Page 74 of Once Upon a Crown
“Now step out with your right foot so you can rest your weight on your left.”
I tried as he suggested while he spun me around, and surprisingly, for the first time, I did not lose my balance.
I was too satisfied not to give the slightest smile. Our steps echoed across the quiet ballroom accompanied by the sound of Lance’s counting.
The more we danced, the easier it became for me to keep up with him. When we finished the last turn of the dance, Lance surprised me by suddenly dipping me, his arm still wrapped around my waist while I clung to his shoulder for fear that he would accidentally drop me.
He quickly pulled me back up, as if I weighed nothing, and it took me a moment to catch my breath. I was unsure if it was because of the dancing or our proximity.
“Thank you,” I said, quickly taking a step away from him to a more appropriate distance. “For helping me.”
“You’re very welcome, Lady Gwen.”
“Well, I’d best be going or I’m going to be late for my riding lesson.” I curtsied before hurrying out of the room, but not before looking back as I crossed the threshold. Lance was still standing in the middle of the ballroom, the right corner of his mouth turned up in a slight smile.
From then on, I saw Lance more frequently in the palace — at dinners, a royal picnic and court gatherings.
One night, the King held a musical event in the ballroom. All the finest musicians in the kingdom had been invited toperform. The atmosphere was lively as the melodies filled the large hall.
As I was not yet old enough to attend such events, I would usually sneak out to one of the small balconies that overlooked the ballroom. Back in the day of Cai’s grandfather, the ballroom would be used for operas very often and the most important guests would sit and watch from their private balconies.
I was careful to hide behind the wall as I observed the beautiful dresses of the women and the fine tunics and jackets of the gentlemen, glittering with gold stitching and medallions.
My parents were down there as well, in conversation with the King and Queen. I also spotted Thatcher and Cai, observing the amiable young women around them.
“I was wondering where you were.”
The sound of his voice made me jump.
Once again, I felt like he’d caught me doing something I wasn’t supposed to.
“What are you doing up here?” Lance asked.
How did he even find me?
“I’m just watching the party.”
“I can see that. But why aren’t you down there with the other guests?”
“Not old enough.” I shrugged. “Mother says I will make my debut next year.”
“Ah, I see.” Even though Lance wasn’t much older than me, I was suddenly very much aware that I was up there alone with a boy, no chaperone in sight. How did I keep getting myself into these situations?
Lance had a cup of wine in his hands, which he offered to me. “Would you like some?”
“I’ve never had wine before.” Mother said it was improper for a lady to drink wine before she was out in society.
“I promise one sip won’t kill you.”
I didn’t know whether I was trying to prove something to him or to myself, but I grabbed the cup and took a big gulp.
It was nothing like the grape juice I’d had before. Instead, it had more of a sour and bitter taste as it ran down my throat.
My expression must have given away my distaste. Lance chuckled as I handed back the cup and wiped my mouth.
“How do people get drunk on that stuff?”
“Easy,” Lance said. “The more you have, the easier it is to drink.”
