Page 32 of Wolf's Bane
Luis stood awkwardly next to her, his hands twitching and flexing like he didn’t know how to stand.
“Perhaps you should ask Miles to dance,” she offered.
“He said he did not plan to attend. Said he wasn’t the proper company to keep,” Luis mumbled. “I had hoped he would change his mind, but no.”
Ah. She understood that feeling exactly.
“Oh, don’t you two look a lovely pair?” Charlotte said. Luis mumbled a reply, blushing.
“As do you,” Solenne said truthfully. Charlotte’s curls were on full display, tumbling and shining in the candlelight.
“How many dances have you promised? I haven’t agreed to any,” Charlotte said in a rush. “Papa says I’m being foolish, but Jase invited me. A personal invitation. Do you think that means something?” She fluttered a yellow silk fan, emphasizing her words.
“Just one dance,” Solenne answered when Charlotte paused for breath.
“To Aleksandar, yes? Where is he? I bet he looks so dashing. Oh, as do you, Luis. The color suits you.”
Colonel Chambers and his nephew approached. “Miss Marechal, Miss Wodehouse,” he said with a nod. “No Aleksandar?”
“He sends his regrets,” she said, which was a lie because Alek’s exact words were much more colorful and contained zero regret.
“Not a worry. More pretty partners for us, eh, Jase?”
Charlotte laughed lightly, fluttering her fan. Luis tugged at the nearly too-short coat sleeves.
Jase looked bored at a dance held for his benefit. “If you say so. Country dances are a quaint amusement.”
“But the company is so charming,” Chambers said.
“If you can call this boorishly rustic aesthetic charming.”
Solenne rocked back on her heels, stunned at Jase’s rudeness. “I’m sure you’re accustomed to grander affairs in Founding,” she said, trying her best to keep her tone polite and not boorishly rustic.
“Not likely,” Chambers said, giving a hearty slap to Jase’s back. “This one was too sickly. Foul air in Founding, you know. Too much smoke in the air. Country life may be slower, but you get to enjoy it. Now, would you lovely ladies care to dance?”
He extended his hand to Solenne, who felt obliged to take it. Charlotte beamed at Jase, who gave her a cool look. “Pardon me, I’m feeling sickly, and nothing entices me to dance at the moment. My apologies, Miss Wodehouse.”
He turned on his heel and left, leaving Charlotte quite red in the face.
Smoothly, Chambers offered his arm to Charlotte. “Forgive my nephew, Miss Wodehouse. He had a coughing fit earlier and is always in a foul mood after.”
“Is he quite recovered? Should he be out?” Charlotte asked, because of course she was more concerned about Jase Parkell’s wellbeing than her own insulted pride. Not to worry. Solenne was more than capable of being insulted for the pair of them.
“Confinement is seldom beneficial, in my opinion. He needs to exercise his lungs beyond expelling hot air. Now, please have pity on an old man. I don’t know if I can keep up with a young lady such as yourself.”
Solenne rolled her eyes, but Charlotte laughed, Jase’s rude snub forgotten.
She felt content to watch the crowd and make pleasant conversation. Luis watched the dancers with raw greed on his face.
Suitable partners came over, traded pleasantries, but Luis never seemed to make the leap to asking them to dance, despite the clear yearning on his face.
“Would you like to dance?” she asked Luis.
“Would it be pathetic to dance with my sister?”
“Not as much as a spinster dancing with her younger brother. Oh, the burden he must bear, being seen with her in public society.” She pressed a hand to her forehead, earning a small chuckle.
They joined the dancers, and almost immediately Solenne realized why Luis had been hesitant. He was terrible. All elbows and knees, he kept bumping into her.
