“I humbly request that you refer to me, at least in private, as, ‘Theo.’ ”
She grasped my hand a tad firmer and stood. “Then arise, my valiant protector.”
I stood, again at that tantalizing distance, my chest a mere handsbreadth from hers. “Technically, I think you did the bulk of the protecting.”
“Shush.” She pressed her lips into a line. A solemn expression that would have fooled most. Yet she was a roaring oven on a cold winter night, radiating warmth even with the door firmly shut. “I shall henceforth refer to you in private, and possibly in public, at my sole prerogative, as ‘Theo.’ ”
We wrapped our arms around each other, pressing our bodies tight, and simply swayed in place, cheek to cheek many long minutes.
“Umm, almost as good as a dance,” I said.
She pulled back, head cocked. “Speaking of…”
“Oh?”
“Let us bathe and have breakfast, and then we can discuss it.”
The loft may have looked rustic at first glance, but the fittings were state-of-the-art, including hot and cold running water. The expansive bathroom had a tubanda shower, and was decked floor to ceiling in checkered cobalt blue and white tiles. She went first, emerging a quarter of an hour later wrapped in a thick terrycloth towel, leaving the bathroom swirling in delightful warm steam with the scent of pine and peppermint.
The dorm room baths were a luxury.Thiswas an extravagance. Replete with Sephi’s scent. Which may have simply been her soap, but was still wonderful.
As I helped her prepare breakfast, we fell into sync, brushing against each other as we danced about the kitchen. Routine phrases like ‘where do you keep your saucepans,’ and ‘would you mind reaching that serving spoon,’ made simple tasks a pleasure, while an enchanting warmth seeped into her voice, softening the perfected enunciation of her words.
“For just having moved in, your apartment is well-equipped,” I said, as we finished mushroom omelets garnished with figs and a side of sourdough bread.
She brushed her lips with a cream-colored napkin. “I was lucky to find the place. I purchased much of the furniture from the former tenant. I… lost everything when the ship went down.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And gained the heaviest of baggage.”
I clasped a hand around her forearm. “I’m sorry. I know how stressful that was. Then the inquiry afterwards. I’ve beentryingnot to bring it up, I really have.”
She put a hand atop mine, rubbing the pad of her thumb gently along my hand. “I never apologized for that theater our first day. I was annoyed that the count insisted on taking me shopping for replacement clothing and luggage. I had it delivered to the academy only to find… your patience with the matter has been exemplary.”
There was more to it. I didn’t know what, but pressing her on it wasn’t the answer. I wished I knew the answer. “Wasn’t there something you wished to discuss?”
She cocked her head.
“Before breakfast, you mentioned…”
She nodded. “Yes. Dance. Due to various circumstances, some of which I hold you responsible for, I neglected my dance practice.”
“Iwas responsible for?”
“Yes.” She clasped her hands together. “And as recompense, it is only appropriate for you to serve as my dance partner this morning.”
“As recompense.” A grin spread across my face. “I suppose itwouldbe appropriate.”
We took half an hour to rearrange furniture and slide crates out of the way. The plank floor may have looked rustic, yet was smooth and well polished.
“Since I presume you have not properly anticipated your duties as dance partner and brought dance shoes, we will have to arrange a substitute.”
“I don’t actually own dance shoes. I hadn’t planned on…” really any sort of social engagement of that sort here in Halamar.
Her subtle smile evaporated. “Youdoknow how to dance?” Her voice softened. “You jested about the Lindworm Lunge previously, yet I assumed… that is to say, sometimes my position affords me certain things that I may take for granted in others. I apologize if—”
I raised a hand. “It’s fine. My hometown is small, but we did have a dance hall. I just never had proper shoes—made do buffing the soles of street shoes.”
Her former smile returned.
After a bit of experimentation, we settled on stockings, with her lending me a pair that slid a bit better than the ones I had with me. She, of course, did have dance shoes, but with me in stocking feet, it would have exacerbated our height difference. And as odd as it may sound, she looked positively adorable in stocking feet.
