Page 59 of The Oracle's Journey

“Would you care to dance with me?” I asked, a rather abrupt turn from the life cycle of jellyfish.

Emmelina’s shoulders dropped a little, and her face reddened. Then she rested her hands in her lap. “I’m afraid I never learned how. I didn’t have the capacity to learn until just recently. Though I would love to dance with you if I could.”

Damn it. I hadn’t meant to embarrass her. “I would be honored to teach you, if you’d allow me.” I got up from my seat, went to the mantle and opened the music box upon it. Outwardly, it wasn’t particularly grand, but it was long and had the ability to play surprisingly complex pieces of music. One of the matrons installed the cylinder for this specific tune earlier that day at my request. I turned the key to wind the spring then moved toward Emmelina to help her with her chair. While not really a piece of music for courtly dancing, neither was it a lullaby. She timidly took my offered hand.

I ignored the burn of Ozanna’s stare at the back of my head and said, “Rest this hand on my shoulder, here.” I guided her. “And we hold hands on this side.” Then I led her through a very simple box step, well-suited for the sweet little tune. She picked it up very quickly.

“See, now you’re dancing,” I grinned down at her.

“Do you dance often?” she asked, pink cheeked.

“I don’t often get the opportunity,” I admitted. “Though I’ll let you in on a secret.”

Her gaze met mine. “Yes?”

“I am a terrible dancer,” I said in a near whisper. “This is as far as my skills go.”

She giggled. “Truly?”

“Yes,” I laughed. “I traded dancing lessons for academic pursuits.” It was true that I had eschewed many of the courtlier aspects of my upbringing. Ubras had allowed it since he valued the mind over things he deemed frivolous, such as dancing.

Emmelina beamed up at me. “Well, I can’t say I mind this. Maybe we could take lessons together.”

Being in each other’s arms felt so much more natural than sitting across a table. It felt more like the time we spent in the dream space. Comfortable, intimate, like the swell of her breasts pressed against the neckline of her gown …

I snapped my eyes back up. “Yes! Perhaps I just lacked the right partner before today.”

The music wound down, and we stood there, just sharing breath. Then she snatched the front of my tunic and yanked me down to meet her in an ardent kiss. My heart stuttered for a moment before I returned the kiss, reveling in the feel of her soft, sweet lips against mine. Were we unobserved, I’d have wrapped my arms around her, held her so close that I could feel the beat of her heart against mine. I’d have explored her mouth and made her melt under my touch. Instead, I merely allowed my hands to slide up to hold her shoulders.

“Emmelina!” snapped Ozanna from her place against the wall, although she didn’t rush over to stop us. Emmelina released me and broke the kiss, excitement flashing in her eyes when she met my gaze.

“I think Ozanna is about to whisk me away for my own good,” she said, licking her lips. “I should probably retire.”

I bade her goodnight as the bodyguard did indeed sweep in to shoo my pretty, wild bride from the dining room.

Emma

“I don’t blame you for wanting to do it,” Ozanna scolded me, “not even for doing it. Just that you did it in front of so many of the staff.”

“I’m to marry him,” I said, unable to restrain my grin. I felt like I was floating despite my bare feet padding across the stone floors.

Ozanna sighed. We were almost back to my suite where Eve should be waiting for us.

“I hate that your virginity is being treated as a commodity,” Ozanna shook her head, “but that’s the way it is for nobility. I can’t change that. But Nicolas’ family can reject you if you seem too forward or experienced.”

“They can? It’s just his uncle here,” I said as Ozanna unlocked the door.

“Yes,” she replied, an impatient edge to her voice. “I’ve seen it before.”

Ozanna’s harsh warning was still better than the verbal thrashing Judith would have given me if she had been well enough to fulfill her role as chaperone. But I wasn’t sure her words would have been enough to make me regret kissing Nicolas.

Eve greeted us in the parlor. “How was dinner?” She was wide eyed and waited eagerly for my response.

“It was wonderful,” I gushed, remembering how handsome Nicolas had been. How he’d been so gentle. Naturally, I’d seen how nervous he was in the flicker of the firelight. Howworried he was about impressing me. Though I’d wait until it was just Eve and myself before talking about the kiss. “I tried a variety of regional delicacies, and he taught me how to dance.”

“Oh, do show me!” Eve exclaimed.

I tried to teach her but could hardly remember the steps without Nicolas there guiding me. We giggled and stepped on each other’s toes.

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