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“Thank you, Your Highness,” I said, lifting my head. “But I lack a partner…”
No sooner had I said the words than did men suddenly approach. A white-faced, brown-haired gentleman with green eyes, whom I knew to be Lord Wyndham’s son, was the quickest, but I could not recall his first name. “Lady Aphrodite, it would be my honor to have your first dance,” he said, outstretching his hand to me.
Under the queen’s and Mama’s gazes, I could not deny him. “Of course.” I allowed him to take me onto the floor. Only when I was in place did a piece of music I knew begin to play.
The image of a bird again came to mind as we danced. They had rattled my cage, and I had to perform and do so most elegantly.
“You do not remember me?” my partner questioned as we turned.
“I beg your pardon?”
He smiled kindly, his hand raised and hovering before me. “We met last summer at Drust, while you were in your uncle’s care.”
I thought back to my time in Drust, which I’d enjoyed. I did not recognize his face. “My apologies. It seems I do not recall.”
“At Paravel Square. You had dropped your handkerchief, and I returned it to you.”
I still did not remember, so all I could say in return was “Thank you.”
He chuckled, and we turned to the left. “I am not surprised, as you were most engrossed in a book. I believe it was some work of Shakespeare.”
That sounded like me. “Ah, yes.” I nodded.
“You have a particular talent.”
“Particular?”
He nodded. “Never have I witnessed anyone maneuver through a market square, nose deep in a book, and not even misstep. It was as if you were clairvoyant, knowing a puddle was before you and, thus, walking around it, or others would merely stop to allow you to make your way. It was truly a sight of wonder.”
I laughed. “Sir, I assure you, I have fallen a great many more times than I wish to admit. I was merely lucky that day.”
“Please, call me Tristian,” he requested as the dance came to an end.
From the corner of my eye, I saw that my mother and the queen were still watching me.
“Another?” Tristian questioned.
I smiled and nodded as I was trained to do. This dance had us change partners. The first time I switched, I paid no mind. But the second, I found myself on the arm of the man I sought most to avoid, and I felt a spark at the touch of our hands. Once more, my heart jumped. He stared down at me and only at me.
I could not breathe.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the dance called for us to change partners once more, and I was back to Tristian. I found myself glancing over to where he now danced with his sister. Was he about to say something? What was that feeling upon touching him? Was it my imagination again? And what in God’s name was the matter with my damned heart!
Be calm! I scolded my heart, and just as it began to listen once more, we changed partners again, and I was before him.
“Aphrodite,” he whispered.
I was utterly speechless; it had been so long since I had heard my name upon his lips. His voice made all of me quiver.
Partners changed, then I was back with Tristian, and it was only then that I could breathe. I prayed for the end of the dance to come as quickly as possible.
My mind was blank.
I wished to think.
But my thoughts were gone.
My body moved as we reached the conclusion of the dance, but I was empty. I heard the applause, marking the end, saving me. I curtsied to Tristian and began to walk back to my mama, pleased the queen had moved on.
