Page 93 of Rakes & Reticules
She nodded.
“I am going to move my right foot forward, so you must move your left foot back. Ready?”
They took one step, and she was surprised her foot hadn’t somehow landed on his. “That was easy. It’s the hundred other steps to follow that will confuse me.”
“You’ll be fine. Now I am going to bring my feet together and you are to do the same with yours.”
She followed his instruction.
“Wasn’t that easy?”
She opened her eyes and rolled them at him.
He grinned at her. “Now I’ll bring my left foot forward and you are to move your right foot back. Excellent. Next we are going to add a twirl. Close your eyes, Amelia. You cannot keep opening them to glower at me.”
She groaned.
But he led her quite capably and she managed the series of steps without stumbling. Not that she was going to leap for joy, either. It was only one twirl and she would doubtless mangle the next ones as they picked up speed in the waltz.
He ignored her gripes when she told him this. “You have little rabbit ears, Amelia.”
She opened her eyes again and glanced up at him. “What has that to do with anything?”
“Everyone knows little rabbits can dance.”
“You are quite deluded, Callum,” she said with a light, lilting laugh. “Rabbits hop and munch on vegetables in one’s garden. They do not dance. Surely, you know this.”
He paused in mid-twirl and merely stood there.
She smiled when she realized he was still grinning at her. “What is the matter?”
“You called me Callum,” he said softly.
Her eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought–”
“I liked the teasing way you said it. Don’t apologize. I was caught off guard, that’s all. It sounded very right. Filled with warmth. Not at all forced or fake, or as though you were gloating. I like that you don’t swoon or gush over me. I like that I have to work to earn that softness in your voice. No one will ever accuse you of being a flirt.”
“Because I am so very bad at it.”
“You don’t need any of that fakery to gain my attention. I appreciate that you see me for who I am.”
She smiled at him again. “You are hard to overlook, and you know I am not referring to those obvious attributes of wealth and rank, or your height. You stand above others because you are a fine man, fine to the depths of your soul. I swoon a little every time I am with you, but I expect you know this.”
“Only a little? I do know, and I like being with you, too. I like that you swoon over me as Callum and not the duke.”
“That is true, for the most part. However, I cannot completely ignore your title since it is also an important part of who you are, the power and confidence you wield. You will notice that I have avoided the wordsoozeandexude. You are not moldy cheese. You are a splendid knight in shining armor.”
“I hope you will always feel this way about me. But that is for a later conversation. Close your eyes.” He resumed their dance, showing extraordinary patience as she stepped on his foot twice and stumbled once. They had yet to make a full turn about the empty room without her making an error.
“See. It is as I said...hopeless.”
“We have only been at this for fifteen minutes, Amelia.”
She sighed. “Feels like an eternity.”
He chuckled. “You are your own worst enemy. Here, open your eyes a moment. We’re going to try this another way. Put your hands on my shoulders.”
When she did so, he place his hands on her hips. “Do not gasp and turn prudish. This is for educational purposes only.”
