Page 105 of A Winter By the Sea
“So I saw. I hope she did not have to walk here, while we rode in your carriage?”
“No. I had our coachman drop her here first.” He gestured toward the gathering couples. “May I have the pleasure of the next dance?”
She was tempted to refuse, torn between feeling cross with Charles and guilty about her reaction to James, a man with no future to offer. Remembering James’s sympathetic response, she decided to offer the same.
Gently, she said, “I would be happy to dance with you, Charles. But please don’t feel obligated. You are obviously acquainted with several other ladies here, all no doubt wishing for partners.”
He held her gaze. Leaned closer. “I did not come all this way to dance with them.”
His eyes searched her face, and Emily’s heart thumped. How she had longed for Charles to look at her like this. Was this one of her romantic daydreams, or was it really happening? When she became aware of Mrs. Parker watching them, reality won out and felt more unnerving than thrilling.
Together they danced the figures of a quadrille. Four couples gathered in square formation, with each couple facing another across from them, and two others on the sides. Gentlemen bowed to their corners and then to their partners, and the dance began.
Determined not to embarrass Charles or herself, Emily struggled to concentrate on the entwining figures: meeting the opposite man in the middle of the square and performing small kicking movements, then one-hand turns, and two-hand turns.
The ladies formed a star and skipped in a circle one way, then the other. Then the gentlemen joined them. It was an energetic dance with opportunities to flirt and show off one’s footwork.
“You always were an excellent dancer,” Charles said when the dance brought them close.
“Thank you.”
Charles too was a skilled dancer—his posture erect, his every step correct. Did he enjoy dancing as much as she did? It was difficult to tell.
While Emily danced with Charles, Mr. Thomson danced with Sarah. It was good to see her dutiful, practical sister dancingand laughing and, for once, not working. Emily began to think she and Sarah would both enjoy the ball.
But as soon as the set ended, Mrs. Parker came over and introduced her son to yet another young lady he “simply must” dance with, and with a regretful bow, Charles left her side.
Once word circulated that Mr. Thomson was from the duke’s retinue, he too became an in-demand dance partner, leaving Emily standing alone more often than she liked. Sarah, meanwhile, was talking with some of the musicians’ wives, who had no dance partners either.
Emily looked hopefully toward Mr. Bernardi, but he had struck up a conversation with the landlord of the London Inn, who’d come to see how the ball progressed. The two began talking about favorite dishes to serve at parties, the trials of finding quality ingredients at good prices, and so on.
Emily was glad not to be included in that conversation.
As she stood near the wall, sipping punch, she noticed someone carrying the strong scent of sandalwood at her elbow.
“Should you not be home writing?”
She looked up, startled.
Mr. Marsh stood there, smirking down at her.
“This is research,” she defended.
“Right.”
Emily was pleased to see him and relieved to have someone to talk to. She glanced at him and teased, “Are you here to persuade all the well-to-do book lovers to visit your library?”
“No. Though a laudable idea.”
“Then should you not be at your desk, poring over your next great publication?”
“You are still writing it.”
“Shh!”
She saw Sarah look over at her curiously.
Emily lowered her voice. “I have not told my family I am writing for you, so please don’t say anything when I introduce you.”
