Page 21 of The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom
The music started, and the dance began.
* * *
Elissa could not believeshe was doing this.
She had never led off a dance, not once in her life. Not even when her family gathered at Aunt Frederica’s house in Chipping Campden for Christmas, and they would roll up the carpets so the cousins could dance after supper.
The reason Elissa had never been chosen to set the figures was because she was widely acknowledged to be an indifferent dancer. Her sisters had tried to teach her the steps, but she could only bring herself to turn the same circles so many times before the urge to return to her book became impossible to suppress. And what little time she had found to submit to their instruction, she usually spent with her mind somewhere else.
Yet here she was, with just about everyone she knew watching her stumble through the figures.
Edward danced elegantly, which was unsurprising, as there was nothing he was not good at. He had selected the perfect figure—simple enough that any competent dancer could pick it up, yet not so basic as to imply that the present company was lacking in skill. And Elissa was managing it.
Some of the time.
Edward took her hand as they promenaded back up the center aisle, before crossing each other and passing to the outside of the next couple in line. Cross again, make a tight circle around the next couple… not too bad for the girl who had once tripped over a pig. At least on that front she was safe—there were no pigs present tonight.
As they met in the center, Edward smiled at her encouragingly, his eyes as bright as stained glass next to his midnight blue coat, and she tripped over her own foot.
Elissa sighed. As humiliating as this was, it was worth it. She hadn’t even considered saying no, not even when Mr. Warner requested that they lead the dance. For the rest of her life, she would cherish this memory of the time she danced withEdward Astley.
Besides, they must be almost done by now. Why, they had already performed the figure seventeen times!
Elissa peered down the set and saw that they were not even halfway down the queue of couples.
She sighed. At least she would be getting some practice.
* * *
Edward felt intenselyguilty for putting Elissa through this. She was clearly nervous, as anyone would be, after being thrust so unexpectedly into the center of attention. But she was doing remarkably well, gaining confidence with each repetition of the steps.
He knew he should leave her alone. Being near him brought her nothing but pain and scrutiny. And he knew nothing could come of it. And yet…
He couldn’t seem to leave her alone. He was just… drawn to her, as if she were the moon and he were the tides.
Tonight would probably be the last time he would ever see her. Surely it was not so terrible to beg a dance or two from the girl he truly fancied?
Toward the bottom of the set, he encountered Harrington, who was dancing with Cassandra. As he circled his brother, Harrington muttered, “Haven’t seen her in ten years, have you? You filthy liar.”
Edward did not so much as glance at his brother.
But he did make a point to tread upon his foot.
* * *
When the dance ended,Edward made a valiant attempt to lead Elissa to the refreshment table.
But, in a strange and entirely unprecedented turn of events, Elissa found herself surrounded by young men vying for her hand in the next set.
She glanced to her left and saw that Edward had been similarly set-upon by young ladies. Which was not the least bit surprising.
But it was unfortunate in that it prevented them from speaking. And Elissa knew she needed to tell him… something.
The thought of telling him her secret, that she was the anonymous translator ofOn the Sublime, made her stomach churn with terror. She had so much to lose if he were to expose her before the contest.
But what she had assumed had been an isolated encounter at Farmer Broadwater’s pond had turned into something more. First, he had replaced the book she had destroyed. And now he was here tonight.
Both of these gestures likely meant nothing. The first was a sign of his impeccable manners; the second, a mark of his consideration toward his neighbor, Lord Redditch. To be sure, he had asked her to dance the first set, but as he was not from the immediate area, she was likely the only woman he knew in the room.
