Chapter eight #3
I got up for a closer look and found that when I was moving, the crabs would move less, but if I stayed still, they would suddenly come to life, hauling their tiny houses on their backs as they went here and there.
Two of them bumped into one another and then circled around each other.
“These two seem to be doing a dance,” I commented.
“Which one?” he asked from behind me.
“What do you mean?”
“Which dance are they doing?”
I looked over my shoulder at Tavric. “I don’t know the names.”
“Were you not taught how to dance?”
I tilted my head as I looked at him. “Not only does dancing require a partner, but do you remember how long my hair was?”
“Oh, right.” He rubbed at his forehead. “Sorry.”
I shrugged. “Nothing to be sorry for. I’ve never danced.
I’ve never done a great many things. Before today, I had not sailed on the sea with the wind in my hair.
I’d never felt sand under my feet, and I’d never lounged on a small island with a prince.
So, as I said, you have nothing to be sorry for.
You’ve been a true friend.” I looked away from him to prevent myself from gushing out all of my thanks.
Instead I took a few steps toward the water until I was on damp, firm sand.
I admired the light reflecting off the water, the bright white clouds against the blue sky, and the way the trees swayed in the wind.
I heard Tavric moving behind me but was surprised when he circled around to face me and swept into a deep bow, holding one hand out. “My lady, might I have this dance?”
A chuckle escaped me. “I told you I don’t know how.”
“Then I’ll show you.” He stepped forward so his toes nearly touched mine and reached behind me to press a hand into the center of my back.
Sparks and fire. I could hardly breathe.
This did not feel healthy. I was suddenly overheated and I couldn’t feel my fingers.
I also couldn’t move, so I just stared up at him.
He raised his right hand up at his side. “Take my hand.”
I obeyed immediately.
He nodded toward his left shoulder. “Now place your other hand there.”
I did so. “Do you have a secret fondness for dancing, Your Highness?” I asked, trying to dispel the thickness in the air.
“Under the right circumstances, yes. Now, you will take two steps back, starting with your left foot. One, two.”
I stepped back as he counted, and he stepped forward to match me.
“Now we’ll do a quick turn to switch places. One and two.”
I stumbled a bit, but we made the turn and I better understood what he meant.
“Now it’s my turn to go back and you’ll come toward me with your right foot. One, two, turn a-round.”
This time, the turn came easier because I understood the rhythm.
“Very good. Now we just repeat that over and over. Ready?”
I nodded, excited both by the prospect of continued close proximity with Tavric and with the idea of having the ability to dance now that my hair was gone.
“Step, step, turn around. Step, step, turn around.” He trailed off as I easily caught the rhythm and we traveled our way down the beach.
I couldn’t help the elated smile that curled over my face, and a laugh burst from my mouth as our pace sped up.
“You’re doing great,” he assured me, but then our course took us far enough up the beach that the sand had dried and become soft and pliant under our feet.
We both tripped and toppled to the ground.
I landed half on top of him but immediately rolled into a sitting position, breathless and chuckling.
“Is this how you dance with the ladies at court?” I asked.
“No. This is how I dance during the summer festivals, when the whole kingdom comes out to celebrate.”
“You topple your subjects to the ground during festivals?”
A laugh burst from his mouth, but he didn’t bother sitting up. “No. I just meant that’s the sort of dance we do at festivals. That wasn’t a court dance.”
“Ah. I suppose it wouldn’t make sense to teach me any courtly dances. I certainly won’t ever attend.”
He rolled his head to look over at me. “Why do you say that?”
My brow scrunched. “I thought courtly things were only meant for royalty and nobility. Am I remembering that wrong?” I thought I’d read that in more than one book. “Perhaps that’s not the same in all kingdoms.”
“You’re right, that’s the norm. But you could still come.” He closed his eyes. “Friends of the prince are always welcome.”
The threat of tears burned my eyes as his kindness washed over me. He gave it so effortlessly, and it continued to surprise me. He didn’t see me as a burden, and he didn’t seem to want anything from me.
As he lay back with his eyes closed, I admired his dark hair and short-trimmed beard.
His hair was windblown, and he’d set aside his vest, lounging in his linen shirt and trousers.
The word that came to mind as I looked at him was scrumptious, though why I would attach that word to a man was beyond me.
My fluttery heart had some very strange ideas.
He cracked one eye open and caught me staring at him. “What?”
“You’re a different person here.”
He snorted. “I’m not a prince here.” He covered his eyes with his arm. “I’m just a man on a beach beside a pretty girl.”
The knot of nerves in my stomach liked that pronouncement very much.