Page 84 of A Torn Allegiance
Both brothers started at the same time to ask Elsie to dance the next set. She turned from one to the other and then smiled. “Pity we cannot all dance together.”
“But we can. Let’s find two other ladies, and we will have six.”
“Excellent.” She nodded. “Then I do not have to feel overly guilty about choosing one or the other of you.”
“Too true. Would you help us in picking the other ladies?” Marc bowed to Elsie. “Since Kristoff is the elder, I shall ask our fourth to partner me, by your leave.”
“And since I too am a part of the group, perhaps she can choose one of the ladies for me as well.” Hayes quite liked the discomfort on each woman’s face, the faces of those who had participated in making her uncomfortable. It was they who were uncomfortable now, as each was reliant upon Elsie’s good graces to secure the next dance with a prince. He watched a whole array of emotions cross Elsie’s face, but most of all, he saw gratitude. Now, who would she choose? He grinned at the thought.
She turned to him, her lip jutting out just enough to distract him. “This requires concentration. You are distracting me.”
“Too true, for you cannot be too careful in choosing,” Hayes said.
She nodded, pointing to Hayes. “You, for example. You need a woman who is intelligent. None other could keep up with your engaging conversation.” She turned to the ladies. “Do any of you spend time studying the great classic literature of our time?” She pointed out the nearest woman, and then whispered to her as she accepted Hayes’s hand, “Best of luck to you.”
Hayes’s new dance partner paled somewhat but stood taller. He took pity on her. “I enjoy Shakespeare’s sonnets.”
Great relief filled her. “I know those.”
“Excellent. You have chosen well, Lady Elsie. Let’s see how well you do for good Marc here.”
“Hmm. He is important, for he loves a good flirtation.”
Marc’s mouth dropped open in amazement, and Hayes choked on his laugh.
“But he has a soft heart and is sincere and open. I would not want him to be too caught up in such a flirtation.” She made a great show of tapping her chin. “And there’s the whole six of us to consider. Who here has shown themselves to be a dear friend to me?”
Hayes watched in approval as the women looked away, one by one.
“Hmm.” Elsie nodded. “Then, perhaps we shall become friends. Any of you will do if you are willing.” She indicated the first woman, a shy, wide-eyed lady Hayes suspected might not have participated in efforts to demean Elsie.
They joined the other dancers on the floor, everyone standing in groups of six, the couples in each grouping facing each other. In this dance, however, they spent equal time with their own partners as they did their opposite.
Kristoff spoke to Marc’s partner. “Remind me of your name.”
She started, obviously more shy than Hayes had even suspected. “Miss Melinda, Your Highness.”
The dance was an exercise in Wilhelm humor. They stood in a line near other groups, and they talked with one another the entire time, often causing their dance partners to laugh.
Hayes called to the man on his left. “Tell me, Lord Trundel. Do you know Lady Elsie?”
Lord Trundel looked from his group over to Lady Elsie and back. “We have danced several times and conversed now and again. She’s lovely.”
Hayes nodded. “I quite agree. Don’t you, Lady Isabel?” He looked to Lord Trundel’s partner, who’s mouth opened for a moment in surprise, and then she nodded. “Why, yes. She is most sought after, I’d imagine.”
Marc spoke to their immediate six. “Yes, I’ve seen the evidence myself, as I tried to find a set with her at our last ball together, and there was a long line of men awaiting their turn with her.” He shook his head. “I’m just grateful she could find space during this ball.”
Hayes turned his attention back to Lady Elsie, who had colored prettily. He wondered if it was possible to overdo their efforts, but he was enjoying himself immensely nonetheless.
As the end of their set neared, Kristoff circled one more time around Elsie. “I think Lady Elsie should help us choose our dance partners for the rest of the evening.”
“I agree with you completely.” Marc smiled at his partner. “I trust Lady Elsie’s opinions above all others’ where my dance partners are concerned.”
They both turned expectantly to Elsie, who again looked so relieved and grateful to them that Hayes wished to shelter her from all other hurt. How could all of thetonnot be as enamored with her as he was?
Word must have spread that the princes were looking for more dance partners through Elsie, because not long after the set had finished, a lineup of women surrounded them all.
And, to Hayes’s great surprise, Lady Annabeth had sidled up to her. “I have not yet danced with either brother. I think Prince Hayes and I have a lot in common, but I admit he seems to be distracted by you. I wonder if I might find similar rapport with Prince Kristoff.”
