13
“Now, we stand opposite each other. When the music starts, you bow from the waist, and I curtsy. Then we begin. Oh, I should show you the steps first, shouldn’t I?”
Skenan grinned at her. And, Abagail, smiling back at him, felt instantly lighter.
“Now, the minuet step is the dance most commonly done, so I’ll teach you this one first. You start with your feet out in what’s called first position, and then you begin. This step is done to the count of six, and we dance on the balls of our feet.” She showed him exactly what was the ball of the foot. “Now, on count one, we both step forward with our right foot. On the count of two, we both bring the ankle of our left foot forward and we touch it against the right foot, like this, and we bend the knee slightly at that same time. We then take more steps, and on step six, you bring your right ankle to your left foot like this.” Again she demonstrated. “Then we start all over. It is usually danced in a circle or in a line, with the gentleman in one line and the ladies facing them.”
Skenan asked, “Have you ever been to one of these dances?”
“I admit I have not,” she replied.
“Then, tell me,” he said, “how it is you came to know this dance so well as to teach it to me.”
She looked down and grinned. Then, glancing up at him, she admitted, “It is because I was so small, back there in England. And so, I could easily sneak into the ballrooms where these dances were held, and I watched the couples until I knew the steps, the arm motions and the promenade. Then, privately, much as we are doing here, I practiced.”
“I am glad you watched, so that here and now you might teach these steps to me. I am glad also that this will be your first dance, and also mine. We shall then both experience this together, our first dance.”
“Yes,” she replied, grinning. “But, Skenan, I have only now realized I have none of the fine dresses women wear to these balls. Perhaps you might not wish to take me to this ball after all.”
“Fine dress or not,” he said, “you and I are both to be honored, and I wish to take you there and dance with you. I fear dancing with anyone else but you would be a waste of my energy. But, if you do not object, perhaps one of the Oneida women might lend you one of her best dresses. Shall I ask for you?”
“Oh no, I could not possibly have you ask someone to loan me a dress.”
“But—“
“I mean it, Skenan. I will not allow it.”
He grinned. “As you say. Come, let us practice.”
“All right. Now, Mr. Skenan, before we begin the lesson, I must tell you about the talk I had with Mr. Wilson shortly before you arrived here.”
“Nyoh, yes, I met him on the stairs as I was climbing up them. What did he say?”
“Skenan, he told me he had spoken with you, and it is you whom I have to thank for my freedom.”
“He freed you, then?”
“Yes, he did. He even showed me the contract I had signed with my mark upon it before he burned it. It is still there, in the fireplace.”
“Let me see it,” Skenan said, stepping toward the hearth. He picked up the burnt paper and, squeezing it between his fingers, the parchment, which had once indentured her, became nothing but a fragment of ashes. He threw the ashes back into the fire, then slapped his hands together as though its litter had left a stench upon him.
“This,” he said, “is the rightful place for a paper that enslaves one man or a woman to another man or woman. If I could, I would burn them all. But, of course, this is impossible.”
Abagail sent him a shy glance, and she was about to ask him if she might attain the position of becoming his sister. But, she hesitated. For a reason she didn’t know, she could not speak the words, being afraid of what his answer might be.
“Nyoh, yes?” he asked. “What is it?”
“Oh,” she murmured, afraid to look at him. “Do not be bothered by my hesitation. It is nothing.”
He said, “Have we not become as close as a brother and a sister? You can ask me anything.”
She said, “I…I… Well, because I am now free, I was wondering if…if you might ask me again to be your…your sister?”
All at once, Skenan’s glance at her seemed guarded. But, why? Had he changed his mind?
A long silence ensued between them, until at last, Skenan whispered, “I still wish you to be part of my family.”
“You do? Oh, I am so glad. May I now call you ‘brother’?”
He grinned, but, again, he seemed to be shielding his words. At last, he said, “Not yet. There is an adoption ceremony we must both attend. Perhaps, after this dance, if I am not still needed at this fort, we might go to my home and you will be very welcome there.”
“Oh my,” she cried, and there were tears—real tears—in her eyes. “I can hardly believe it. I am to have a family…an actual family. Oh Skenan, when can we leave here? I can barely believe I might have someone to call Mother. Someone to call Father. And, of course, a brother.”
“A brother.” He repeated her words, though he seemed to be not as excited about it as she was.
“I will ask to leave here soon. I think it will be granted.”
“Oh Skenan. I am so excited. But, come. We are here to learn this dance.”
And, taking their places opposite each other, they practiced until the sun began to set in the western sky.