
"As I'll ever be," Luke replied with a bit of nervousness in his voice.
"Julian called me earlier to say he got delayed until late tomorrow."
A little bit of anger rushed through Luke's blood. "I'm so glad he called you when I am the one he proposed to." Well, if you could call it a proposal. It was more of a business arrangement.
"I'm sure he just didn't want you to feel pressured to answer."
Luke gave Damian a speaking glance as they descended down the stairs. He was certain that Julian never worried about pressuring people. The older man began making his millions (and some said billions but it was hard to know) through strong-arming weaker companies into folding into his own. A shrewd investor with an eye for the "next big thing," Julian was hardly known for his circumspection or concern for others' feelings.
What Julian was known for was enjoying a lavish lifestyle, one that he purposefully led under the public's watch. He bought large estates and flew in one of his many private jets. Every event was a business opportunity as far as Julian was concerned, and he carefully cultivated his image. The fifty-something-year-old had a renowned eye for beautiful things. And to Julian, Luke was most definitely a beautiful thing he wanted to add to his collection.
Luke sincerely hoped they would find a Grimaldi investor so that he could stay out of Julian's permanent display case. And that's what marriage to Julian would feel like-being one of the many showpieces that the millionaire would dust off every now and then, brag about, and then put away again. It would never be the marriage of which Luke had dreamed since he was a teenager.
It was a minor miracle that the business magnate had not yet tried to intimidate Luke into bed; thus far, he had only insisted on Luke accompanying him to society events and being seen together publicly. Luke had the "right look," according to Julian, and so far, the blonde had served more as an escort than a real boyfriend. Unfortunately, that was likely because Julian would never treat a boyfriend any better than an escort. He had made it clear that he was not interested in Luke's opinions, but only his physical appearance and demeanor to the outside world. However, the demands would clearly change if Luke agreed to marry Julian in what would certainly be a public spectacle.
Julian's investment in Grimaldi had yet to happen, much to Luke's chagrin. There had always been implications that he would invest but never anything definite. Damian and Julian had discussions about Grimaldi, but they never agreed upon anything formally. Luke's father encouraged the "relationship" because he knew as well as Luke that it was their best chance at saving the company. Julian's proposal of marriage had taken Luke by surprise, but it had come with a direct indication that Julian would invest as soon as the ceremony was over. Without saying it, Damian clearly supported the match if it meant saving his company. And if the choice was between marrying Julian or putting his family in poverty, Luke agreed with his father.
The blonde shook off his thoughts of Julian and turned his mind to the evening ahead of him. The guests had all arrived, and their excited voices filled the halls of the mansion. For tonight's entertainment, the great hall had been transformed to look like a nightclub. Luke's gaze swept over the gilded room. A stage for a jazz band and dancers had been erected on one side of the room with a dance floor in front of it. Black and white drapes hung from the ceiling and tall candelabras graced the round tables. The sound of champagne bottles popping could be heard over the sounds of Duke Ellington and the enthralled crowd. The vibe in the room was almost its own creature; Luke could feel the anticipation and exhilaration in the air.
Damian and Luke had greeted the guests as they entered the room. With over 250 people in attendance, Luke was sure that his arm might fall off after shaking so many hands. He spent the next two hours making small talk and carefully avoiding the topic of Grimaldi. He and Damian did not want to seem overeager, and they planned not to discuss business until the following night. "When they are relaxed, we will strike," Damian had said. So Luke smiled and went around the room, meeting everyone he could, until dark began to fall outside.
The noise and the pressure of the evening began to weigh upon Luke, and the crowd started to feel oppressive. He had briefly seen Maddie, but she had left early because she wasn't feeling well. Luke decided that he needed a break from his official duties for the evening and that he could take a moment to enjoy the gardens. Grabbing a few strawberries on his way out because he had not eaten dinner, Luke glanced around to make sure he was not needed anywhere. Then, he went through a set of French doors, out onto a large terrace, and descended one of stone staircases to the gardens below. Earlier, he had spied a path from his bedroom window that led to a private square with benches overlooking the Sound. It was there that Luke was headed, hoping for a brief escape from the throng inside.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Luke was pleased to see that there was sporadic outdoor lighting, giving just enough illumination to see the paths through the flowers and hedges. The sun had just set, the last purple haze of dusk having just faded. He breathed in deeply, listening to the sounds of "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me" waft through the nighttime air.
