“My lord, Ido hope I am up to scrutiny. It is my first waltz.” Elizabeth batted her eyelashes flirtatiously at Richard as he led her to the floor. It truly was her first waltz in the newer style.
“I regret that it is your first, my lady, but I know you will be a sublime partner. You always are.”
Richard’s words filled her with the rush of anticipation. She turned to him, hoping he could see how much they meant to her. Hoping he could see how muchhemeant to her. He held her gaze as he placed his right hand around her waist and encouraged her to do the same with her left. She could not remember the last time she had touched him so intimately, and here she was doing it in public.
“Now place your hand, thus, on my arm. Your blush is charming, but look around. No one is watching, and all couples are embraced in such a way.”
She glanced around to find he did not exaggerate. The room was filled with couples, and those not dancing appeared disinterested or otherwise engaged.
“I have not seen it done at public balls.”
She had heard much about it and had hoped to view it at the assembly hall, but she’d seen only the waltz of her youth, which was far from this physical familiarity.
“They have too many rules at those dances for my liking,” Richard said, turning to the left.
“I thought you a stickler for rules,” she said teasingly, enjoying the weight of his hand on her arm and the warmth of his other one at her waist.
“For laws. And yes, I’ll agree, some rules. But arbitrary ones by self-appointed rule makers? I’ve no patience for them and ignore the most baffling of them.”
“So are rules meant to be broken?”
Elizabeth could see the twinkle in his eye before he responded.
“I believe they are, but do not tell our sons that.”
She laughed as he swirled her. His hand at her waist guiding her, the polished floor was like ice as she glided smoothly along with his every movement. A whirlwind of color surrounded them as couples turned. She returned her gaze to Richard’s face, ready to tease again, but did not. She saw her hope reflected in his eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.
Holding her gaze, Richard tugged her a bit closer, and her body hummed in response. They whirled again and again, until Elizabeth was giddy with joy. This was the Richard she remembered. The Richard she had longed for. She could not remember the last time she’d been this happy.