“Oh please, Princess Alice, you and Circe are about the same age. You’re not telling me you feel old and beaten down already?”
I wouldn’t have said that, although mentally, I identified as older than my years. I’d seen a lot of shit, and that tended to wear a person down.
“Not at all. I’m just not as vivacious, I guess.”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen you on the dance floor yet. That’s a shame.”
“I would dance, but no one has asked.” I shrugged because it was true and I actually liked dancing. “I don’t know any of the routines.”
“Happy to help with that.” Hatter’s deep voice ran through me, raising the hair on the nape of my neck.
I turned to find him smiling at me, hand extended.
“May I have this dance?”
“Are you sure?” I gestured around. At least four females were eyeing him. “It looks like you can take your pick, and I’ll only step on your toes. You’ll have to teach me even the most basic steps.”
“That’s all right. I’m a patient teacher. And you of all people should learn the courtly dances.”
My lips pressed together. I’d told him that I didn’t intend to stay.
“After you dethrone the Red Queen, there will be a celebration,” Hatter continued, reading my facial expression. “Everyone will want to thank you.”
My lips softened.Good save.
“Go on, Princess Alice. It’ll be fun.” Isadora pushed me toward Hatter.
“Fine.” I took his hand.
He released a chuckle. “I’ve never had such a reluctant dance partner.”
“That’s because you’ve never met someone quite like me.”
“That much is obvious,” Henri replied in a way that made my stomach twist.
My shoulders loosened. Why was I making this difficult?
It’s only a bit of fun. You remember what that is, right, Alice?
Sometimes I wasn’t so sure.
Henri led me out onto a makeshift dance floor, where six or seven other couples swayed and twirled to the music.
“Give me your hand.” Hatter offered his right hand to me, and then placed the left on his hip. “Mimic my posture.”
I did as he said.
“Now, let me lead. Don’t fight it.”
“I’ve never been very good at that.”
“Now’s the time to give it a shot. You might find you enjoy relinquishing control every now and again.”
I was about to retort when Hatter swung me in time to the music.
The dance resembled a strange mix of a refrained waltz and a spicy tango. Elegant and sensual all at once.
Hatter was a remarkable dancer. He led with strength and grace. Even though I stepped on his toes half a dozen times, he never lost his patience with me. In fact, as I picked up the moves, he only challenged me more, once grabbing me by the hips and twirling me through the air as if I weighed no more than a feather.