♪Your eyes so blue♪
♪Your kisses too♪
♪I never knew what they could do♪
♪I can't believe you're in love with me♪
Luke felt wistful hearing the lyrics and the singer's vulnerable voice, and he slowed to make the walk last longer. He trailed his fingers across the tops of velvety hedges that lined a high stone wall and sighed as the song began to fade the farther he went from the house. When he reached the quiet, he began contemplating his own lack of a love life. Excluding Julian, he had not had a date since he had left college. Not only were there few gay men in Oakdale, but there also hadn't been time to make room for someone else in his life.
Julian was the only man with whom he had spent significant time, and Luke always felt scrutinized and objectified in the other man's presence. Julian always wanted Luke to look a certain way, dress to his taste, not Luke's, and rarely asked for Luke's input about anything. Julian naturally assumed that Luke would want to do whatever he felt like. Hence, Luke did things like going yachting with Julian, and Luke hated yachting. Whatever they did, the media was always present, which Luke despised even more. He supposed it was worth it in the end, if it kept his family together at the farm.
As he approached the corner where he expected to find the square, Luke heard a slight rustling of the bushes ahead and then low voices. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he almost did not hear it.
"I'm not interested, Tom. Go back inside." The speaker's voice was silky and had a distinct edge to it. Luke liked its resonant tone. Whoever the man was, however, he certainly did not seem to like Tom.
"Oh, come on, Reid. Let's not pretend you didn't come out here for precisely this." This man's tone was petulant, and Luke did not like it. The blonde almost turned around to give the men privacy, but something held him in place as he continued to listen.
"Are you an idiot? I came out here to get away from the flock of sheep making foolish spectacles of themselves dancing in that hoity toity ballroom." Apparently, "Reid" was a bit of an arrogant jerk in Luke's opinion. The blonde had put a lot of effort into making that nightclub atmosphere perfect.
"Well, we might as well make the best of it," Tom cajoled.
"Hey, get the hell off of me," Reid snarled, and Luke wondered if he should intervene and help him.
"Calm down. I won't bite," Tom replied in a low voice. It made Luke's skin crawl.
"I said get off." Reid's voice had a biting tone.
Exasperation laced Tom's next words. "Oh, come on, you're not going to get a better offer here. I know you don't really want me to stop."
Luke tried to formulate a plan that wouldn't end up with him being punched out by one of the men. Hell, for all he knew, Reid was humongous and Tom was tiny, and this was all some elaborate game they were playing. His thoughts were interrupted by the next outburst.
"I said leave me the hell alone!" Slight panic infused Reid's voice, giving it a higher pitch. Luke could hear ragged breaths and what sounded like feet fighting for purchase against the stone path.
Momentarily frozen by what was transpiring around the wall, Luke sprang into action when he heard a glass break against the ground. Worrying that physically pulling Tom away might incite further trouble-and he still had no idea what size Tom might be-he tried to walk as casually around the corner as possible. Pasting a smile on his face even though he was engulfed by night, he called out, "Reid! I can't see a thing in the dark. Are you there, sweetheart?"
A lamplight illuminated the two men's forms. Reid, presumably the smaller of the two men, pushed Tom away from him as Luke's eyes leveled on them. Luke's heart sank when he saw that Tom, a brawny man with a reddish complexion visible even in the dim light, had had Reid pinned against the wall-from the size disparity, Reid would have unlikely been able to do much against Tom if the assault had gone further.
"Reid!" Luke gushed, hurrying to the man's side. At this point, he paid little attention to Reid and focused exclusively on Tom, praying that the large man would go away.
"You have a boyfriend?" Tom asked in a nonplussed manner.
Before Reid could say anything, Luke answered, "Yes, I'm a bit of a gate-crasher today, I'm afraid. But, I just couldn't keep away from Reid in his tuxedo. He always looks so great when he dresses up." Actually, Luke had no idea what Reid looked like and hoped that he wasn't professing that some scrawny scarecrow was eye-candy. The inappropriate thought that it would be a shame if that voice was not paired with a sexy body flitted through Luke's mind.
