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"Of course, Your Highness," Eloise replied, her words measured as she placed her hand in his. As if on cue, the orchestra began a new melody, one that promised intimacy.
They stepped onto the dance floor, and she felt the firm grip of his hands—one at her waist, the other holding hers aloft. With a confidence that belied the fluttering in her chest, she matched his movements, allowing herself to be led.
"Are you enjoying the evening, Lady Eloise?" Prince Bernard inquired, his gaze meeting hers, searching.
"I am," she responded, her voice betraying none of the turmoil that lay beneath. "I always enjoy dances like this."
"Yet, I sense a reservation in your tone," he observed, a playful spark in his eye. "Perhaps I might endeavor to improve your night?"
Eloise allowed a small, wry smile to grace her lips. "I fear the main thing that would improve my night would be escaping to my chambers to finish the book I started this morning."
"Curiosity," he mused, spinning her gently, "is the kindling of possibility. And in pursuit of possibility, I find myself willing to be quite...inventive. I’m certain I can make your night better by spending time with you, and not allowing you to return to your chambers to read."
She could not help but let out a soft chuckle. "Inventiveness, combined with curiosity, can lead to either brilliance or disaster. But I will allow you to try to improve my evening."
"Then let us hope for brilliance." His smile widened, and for a moment, Eloise found herself captivated by the sincerity she saw there.
As they continued to dance, Eloise became acutely aware of the deference with which the other attendees regarded them, their gazes flickering with interest and speculation. It was clear that the union of Theron and Allenia, symbolized by her dance with Prince Bernard, held more significance for the people there than she’d realized.
"Enjoyment and duty need not be mutually exclusive, Lady Eloise," Prince Bernard said as if he could read her very thoughts.
"Perhaps," she conceded, her heart whispering questions that her mouth wouldn’t dare to speak. In the eyes of Prince Bernard, she glimpsed the potential for something more—something real and profound—if only she could reconcile her longing for love with the demands of destiny.
"Your grace is unmatched, Lady Eloise," Prince Bernard remarked, his eyes holding hers in a gaze that felt far too intense for a mere dance.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Eloise replied, surprised by the warmth spreading through her at his touch. His hands were steady and sure on her waist and back, guiding her through the intricate steps with an ease that belied the undercurrent of energy pulsing through their joined hands.
"Does the electricity of the ball not invigorate you?" he inquired, his voice a low hum that resonated in the hollow of her chest.
"I suppose," she murmured, her thoughts adrift in the sudden revelation that perhaps there was more to this man than she’d seen before. "It seems to have a... rather unexpected effect."
"Unexpected can be... exhilarating, don't you agree?" Bernard's lips quirked up, and she caught a glimpse of mischief in his eyes before they turned toward the open balcony doors.
"Shall we?" he suggested, nodding subtly toward the exit.
Eloise nodded, and they made their way through the crowd, which parted for them like waves before a ship's prow. The night air greeted them with a cool embrace as they stepped onto the balcony, the moon casting silver shadows over the lush gardens below.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Bernard remarked, his voice now carrying a hint of something less composed, less kingly. He paced before her, hands clasped behind his back, the moonlight revealing the lines of concern etched into his brow.
"Oh, yes," Eloise agreed. "But I sense that you find little peace in such beauty tonight, Your Highness."
He halted his pacing and turned to face her, his mask of royalty slipping enough to reveal a man grappling with the weight of his station. "You are most perceptive, Lady Eloise. Indeed, the tranquility of these gardens does little to quiet the tempest within."
"What’s troubling you?" she asked, the words laced with genuine curiosity.
"Sometimes, I wonder if duty and simply being can be reconciled," he replied. “Even though I’m not in line to rule, I feel like a political pawn often, with no choices in life.”
"Yet even kings must take moments for themselves," Eloise said softly, stepping closer and surprising herself with the urge to comfort him. "To remind themselves that beneath the crown, there is still a heart that beats."
Prince Bernard looked at her, and for a moment, it seemed as if he would kiss her, but he hesitated. "Perhaps," he conceded, a wistful note creeping into his voice. "But for tonight, let us return to the ball. After all, the night is yet young, and who knows what possibility it may yet yield?"
As they turned back to the ballroom, Eloise couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope flicker within her. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something real between them.
"Your thoughts seem particularly heavy this evening," he said, turning to face her with an earnestness that surprised her. She was seeing him in an entirely new light.
Eloise offered a wry smile. "Perhaps they are merely weighed down by the gravity of the relationship we see before us."
"Ah," he nodded, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. "You find yourself at a crossroads then, torn between duty and desire?"
