Chapter Twenty-One - The Solstice Ball #4
Elswyth saw the frown lines on her forehead and smiled encouragingly, smoothing back her hair, “as Isolde said, it’s nonsense. Put it from your mind and enjoy yourself.”
“Yes,” said Isolde excitedly, “tonight is for celebrating. I never thought I would see Dorian here, never mind in our colours!” to Elswyth, “you taught her well.”
“I did, didn’t I,” said Elswyth looking proudly at Rosamund.
“I better go make sure Bastian’s not causing trouble elsewhere,” said Isolde, but before she left, she grasped Rosamund’s other hand tightly, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Isolde rushed down the stairs to the ballroom, pausing only to stop and whisper to Emrys who waited at the bottom.
He too was dressed in the same gold attire as Isolde and Aurelian.
The dark-haired man raised his eyebrows at whatever Isolde had said and turned to look at Rosamund with an impressed smile.
“It’s all they’ll be talking about for the rest of the week,” said Elswyth as she leaned in to nudge Rosamund.
“Oh I don’t know about that,” said Rosamund with a nervous smile, “there’s still the rest of the ball to go. Anything could happen.”
“So true,” said Elswyth as she turned to regard Rosamund, “you look happier.”
“Do I?” said Rosamund surprised.
Marianne nodded enthusiastically in agreement, “she does. I noticed that too!”
“I hadn’t noticed,” said Rosamund as her eyes were drawn to where Dorian stood with his brothers.
Aurelian still had his arm slung over his shoulder, but he looked more relaxed and caught her eye. Again he offered a smile, which she returned until she saw Marianne looking at her with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth.
“You like him!”
“I do not,” said Rosamund, feeling the flush in her cheeks.
“You do,” insisted Marianne as she looked between them both, “but he’s so, so…scary.”
Rosamund snorted and then cleared her throat, “yes, very scary. Terrifying.”
Elswyth raised an eyebrow and Marianne remained unconvinced. Rosamund could see that she was about to press the subject further when she was interrupted, “Lady Rosamund, I hear you have escalated to putting Prince’s in their place.”
She looked up into the amber eyes of Emrys, “quite by accident I assure you.”
“What a pity,” he said with a grin and held his hand out to her, “my apologies for interrupting, but I thought you might care for a dance.”
Whilst she had not known any of the popular court dances, Rosamund had always loved to dance.
Elswyth had been surprised at how quickly she had picked them up, and though her form had often needed corrected, her enthusiasm for it had been evident.
Though something of a wallflower in her youth, it had not been by choice.
Her sister had always been the more graceful dancer and thus the greater choice of dance partners.
Rosamund had been lucky to get a dance off one of her brothers in those days.
Rosamund eagerly took the outstretched hand, “I would be delighted too.”
As the music changed the two of them swept their way out to the main floor.
There were fewer whispers now, at least, fewer whispers directed at her.
Emrys brought her into the correct hold as the music began proper.
Soon they were gliding across the marble floor, weaving amongst the other dancers, a genuine smile across her face.
Emrys was swift on his feet, the hand on her waist firm but not too forceful as he guided her around the room.
A few times she would make a misstep, but he would cover for her elegantly.
“You’re a natural, Lady Rosamund,” he said after spinning her out from his hold.
She laughed, “as natural as the many lessons from Princess Elswyth.”
He chuckled as he brought her back into the hold, swaying to the music, “No it’s more than that. There is a new confidence to you. A boldness, I like it.”
She beamed up at him, “you think so?”
“I do,” he insisted as they continued to move around the dance floor, though he looked over her shoulder, “though I do not think I am the only one to notice.”
He spun her around so that she could see who he had glanced too and saw Dorian was watching them closely from balcony.
Aurelian and Osric flanked him on either side, the former chattering away whilst Dorian clearly did not listen.
He was watching her as she danced with Emrys.
Aurelian seemed to notice this too and she saw a wide grin appear on his face as he leaned in to whisper to his brother.
Dorian pulled a face as he turned round to look at Aurelian and shook his head emphatically which elicited a booming laugh from the blonde and a chuckle from Osric.
Rosamund looked back to Emrys as he spun her again, “my what red cheeks Lady Rosamund.”
“The dance,“it’s very fast.”
“Of course,” said Emrys, though his expression turned a serious, “though, you should be careful. Prince Bastian is likely to retaliate.”
She knew she should feel scared, but instead she shrugged and said, “And I’ll be ready for him.”
Emrys laughed and as he spun her out again said, “as I said, bold.”
From her position she saw Prince Aurelian come up behind him and place his hands on Emrys waist, “forgive me Sir Emrys, may I cut in? I would love to dance with my future sister-in-law.”
Emrys briefly leaned into Aurelian, his back flush with the gold silk of Aurelian’s toga, as he glanced back at him, “by all means your highness.”
The air felt charged around them. As Emrys handed her hand into Aurelian’s, bowed and left the dance floor, the Prince’s eyes never left him until he disappeared into the crowd. He turned back to her and took her in a firm hold as the tempo of the music increased.
“I hope you can keep up,” he said with a grin.
“Let’s see,” she said, feeling a rush of exhilaration as he moved them forward.
He held her firmly, sometimes even lifting her off her feet as he spun them around the floor.
She had shrieked a laugh each time, hearing a rumble in his chest as she was flush against it when he lifted her.
There were moments where she thought she was about to go careening into another couple, but he would pull her back just in time.
By the end of the first song the room was spinning.
He brought them to a sway as the music slowed.
“Not bad,” he said as he looked down at her.
“Not so bad either,” she said through pants.
“I wanted to thank you, for bringing him here.”
“I did nothing.”
He gently reached up and tilted her chin so that she had no choice but to look up at his earnest face, “I mean it, thank you,” he dropped the hand back to her waist, “my brother has been cooped up in that tomb of a home long enough. I know that some of us leave something to be desired,” he glanced to where Bastian sat, surrounded by other lords, well in his cups, “but Dorian, of all my brothers, he is the one that I would gladly spend more time with. I know the feeling is not mutual, but to have him here,” he grinned, “well, you have made me very happy Lady Rosamund. I am in your debt.”