Reid finally spoke, betraying a slight tremble in his voice, as he said to Tom, "He and I were planning to meet here."
"Really?" asked Tom in derision. "The infamous asshole Reid Oliver has a boyfriend?"
"I know, what are the odds?" Reid, having gained some composure, replied satirically.
Luke reached over and squeezed Reid's hand in reassurance. A quiet gasp escaped his lips, and he had to force himself not to pull back from the tingling sensation that emanated up his arm as soon as he touched the other man. Turning his face toward Reid, he wondered if he'd see any indication that the doctor had felt the same strange energy, but Reid's face was hidden in the darkness.
Exaggerating his movements, Luke leaned into Reid's side while swinging an arm around him, smiled widely at Tom, and asked, "Would you mind leaving us alone? I don’t mean to be rude, but he and I don't have much time together this weekend."
Tom angled his head to the side, still not sure that he was being given the truth. "Fine," he finally said, storming off into the night.
Luke let out a long, audible breath. "Are you okay?"
The hushed stillness of Luke's voice was at odds with Reid's turbulent emotions. Reid turned, the back of his head feeling the touch of lamplight for the first time. He closed his eyes and nodded.
He had been surprised by Tom's appearance in the garden. The doctor had only met the man two hours ago in the great hall at dinner. The larger man had pushed Reid to drink, which Reid had refused because even sober, Reid wasn't the most skilled conversationalist. But, Tom had adamantly flirted with Reid nonetheless, and Reid had only half-heartedly reciprocated. The swarthy brunette just was not his type.
Reid had left the great hall shortly after the dancing had begun. He had been enjoying the relative quiet of the square when Tom had appeared. The next thing Reid knew, Tom was backing Reid up slowly into the stone wall, then Tom's mouth was pressing hard against Reid's. When Reid finally tried to push Tom away, Tom had batted Reid's hands away effortlessly and tried to open Reid's mouth forcefully with his hands along Reid's jaw. Tom then knocked Reid's champagne glass out of his hand and kept pressing his body into Reid. Reid could smell whiskey on the other man's breath.
Reid couldn't believe how lucky he had been. He started to feel shaky, his hands trembling in the aftermath. His rescuer, whose face he hadn't even seen yet, was instantly guiding the doctor to an iron bench.
"Hey," Luke soothed, sitting next to Reid and rubbing the other man's back. "Hey, it's okay. He's gone."
Reid snapped, "Don't patronize me. I'm well aware that Tom high-tailed it out of here."
Luke's hands went up defensively. "Ouch. I'm just trying to help."
Reid shook his head at himself. His voice was gruff as he explained, "Sorry. I didn't mean that. When I'm upset, my default mode is 'asshole.'" Reid paused and said, "Thank you for helping me."
Luke smiled. "You're welcome. So you're saying I rescued the dragon rather than the sweet damsel?" Maybe he could tease the other man into better spirits. He couldn't blame Reid for being snappish-if the same thing had happened to Luke, he would have been crying in a corner somewhere.
"Well, I'm definitely no damsel," Reid replied drily.
"Would you like to go back inside?" Luke's heart felt a little lighter at the brighter tone in the other man's voice.
Immediately, Reid responded. "No. I'd like to sit here longer, if you don't mind." He needed to calm down a bit more before he faced the crowd.
"I don't mind at all," Luke said in a kind voice. "What's your name?"
"Dr. Reid Oliver."
"Well, Dr. Reid Oliver," Luke said, emphasizing the "doctor," before sharing, "I'm Luke Snyder. It's nice to meet you."
Reid leaned back, and dim lamplight fell upon his face, illuminating it for the first time since Luke came across him. The blonde's breath caught in his throat as he took in the other man's handsome features. The strong jaw, straight nose, and eyes that Luke thought were sapphire blue but wasn't sure in this light, they all combined to form the sublime. Reid was gorgeous, and Luke suddenly felt an emotion he knew he could not afford-yearning. And oh, how wonderful it felt.
A/N I've been listening to some lovely 20s music. Here's the one mentioned in this chapter as sung by Billie Holiday.
I Can't Believe You're in Love With Me
Luke and Damian met on the stairs on their way to this evening's entertainment. Both were dressed in replicas of 1920s tailcoats, a New York tailor having been hired to create both their looks. The cuts were divine, even if it did make Luke feel a little ridiculous to be dressed like Fred Astaire.
