Chapter Twenty-One - The Solstice Ball #5
He had said it with such conviction, such determination in his eyes that she realised that he meant it.
He felt he owed her. She wanted to make light of it, to tell him there was no need, or continue to insist she had no hand in it.
But when she looked up into his earnest face all she could say was, “and I shall hold you to it.”
He smiled brightly, “good, another dance?”
“Why not,” her feet screaming at her as to why not, but she ignored them.
He had just been about to bring her into the proper hold again, when someone tapped his shoulder.
“I’m cutting in,” said Dorian.
Aurelian laughed in disbelief as he turned to his brother, “it’s ‘may I cut in’.”
“I’m not asking,” said Dorian with a frown, which only caused his brother to laugh more, “I am cutting in.”
Dorian stepped forward but Aurelian held firm to Rosamund, continuing to sway them from side to side as he levelled a raised eyebrow to his brother, “but you hate dancing little brother. You told me as much only moments ago.”
“I changed my mind,” grumbled Dorian as he looked down at the floor.
“Are you worried brother? Are you jealous?”
“No.”
“Perhaps she’ll never want to dance with another again?” Aurelian looked to Rosamund, “what do you say Lady Rosamund? Will we allow him to cut in?”
“I think we better,” she said in a mock whisper to Aurelian, “otherwise he’ll pout for the rest of the evening.”
“Quite right Lady Rosamund,” said Aurelian as Dorian glowered at them both.
He passed her hand to his brother who tentatively and carefully took it in his own.
Aurelian bowed to her, winked, and left the two of them alone in the centre of the dance floor.
He began to usher other couples away from them and she felt Dorian’s hand tense in her grip as he noticed.
He had not moved her into the hold, so she positioned herself, bringing his hand up and around her.
He gave her a nervous smile and stepped forward onto her shoe.
“Sorry,” he grumbled as he quickly stepped away again.
“It’s okay,” she said, ignoring the throb of her toes.
He went to begin the dance and immediately knocked her into another passing couple that had spun too close to them.
“Out of the way,” he had snapped at them, before looking back at her with an apologetic expression, “sorry.”
“Honestly, it’s fine,” she said soothingly, just as he tried to spin her out and back again with a little more force than necessary, causing her to stumble and fall against his chest as she was drawn back in.
“Sorry,” he said once again.
“We don’t have too,” she said softly to him as she righted herself.
“I want too,” he said firmly, and then turned to look at her with an embarrassed look and said a little more quietly, “I just…I don’t…I don’t know how.”
She tried not to look too surprised, “you don’t know how to dance?”
He looked nervously around them for anyone that might have been listening in.
“Why did you ask to dance then?” she asked, trying to keep the smile from her face.
“Because I couldn’t watch you dance with them and not me.”
Her eyes widened and despite whatever was laced in the music she could feel her heart begin to pound in her chest as she looked up at him. He tried to look away but she followed his gaze, and smiled up at him, “then, let’s dance.”
He sighed, “I can’t. Maybe you’re right. This was stupid. Let’s just leave-.”
“Trust me,” she said firmly as she moved closer to him, taking his hand firmly in hers, placing his other hand on her lower back.
“What?”
“Trust me,” she said slowly and softly.
He did not say anything. He only nodded, and she began to lead them around the dance floor.
It was not the smooth sweeping of Emrys, or even the energetic twirls of Aurelian, but she moved them around the dance floor with more ease than she expected.
He followed her lead perfectly. There was still the odd mishap, she was far from a perfect dancer herself, but not as many as she might have expected.
Aurelian had cleared most of the other dancers away from them, giving them space whilst at the same time ensuring that everyone’s gazes were on them.
If it had been any of the other brothers, she would have suspected that this was all some trick, some way to trip them up.
However, she did not believe Aurelian capable of it, she believed that he was happy for his brother and only wanted to give him his moment to shine.
Rosamund would not let him fail. She would guide them through every step, every spin, and they would see Dorian for the Prince he was.
As graceful and royal as the rest of them.
There were times she saw him glance nervously around at those watching but she would quickly bring his attention back to her.
Follow me. Trust me.
After a while he relaxed and there was even a smile before the end of the music. As the music ended, Rosamund encouraged him to dip her, the room erupting into applause. Though it was short lived as a hush fell on the room.
Three women set foot on the dance floor and walked straight for Rosamund.