Page 60 of Her Royal Houseguest

Years ago, she’d asked her parents if anyone else in their family had also been backwards. They had both denied it but their answers had been spoken quickly and their eyes had not held steady. Anna suspected they’d both lied but that didn’t help her. No matter the past, she remained backwards. And her children might be as well.

It lessened the sting of becoming a spinster. She would not give this malady to a child if she could help it.

Prince Deva rocked back on his heels. ‘Do the English think that a red bird is cursed because there are so many more brown birds?’

‘No.’

‘And are short people cursed? Or tall people?’

‘It’s not the same thing!’

‘Lady Anna,’ he said as he trailed his hand down her neck until he set it on her shoulder. ‘It is the same thing. There is no curse in preferring your left hand over your right. It is simple preference, like enjoying spices or not.’

‘It’s not the same thing! I cannot change it.’

‘Neither can I enjoy your bland food over my love of curry.’

‘But I cannot do things other people do!’ she huffed. ‘Not easily!’

He leaned forwards as if telling her a great secret. ‘Neither can I. Neither can anyone. Every person gets some gifts and not others.’ He sighed as he shook his head. ‘You do not have the gift of organisation. I do not have the gift of painting.’

‘Neither do I. My right hand is awkward.’

‘Paint with your left.’

She felt her face heat and his expression lightened.

‘You already do, don’t you? In secret?’ Then he suddenly understood. ‘That is why you use the attic, yes? Because no one but you goes up there. You can do as you please with none the wiser.’

She shrugged. ‘With no one watching. And I use both hands when I paint.’

‘And use needles, yes? Knitting that uses both hands equally.’

‘Yes.’ She sighed, forcing herself to admit the full truth. ‘But I still knit backwards, looping the yarn with the wrong hand. I have tried a loom. I can do that because both hands work together. The harp was a good instrument for me, if I were at all inclined to pursue music.’

‘You are not musical?’

She shrugged. ‘I sing.’ She raised her hands, wiggling her fingers. ‘No hands required. But my vocal range is not very large.’

‘So what would you do if you could use whatever hand you wanted? Move however you wanted?’

She smiled, her thoughts returning to her morning routine. ‘I would dance, Prince Deva. That is what I did every morning before you arrived. I went up to my attic before everyone else was awake. I hummed to myself and I moved any way I wanted. I have gone secretly to watch the theatre people practice. I’m not as good as they are but I love it.’

‘This type of dancing is not allowed?’

‘Not for a lady. Certainly not for the daughter of a duke.’

He shook his head. ‘Our princesses are taught to dance. It is a high honour to perform but many enjoy it for the exercise. They dance among themselves for enjoyment.’

‘I wish I could see your kind of dance.’

‘I wish I could teach it to you. Alas, I am clumsy at it. Vaji is better but even he is heavy of foot.’

Then he turned them, so they headed back to the house.

The sun was fully up. The chanting was likely finished. There were things to be done. She was caught up in thoughts about her day when he leaned close and whispered into her ear.

‘Would you dance for me?’