"Ready?" Damian asked.
"As I'll ever be," Luke replied with a bit of nervousness in his voice.
"Julian called me earlier to say he got delayed until late tomorrow."
A little bit of anger rushed through Luke's blood. "I'm so glad he called you when I am the one he proposed to." Well, if you could call it a proposal. It was more of a business arrangement.
"I'm sure he just didn't want you to feel pressured to answer."
Luke gave Damian a speaking glance as they descended down the stairs. He was certain that Julian never worried about pressuring people. The older man began making his millions (and some said billions but it was hard to know) through strong-arming weaker companies into folding into his own. A shrewd investor with an eye for the "next big thing," Julian was hardly known for his circumspection or concern for others' feelings.
What Julian was known for was enjoying a lavish lifestyle, one that he purposefully led under the public's watch. He bought large estates and flew in one of his many private jets. Every event was a business opportunity as far as Julian was concerned, and he carefully cultivated his image. The fifty-something-year-old had a renowned eye for beautiful things. And to Julian, Luke was most definitely a beautiful thing he wanted to add to his collection.
Luke sincerely hoped they would find a Grimaldi investor so that he could stay out of Julian's permanent display case. And that's what marriage to Julian would feel like-being one of the many showpieces that the millionaire would dust off every now and then, brag about, and then put away again. It would never be the marriage of which Luke had dreamed since he was a teenager.
It was a minor miracle that the business magnate had not yet tried to intimidate Luke into bed; thus far, he had only insisted on Luke accompanying him to society events and being seen together publicly. Luke had the "right look," according to Julian, and so far, the blonde had served more as an escort than a real boyfriend. Unfortunately, that was likely because Julian would never treat a boyfriend any better than an escort. He had made it clear that he was not interested in Luke's opinions, but only his physical appearance and demeanor to the outside world. However, the demands would clearly change if Luke agreed to marry Julian in what would certainly be a public spectacle.
Julian's investment in Grimaldi had yet to happen, much to Luke's chagrin. There had always been implications that he would invest but never anything definite. Damian and Julian had discussions about Grimaldi, but they never agreed upon anything formally. Luke's father encouraged the "relationship" because he knew as well as Luke that it was their best chance at saving the company. Julian's proposal of marriage had taken Luke by surprise, but it had come with a direct indication that Julian would invest as soon as the ceremony was over. Without saying it, Damian clearly supported the match if it meant saving his company. And if the choice was between marrying Julian or putting his family in poverty, Luke agreed with his father.
The blonde shook off his thoughts of Julian and turned his mind to the evening ahead of him. The guests had all arrived, and their excited voices filled the halls of the mansion. For tonight's entertainment, the great hall had been transformed to look like a nightclub. Luke's gaze swept over the gilded room. A stage for a jazz band and dancers had been erected on one side of the room with a dance floor in front of it. Black and white drapes hung from the ceiling and tall candelabras graced the round tables. The sound of champagne bottles popping could be heard over the sounds of Duke Ellington and the enthralled crowd. The vibe in the room was almost its own creature; Luke could feel the anticipation and exhilaration in the air.
Damian and Luke had greeted the guests as they entered the room. With over 250 people in attendance, Luke was sure that his arm might fall off after shaking so many hands. He spent the next two hours making small talk and carefully avoiding the topic of Grimaldi. He and Damian did not want to seem overeager, and they planned not to discuss business until the following night. "When they are relaxed, we will strike," Damian had said. So Luke smiled and went around the room, meeting everyone he could, until dark began to fall outside.
The noise and the pressure of the evening began to weigh upon Luke, and the crowd started to feel oppressive. He had briefly seen Maddie, but she had left early because she wasn't feeling well. Luke decided that he needed a break from his official duties for the evening and that he could take a moment to enjoy the gardens. Grabbing a few strawberries on his way out because he had not eaten dinner, Luke glanced around to make sure he was not needed anywhere. Then, he went through a set of French doors, out onto a large terrace, and descended one of stone staircases to the gardens below. Earlier, he had spied a path from his bedroom window that led to a private square with benches overlooking the Sound. It was there that Luke was headed, hoping for a brief escape from the throng inside.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Luke was pleased to see that there was sporadic outdoor lighting, giving just enough illumination to see the paths through the flowers and hedges. The sun had just set, the last purple haze of dusk having just faded. He breathed in deeply, listening to the sounds of "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me" waft through the nighttime air.
