Page 104 of A Winter By the Sea
“Not quite ‘besieged,’ and our guests are not royal, but yes, certainly not a usual Christmas for us. Now, do you know plenty of people here? If not, I’d be happy to introduce you to some pretty young ladies.” She looked around the room to spy out acquaintances.
He grinned. “Knew I liked you, Miss Emily. Sendallthe pretty ladies my way.”
Mr. Thomson appeared at her side and asked if he could bring her a glass of punch. Emily introduced them. “Mr. Thomson, please meet Colin Hutton. Viola is married to his brother, Major Hutton. And Mr. Thomson is our guest and one of the Duke of Kent’s private secretaries.”
“Ah.” Colin nodded. “You must be one of those bookish fellows. Knows how to spell and where to dot thei’s and cross thet’s and all that. I was never a good student, I’m afraid. But I doff my hat to you, sir.”
Mr. Thomson shrugged and said easily, “There are other, more important abilities.”
“Thank heavens. And mine are dressing well and flirting. Now if you will excuse me, I see a lovely young miss in need of a dance partner.”
He winked, bowed, and turned away. Emily and Mr. Thomson watched him cross the room, bent on his mission.
“Pleasant young man,” Mr. Thomson observed.
“I have always thought so.”
He turned back to her. “And are you also a lovely young miss in need of a partner?”
Emily hesitated. She did not want to disappoint James, but she’d assumed Charles planned to dance with her. After all, he had made such a point of asking her to come and had even collected her in his carriage. It would be ungrateful to not dance with him first.
She opened her mouth to decline as she glanced toward him, several feet away. Charles looked at her and stepped in her direction, but his mother caught his elbow.
“Charles, you simply must dance with Miss Ferris. Her mother and I were at school together.”
Suppressing a sigh, Emily looked back at Mr. Thomson. “Apparently I am.”
He had not missed her hesitation, nor the looks exchanged with Charles, but instead of appearing resentful, his expression was decidedly sympathetic. He offered her his hand, palm up. How could such a small gesture speak so? With a grateful glance, she placed her gloved fingers in his.
He led her onto the floor, where couples were lining up, men and women facing one another. Charles and his partner joined them.
The violinist played the introduction, the music plaintively sweet, and the stately dance began with a bow and curtsy. Then they joined hands, moving toward one another, and away. Each gentleman turned his partner under his arm to change places. Then again, back to their original positions. Each woman turned toward the next gentleman, joined hands with him, and together turned in a slow circle before returning to her partner.
Etiquette directed each dancer to look into the face of his or her partner in friendly acknowledgment. Holding Mr. Thomson’s gaze felt intimate and strangely thrilling.
Even as she held Mr. Thomson’s hand, she was aware of Charles nearby, his eyes often upon her.
The couples formed a star, joining hands to turn.
Soon each dancer again faced his own partner. The pattern brought them side by side, hands clasped at each other’s backs. Joined that way, they craned their necks to look into each other’s eyes as they turned.
When it was time to release hands, Mr. Thomson’s lingered at her waist before moving away.
The pattern continued.
His expression remained serious throughout, studying her. She stared into his eyes, so dark and filled with intensity.
As she sank deep into those eyes, the music faded. Again they stepped forward, hands between them, and she forgot to step back. Forgot to breathe. He stilled as well. For a moment, they stood there, nearly chest to chest, lost in each other’s gazes.
The next pattern brought the neighboring couple toward them, and at the last moment, they parted to let them pass.
Inwardly, she cried,Emily, what are you doing?
She braved a glance at Charles and saw him look from her to Thomson and back again. He did not look pleased at all.
———
After the first set concluded, Charles approached her. “Sorry about that. I had hoped to dance with you straightaway, but Mamma had other ideas.”
