Page 17 of The Girl Out of Time
The band delved into a new piece—a slow, melancholy tune of Tchaikovsky’sNone but the Lonely Heart. Emmeline supported her chin with her hands. More people came, and some sat on the stairs with them,and more songs followed, all of them in a similar, slow rhythm. Emmeline glanced at Leon, who was utterly transfixed, head cocked to the side.
“Looks like you’re enjoying it,” she said after the current piece ended.
“It is beautiful music.”
“Hmm. A bit on the sad side, perhaps.” When she’d thought of a concert, she’d imagined something more fun, considering it was evening entertainment.
“Yes,” he said as if he didn’t consider that to be a bad thing.
The band struck up another tune—this time, a lively song that made even the pianist more animated as his fingers flew across the keyboard. Emmeline jumped to her feet and extended a hand to Leon. “Care for a dance?”
“No one else is dancing.”
“Someone has to be the first.”
He glanced around, as if making sure that was allowed, and stood. Emmeline led him down the stairs to the space cleared before the band.
“What do we dance?” he asked.
All the dances she’d learned were too slow and formal for the reel. “I’ve no idea.” The surprised, judgemental glances of other passengers seared the skin on her back. Perhaps she should’ve thought about this.
Leon glanced to the side, head slightly tilted, as if trying to judge the band and the music; then looked back at her, silvery eyes gleaming in the light. “Improvise.”
He put his hands on her waist, and she put hers on his shoulders, and they started spinning. One thing became apparent quickly—even though Leon might not know what dance to match to the tune, he was an accomplished dancer. His steps were perfectly adjusted to the rhythm as he led her across the impromptu dance floor, incorporating little flourishes witha spin here and a jump there. The crowd rustled and whispered, but after half a minute, more pairs joined. The cellist nodded at the pianist, and the band headed into the crescendo with renewed vigor. The room blurred around her as Emmeline spun, focused on Leon’s face, and that fluttering feeling in her belly returned, spreading through her being and warming her cheeks. Her head was swimming—she was losing control, but that didn’t worry her at all. She was safe.
It wasn’t until much, much later, after the concert had ended, and the musicians bowed to well-deserved applause, that Emmeline and Leon made their way back up amidst other guests drifting out of the reception.
He paused at the deck door. Emmeline twirled the rose between her fingers.
“I—” they started at the same time.
Leon nodded, indicating she should go first.
“I had fun,” she said. “Thank you for coming.”
His face passed through a dozen emotions: apprehension, at first; then a tiny smile, and a frown as he looked at the floor and finally back at her, trapping her in a soft gaze.
A pleasant shiver ran down her spine. She’d been in this moment so many times—in her books, at least. But now that it was real, she didn’t know what to do.
Leon opened his mouth, closed it again, then finally managed, “I had fun, too. Tomorrow?”
She nodded.
He nodded a goodbye and slipped out into the night. Emmeline lingered, letting the brisk air cool her down, absentmindedly playing with the rose. Had she botched it? Was she supposed to say something else?
After a few more minutes, she headed back to her cabin. Turning into the hallway, she came to an abrupt stop upon spotting the two figures a few doors down.
“Emmeline.” Father’s tone, though calm and controlled as always, let her know they weren’t waiting to wish her good night.
“Father, Mother.” She approached, trying to keep her voice light. “What seems to be the matter?”
“I ran into Lady Paddington,” Mother said. “She told me you were downstairs. At the concert.”
Oh, no.If Mother’s acquaintance saw her, there was no chance she hadn’t seen Leon. But Emmeline tried anyway. “I was feeling better and wanted some entertainment.”
“You were not alone,” Mother continued.
“So I danced with a man. The last time I checked, that was the accepted social norm.”