♪Your eyes so blue♪
♪Your kisses too♪
♪I never knew what they could do♪
♪I can't believe you're in love with me♪
Luke felt wistful hearing the lyrics and the singer's vulnerable voice, and he slowed to make the walk last longer. He trailed his fingers across the tops of velvety hedges that lined a high stone wall and sighed as the song began to fade the farther he went from the house. When he reached the quiet, he began contemplating his own lack of a love life. Excluding Julian, he had not had a date since he had left college. Not only were there few gay men in Oakdale, but there also hadn't been time to make room for someone else in his life.
Julian was the only man with whom he had spent significant time, and Luke always felt scrutinized and objectified in the other man's presence. Julian always wanted Luke to look a certain way, dress to his taste, not Luke's, and rarely asked for Luke's input about anything. Julian naturally assumed that Luke would want to do whatever he felt like. Hence, Luke did things like going yachting with Julian, and Luke hated yachting. Whatever they did, the media was always present, which Luke despised even more. He supposed it was worth it in the end, if it kept his family together at the farm.
As he approached the corner where he expected to find the square, Luke heard a slight rustling of the bushes ahead and then low voices. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he almost did not hear it.
"I'm not interested, Tom. Go back inside." The speaker's voice was silky and had a distinct edge to it. Luke liked its resonant tone. Whoever the man was, however, he certainly did not seem to like Tom.
"Oh, come on, Reid. Let's not pretend you didn't come out here for precisely this." This man's tone was petulant, and Luke did not like it. The blonde almost turned around to give the men privacy, but something held him in place as he continued to listen.
"Are you an idiot? I came out here to get away from the flock of sheep making foolish spectacles of themselves dancing in that hoity toity ballroom." Apparently, "Reid" was a bit of an arrogant jerk in Luke's opinion. The blonde had put a lot of effort into making that nightclub atmosphere perfect.
"Well, we might as well make the best of it," Tom cajoled.
"Hey, get the hell off of me," Reid snarled, and Luke wondered if he should intervene and help him.
"Calm down. I won't bite," Tom replied in a low voice. It made Luke's skin crawl.
"I said get off." Reid's voice had a biting tone.
Exasperation laced Tom's next words. "Oh, come on, you're not going to get a better offer here. I know you don't really want me to stop."
Luke tried to formulate a plan that wouldn't end up with him being punched out by one of the men. Hell, for all he knew, Reid was humongous and Tom was tiny, and this was all some elaborate game they were playing. His thoughts were interrupted by the next outburst.
"I said leave me the hell alone!" Slight panic infused Reid's voice, giving it a higher pitch. Luke could hear ragged breaths and what sounded like feet fighting for purchase against the stone path.
Momentarily frozen by what was transpiring around the wall, Luke sprang into action when he heard a glass break against the ground. Worrying that physically pulling Tom away might incite further trouble-and he still had no idea what size Tom might be-he tried to walk as casually around the corner as possible. Pasting a smile on his face even though he was engulfed by night, he called out, "Reid! I can't see a thing in the dark. Are you there, sweetheart?"
A lamplight illuminated the two men's forms. Reid, presumably the smaller of the two men, pushed Tom away from him as Luke's eyes leveled on them. Luke's heart sank when he saw that Tom, a brawny man with a reddish complexion visible even in the dim light, had had Reid pinned against the wall-from the size disparity, Reid would have unlikely been able to do much against Tom if the assault had gone further.
"Reid!" Luke gushed, hurrying to the man's side. At this point, he paid little attention to Reid and focused exclusively on Tom, praying that the large man would go away.
"You have a boyfriend?" Tom asked in a nonplussed manner.
Before Reid could say anything, Luke answered, "Yes, I'm a bit of a gate-crasher today, I'm afraid. But, I just couldn't keep away from Reid in his tuxedo. He always looks so great when he dresses up." Actually, Luke had no idea what Reid looked like and hoped that he wasn't professing that some scrawny scarecrow was eye-candy. The inappropriate thought that it would be a shame if that voice was not paired with a sexy body flitted through Luke's mind.
