Page 19 of The Duke's Last Dance
That was certainly a possibility, he reminded himself.
The walk back to Ashwood Manor did him a lot more good than the walk to Town had. As he left the proper city, he found that he could breathe easier.
In his mind, there was only one choice he could easily pursue without feeling guilty about it. He would indeed find a way to court Lady Catherine, but he would have to do something about Lady Alexia, too. His father would make sure he met this woman, regardless of Nicolas’s feelings about the situation. He would make sure that there was at least some kind of relationship.
When he arrived at Ashwood, he still had no idea what he was going to do about Lady Alexia, but he had resolved that meeting her would do no harm to his resolve to court Lady Catherine. If it did hurt his resolve, then Lady Catherine was not the object of his heart as she had once been.
It pained him to admit that, especially after the way his heart had fluttered at the dinner party when she walked in. That was the way the heart worked, and he wanted to be sure that he wanted to marry Lady Catherine still after being away for so long.
Chapter Eight
Catherine did not know what exactly to expect of her dance instructor, but she had not expected this. The man was portly, as if someone had had too much Christmas dinner in years past and continued the tradition even though it would only make him bigger. She could barely hold the correct posture with him, but he seemed to understand that there were other factors that made it difficult.
She had spent the last two hours learning the quadrille from this man. He had described as an elegant dance to show off the lady, but she thought that a better description of the waltz. The waltz was smooth, quick. It had a flow to it that was missing in the quadrille.
However, the waltz lesson had finally come. It was only about ten in the morning, and there was still plenty of time in the lesson left. Her mother had hired him to come for the entire morning, so he had about two more hours to be paid for. Or to be here for.
Catherine was not entirely sure what to do.
Her mother started the record, and Catherine immediately recognized the waltz song. It was the same song that she and Nicolas had danced to all those years ago. Or, at least, had tried to dance to all those years ago. They used to pretend that they had been invited to Almack House, as they knew they one day would be, and they would try to dance around the room in the little way that only children could believe was appropriate for a waltz.
She remembered how Nicolas would put one hand on her waist and the other held her right hand. She would always put her hand on his shoulder, but now that she was having a proper dance lesson, she had learned that that was almost correct. Almost.
There was nothing more she would have liked more than to dance to this waltz again with Nicolas, but she feared that it would be all but impossible. He had other people to court, as she did. Shewantedto court other people, at least. She was not so sure she could say the same about Nicolas, though it pained her heart to say otherwise.
“Lady Catherine! In the future when dancing with a man, make sure that you are paying attention.” The instructor’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “I hope you are able to pay attention at the balls. If you continue to tramp on the feet of the men you dance with, no one will ever consider you a partner to recommend to others.”
“My apologies, sir… I must have gotten more lost in thought than I had thought…” Catherine did not know what else to say.
Getting lost in thought had been her own fault, yes, but she knew that there was nothing more she could have done. It was the song; she had always done that ever since the night that Nicolas…
She pushed those thoughts away. Yes, he had given her that brooch after this song, but that was not important any longer. Not after he had left her without word that he was going into the Navy and would not be in London for the next Season.
The instructor sighed.
“Let us try it again. From the beginning, if you please, Countess.” He looked towards her mother.
Her mother nodded and restarted the record. Catherine danced the waltz again with the instructor, focusing on her footwork and not stepping on his feet.
“Much better. Though, in the future, you must find a balance between thinking about the dance and not thinking about the dance,” the instructor said. “You have a good form, but you think too much if I instruct you to think.”
“Yes, sir.” Catherine nodded slowly as she spoke. There was something to it; her mother said she thought too much about what was important to her heart, but there was no reason for this man to know that about her.
“My time is up for the morning. Your mother may call me in again, but I pray that you have been able to get your head off the cloud it is on when I come back,” he said. “Good day, Countess, Lady Catherine.”
He walked out without another word.
“Is it always so hard to have a first dance lesson, Mother?” Catherine felt a sting in her cheeks. She felt as though she had failed her mother by not being able to do what she was supposed to.
If she could not dance with the instructor without stepping on his feet, would she be able to do so at the balls? Or would she become the laughingstock of Town and have some kind of horrible nickname about stepping on people’s feet?
“Yes, I believe so. I remember having the same difficulties during my first dance lesson, but fear not, little one,” her mother replied. “You will learn how to dance properly before the end of the Season. He will be coming back.”
“Are you sure?” Catherine frowned. His last critique of her dancing had been pretty harsh.
“Yes. I am sure. I have already paid him for two more sessions; he must come back. As a dance instructor, by the bye, he must be used to people stepping on his feet as he teaches them how to dance properly.” Her mother smiled. “Now, come. I have a surprise for you.”
Her mother never had surprises for her… not like this. Sure, she had been given everything she wanted as a child, but her mother made it a point to make sure that she would like what she would be given first. Or, at least, that she would appreciate it first.
