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Hopping and tumbling were definitely not a part of the waltz.
Their arms tangled awkwardly and set Vicky into a fit of laughter. Sloane could do nothing but join in. “That is definitely not how it is done. It is hard to hum and think about my feet at the same time, much less consider where your feet are.”
“Perhaps I could assist in that.”
Sloane’s gaze snapped to the library entrance.
Reiner filled the doorway, the width of his shoulders almost touching both sides of the wooden casing.
“Oh, yes, Uncle Reiner. Please do. We tried to convince Miss Gregory to play the pianoforte for the music, but she would have nothing to do with it. If you could play it, Miss Sloane could concentrate better on her feet.”
A half smile lifted his cheek as he looked from Vicky to Sloane. “Shall I give it a go?”
Sloane’s head tilted toward the pianoforte. “It may help.”
“Then I am happy to oblige.”
He strode across the room, passing Sloane and Vicky on the makeshift dance floor, and settled himself in front of the pianoforte.
After shifting the sheets of music in front of him, he studied them for a moment. His thick fingers spread atop the keys and without the slightest hesitation he worked through the first sheet in perfect tempo.
Thick fingers that had no business being that light upon the keys.
He paused and looked up at her and his niece. “Are you to begin?”
She jumped from her stare, and spun to Vicky. “Same as before—you are backward and I am forward.” She set her hand onto Vicky’s back and grabbed her hand. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
Sloane nodded to Reiner.
He started playing again and after several beats, Sloane started forth. Left foot. Slide with right. Close. Right foot forward. Slide with left. Close. Left foot forward.
On that beat, Vicky went back with her left foot as well, and they collided. Vicky hopped back on her right foot.
With both of their heads bowed to concentrate on their feet, they went through the steps five more times, bumping into each other every other step.
The music ended with a chuckle coming from Reiner as Vicky bumped into Sloane once more.
She stepped away from Vicky with a sigh. “It would seem I am not as adept at leading as I had hoped. In my mind it went much better than that.” She looked to Reiner. “Am I not doing it correctly? I do feel as though I have it down, but I do not lead very well—I cannot guide her into the next step as I should.”
A grin set onto his lips. “No, it does lack some…finesse.”
“Finesse?”
“The kind only a man well-versed in the dance could bring to the steps.”
Vicky bounded over to the pianoforte, her fingers tapping on the rosewood. “You should show her, Uncle Reiner, so she can show me. I will play the music—I have been practicing the sheets for it.”
His eyebrows lifted. “You’ve been practicing? Willingly?”
“Yes. I can do it.”
Reiner edged his way off the bench and motioned Vicky to the open spot. “If it will get you to willingly practice, then I am a fool to say no.”
Vicky quickly sank down onto the bench, arranging the sheets of music in front of her. She played a couple of bars, speeding up as she went until she was at the pace Reiner played at.
He walked across the room to Sloane and held out his left hand to her. “Shall we?”