Reid finally spoke, betraying a slight tremble in his voice, as he said to Tom, "He and I were planning to meet here."
"Really?" asked Tom in derision. "The infamous asshole Reid Oliver has a boyfriend?"
"I know, what are the odds?" Reid, having gained some composure, replied satirically.
Luke reached over and squeezed Reid's hand in reassurance. A quiet gasp escaped his lips, and he had to force himself not to pull back from the tingling sensation that emanated up his arm as soon as he touched the other man. Turning his face toward Reid, he wondered if he'd see any indication that the doctor had felt the same strange energy, but Reid's face was hidden in the darkness.
Exaggerating his movements, Luke leaned into Reid's side while swinging an arm around him, smiled widely at Tom, and asked, "Would you mind leaving us alone? I don’t mean to be rude, but he and I don't have much time together this weekend."
Tom angled his head to the side, still not sure that he was being given the truth. "Fine," he finally said, storming off into the night.
Luke let out a long, audible breath. "Are you okay?"
The hushed stillness of Luke's voice was at odds with Reid's turbulent emotions. Reid turned, the back of his head feeling the touch of lamplight for the first time. He closed his eyes and nodded.
He had been surprised by Tom's appearance in the garden. The doctor had only met the man two hours ago in the great hall at dinner. The larger man had pushed Reid to drink, which Reid had refused because even sober, Reid wasn't the most skilled conversationalist. But, Tom had adamantly flirted with Reid nonetheless, and Reid had only half-heartedly reciprocated. The swarthy brunette just was not his type.
Reid had left the great hall shortly after the dancing had begun. He had been enjoying the relative quiet of the square when Tom had appeared. The next thing Reid knew, Tom was backing Reid up slowly into the stone wall, then Tom's mouth was pressing hard against Reid's. When Reid finally tried to push Tom away, Tom had batted Reid's hands away effortlessly and tried to open Reid's mouth forcefully with his hands along Reid's jaw. Tom then knocked Reid's champagne glass out of his hand and kept pressing his body into Reid. Reid could smell whiskey on the other man's breath.
Reid couldn't believe how lucky he had been. He started to feel shaky, his hands trembling in the aftermath. His rescuer, whose face he hadn't even seen yet, was instantly guiding the doctor to an iron bench.
"Hey," Luke soothed, sitting next to Reid and rubbing the other man's back. "Hey, it's okay. He's gone."
Reid snapped, "Don't patronize me. I'm well aware that Tom high-tailed it out of here."
Luke's hands went up defensively. "Ouch. I'm just trying to help."
Reid shook his head at himself. His voice was gruff as he explained, "Sorry. I didn't mean that. When I'm upset, my default mode is 'asshole.'" Reid paused and said, "Thank you for helping me."
Luke smiled. "You're welcome. So you're saying I rescued the dragon rather than the sweet damsel?" Maybe he could tease the other man into better spirits. He couldn't blame Reid for being snappish-if the same thing had happened to Luke, he would have been crying in a corner somewhere.
"Well, I'm definitely no damsel," Reid replied drily.
"Would you like to go back inside?" Luke's heart felt a little lighter at the brighter tone in the other man's voice.
Immediately, Reid responded. "No. I'd like to sit here longer, if you don't mind." He needed to calm down a bit more before he faced the crowd.
"I don't mind at all," Luke said in a kind voice. "What's your name?"
"Dr. Reid Oliver."
"Well, Dr. Reid Oliver," Luke said, emphasizing the "doctor," before sharing, "I'm Luke Snyder. It's nice to meet you."
Reid leaned back, and dim lamplight fell upon his face, illuminating it for the first time since Luke came across him. The blonde's breath caught in his throat as he took in the other man's handsome features. The strong jaw, straight nose, and eyes that Luke thought were sapphire blue but wasn't sure in this light, they all combined to form the sublime. Reid was gorgeous, and Luke suddenly felt an emotion he knew he could not afford-yearning. And oh, how wonderful it felt.
A/N I've been listening to some lovely 20s music. Here's the one mentioned in this chapter as sung by Billie Holiday.
I Can't Believe You're in Love With Me