Chapter Three #2
Prince Hans guided her onto the dance floor, and they began to glide with the music.
He was nimble and confident, leading her around the glittering ballroom with sweeping movements.
She caught sight of Charlotte being expertly danced around in Prince Magnus’s arms, and she had to admit that he was a good dancer despite the stiffness of his waistcoat and collar.
‘I hope you didn’t hurt yourself on the glass, Miss Mortimer,’ said Prince Hans, drawing her eyes back up to him.
‘Oh, you saw that.’ How could he not? She’d toasted their arrival with a smashed glass like a Russian. ‘No, I was not hurt, but I thank you for asking. I have always been a little clumsy.’
‘And yet you dance very well indeed,’ said Prince Hans, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Strangely, I have no problem with dancing or talking. But in a quiet room, I will inevitably make a fool of myself. I simply cannot bear silence.’
Prince Hans’s mouth twitched with amusement, and he twirled her away from his brother who gave them a disapproving scowl, even as poor Charlotte tried in vain to grab Prince Magnus’s attention with her smiles and blushes. ‘I am afraid I am much the same, Miss Mortimer.’
Selina blinked. ‘I doubt that, Your Serene Highness. I cannot imagine you dropping a glass of punch at the sight of your brother.’
‘The sight of my brother caused you to drop your glass?’ he asked, raising a bronze brow with a teasing look, and Selina wished she could have disappeared from his arms like a ghost.
She tried valiantly to fumble a coherent response.
‘Well, it was more his countenance. He is a very imposing man. I mean…regal and…’ For the love of all that is good in the world, stop!
She sighed. ‘I fear I am doing it again, filling the silence with foolishness. I am sure Your Serene Highness could never be so silly.’
‘You are utterly charming, Miss Mortimer. I may not be silly, but I am far too reckless for my brother’s liking.
’ A kind expression softened his face, and they twirled beneath the chandelier, candlelight catching the fire in his hair.
Selina thought absently that he would be as breathtaking as his brother in a few more years.
‘I can sympathise. My father often laments my spirited ways. But then, I am his only daughter, and he has had to accept that I will always be this way.’
‘And what way is that?’
She chuckled. ‘Quick to laugh—even at myself—curious, clumsy and unable to hide a single thought or feeling. But I also consider myself a good friend and cheerful company. So not all bad.’
‘You are honest. A rare and noble trait. But you forgot to mention beautiful. I suspect my brother thought so too. I have never seen him be so perplexed before.’
Selina laughed at the absurdity of his statement.
‘And you are too kind! Nobody would ever describe me as a beauty, much less the type of woman to ruffle a sovereign prince.’ Selina was certain she was overstepping, but then again, she had never spoken with a prince before, so she had no idea what their conversation should entail.
She suspected Charlotte was having a very different interaction by the pained smile on her face as they twirled past. Prince Magnus was paying more attention to their dance than his own.
Prince Hans chuckled. ‘Ahh, but you did not see him after your little accident. He was most distracted, kept looking back to see where you had gone. He almost forgot the name of the first man who was introduced to him, the Duke of Richmond, no less. My brother was mortified!’
‘Almost forgot? So he didn’t actually forget.’ Selina was beginning to think the young prince was teasing her.
‘Of course not. My brother never forgets anything.’
This was a very strange conversation indeed. Prince Hans seemed both irritated and admiring of his brother. ‘I see,’ she said, unsure of what else to say.
‘And…he seemed rather focused on you a moment ago as well. Couldn’t keep his eyes off you.’ Prince Hans’s head tilted as if he might find the answer to some challenging puzzle by staring into her face. ‘My brother is never distracted…’
Selina didn’t appreciate where this conversation was headed. ‘You forget, I was not invited to dance with His Serene Highness… I suspect he finds me irritating.’
‘Perhaps,’ Prince Hans said thoughtfully, and Selina tried her best not to be insulted. He gestured lightly with his chin, a smug smile spreading across his mouth. ‘But why does he keep staring at you, I wonder?’
Selina followed his gaze and noticed the brothers were staring at each other across the dance floor. Except the elder was not amused and had a thunderous scowl upon his face. Poor Charlotte looked sick to her stomach with nerves.
Selina had the uncomfortable realisation that she was being used as a pawn in a game she did not understand or wish to know.
‘Prince Magnus disapproves of me or, should I say, disapproves of you dancing with me, and…that pleases you. That is why you asked me to dance, isn’t it?
’ she asked flatly, not caring anymore about etiquette.
Prince Hans’s eyes shifted back to hers, and she saw the guilt written clear as day across his face.
‘Miss Mortimer, I sincerely meant no offence. I have a difficult relationship with my brother, and he is determined to marry us both into the British aristocracy, whether I like it or not.’ The prince looked uncomfortable, as he realised his confession only reinforced Selina’s suspicions.
Selina forced a bright smile. She supposed the young prince was trapped, and she could understand that feeling. She had been trapped by her many failings for most of her life.
They passed Mr Chadwick watching them on the edges of the dance floor, and she straightened her spine desperate for him to notice her again.
Could one dance with a prince change everything?
Would the sight of her laughing with a prince make him realise that good breeding and a great-aunt’s approval didn’t matter? She dearly hoped so…
They twirled away from Prince Magnus, Charlotte and Mr Chadwick. ‘I understand, Your Serene Highness. You do me a great kindness by asking me to dance with you, regardless of the reason behind it.’
Prince Hans winced. ‘It appears… I am not kind after all. I sincerely apologise, Miss Mortimer. What can I do to beg your forgiveness?’
She took pity on him. How could she not?
He was so far above her in every way. ‘There is no need to apologise. I am having a wonderful time. All the ladies will be jealous that I waltzed with a prince!’ She thought for a moment.
‘But perhaps…as a favour to me, you could dance with a variety of partners…especially, those with empty dance-cards, such as mine? That way you could continue to annoy your brother, whilst also doing a kindness to all of us wallflowers.’
Prince Hans gave her a dazzling smile. ‘Of course! I will be glad to. And Miss Mortimer?’
She looked up into his handsome face and decided that the young prince had a good heart, unlike his brother. ‘Yes?’
‘You are not a wallflower.’
Selina laughed as he twirled her. ‘True!’