Page 20 of Slippers and Thorns
“Good evening, Henry, Charlie,” Ella replied sweetly. She twirled, enjoying the way her dress swished around her. “How do I look?”
She was acting out of character, and she knew it. So did her guards. Charlie raised an eyebrow, while Henry glanced away and coughed into his fist.
“Like you’re going to a ball, Your Highness,” Charlie finally answered.
Ella smiled smugly to herself. Neither verbally paid her any compliment, but she was certain both had a gleam of appreciation in their eyes, even if they tried to hide it like the dutiful guards they were.
“You look lovely, Arabella.”
She turned to find Michael standing behind her. He was scowling over her shoulder, but he quickly focused on her and offered her a smile.Good, she thought.
“Shall we?” Michael asked politely, offering her his arm. Ella returned his smile as she placed her hand lightly in his elbow.
They walked silently towards the ballroom. After a few minutes, Michael said abruptly, “What was Charles doing there?”
“Charlie?” Ella replied, surprised. “He’s one of my guards. Why wouldn’t he be there?”
“Henry was there, too,” Michael pointed out.
“Yes,” she said slowly, confused as to why they were discussing the subject. “I believe he had just relieved him.”
“Hmm.” Michael looked dissatisfied, but he let the topic drop.
Once they had been announced and filtered into the crowd, Katy pounced on them. She was radiant, her brown eyes warm, and her red dress complemented her light brown skin and dark hair. Only the top half of her hair was braided tonight, while the rest of her curls lightly bushed out, reaching about halfway down her back. “I know there are people you’re expected to talk to and dance with tonight,” she told them firmly, “but I fully expect you to have fun anyway. Axel and I will open the dancing, and then you two will be up.”
“Of course, Katy,” Michael acknowledged, wrapping an arm around Ella’s bare shoulders. “We will do our best.”
Ella just smiled. She fully intended to have fun tonight.
CHAPTER 9
Michael
M
ichael gave his partner a polite smile as he led her off the dance floor. “Thank you for the dance,” he said with a courteous nod.
“The pleasure was mine, Your Highness,” she replied, dipping into a curtsy.
Michael turned away as soon as he could without being rude. The grand ballroom was filled with people, many dancing in the center of the room to the sweet strains of the small orchestra in the corner, some lingering near the refreshment tables, while others mingled. Lit chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and large, graceful pillars ran along the long sides of the room. Live trees and bushes were scattered through the room in large pots, adding a bit of the outdoors to the indoors and providing the illusion of separate spaces in the large room.
Now that he was finished with his political dances, Michael looked around for Arabella. Since their shared time at the old castle, he had been looking forward to this ball, even though Arabella had been frustrating since then, acting unhappy when he spoke with other women alone, but refusing to come with him, and more often than not choosing to not spend additional time with him. He was hoping to capture her for most of the remaining evening, preferably in dancing, although he wouldn’t object to a bit of time in the shadow of some potted plants if she proved amenable.
Just as he spotted her following a young noble onto the dance floor, he heard a familiar voice. “Oh, I just love balls, don’t you?” The speaker giggled. “I’m going to dance with both of the princes if I can.”
Forewarned, Michael dodged around a small knot of attendees and slipped behind a nearby pillar. Peeking around it, he saw Lady Ilse chattering with two of her friends, both as dolled up as she was and scanning the crowd for their next victims. He let out a breath of relief. If Arabella were to catch him dancing with her, the chances of his evening proceeding as he planned would decrease significantly.
He turned his attention to the dancers. Spotting Arabella again, he frowned when he realized her partner wasn’t one of the men she had to dance with. She wore a coy smile, saying something to the young man that made him grin in response, and then laughing at his return sally.
When the dance ended, he began to head towards her, but another young man caught her before she was even off the floor. She was in a fey mood tonight. As with the previous one, she sailed around the floor with a quick smile and ready laugh, throwing the young man looks that were better suited to a court maiden than a married woman.
After the third nobleman beat him to his wife, Michael worked his way through the crowd during the dance in anticipation of where she and her current dance partner would finish. Yet another young man stepped up to her as he pushed past the last of the onlookers.
“Excuse me,” Michael said with a polite smile, shoving his jealousy away. It was a ball after all – attendees were expected to dance. Arabella and her partner-designate turned to face him. “I believe this dance is mine.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” the young man said, bowing and releasing Arabella’s hand immediately.
“Hello, Michael,” Arabella greeted him lightly. “Are you enjoying yourself? I certainly am.” She gave him a mischievous grin.
