He led her to the dance floor, his hand easily sliding around her waist as he held her other hand tightly in his palm. She was slightly shorter and petite, almost appearing fragile to Edward as if he could not clutch her too tight even if he wanted to.
“Are you having a good time?” he asked, holding her closely as they began to move to the soft music.
“I am.” She nodded. “Are you?”
“Surprisingly so, yes.”
He lifted her up alongside all the other couples and placed her back down after the twirl, a huge smile on Ophelia’s face. He had never felt so in sync with anyone before Ophelia during a dance at a ball, but something about her just fit right with him as if they were meant to be in every way possible.
“I am glad I could play a part in it,” she replied, coming in closer as they continued to dance.
Edward nodded, the pair staying quiet as Ophelia continued to stare into his eyes, her smile disappearing. He did not know what she was thinking, but he could almost feel her mood shift as her body became slightly more still during the dance, and her eyes filled with tears. Seeing her in such a position, Edward's heart sank, his worry suddenly increasing.
“Are you alright, Ophelia?”
He could see she was fighting tears.
“I am.” She nodded, blinking quickly.
“You hardly look alright,” he said, his tone as gentle as ever, “tell me what the matter is.”
“It really is nothing, My Lord,” she whispered. “You must not worry yourself on my account.”
Edward knew the set was coming to an end, and he could not let Ophelia go after. He had to make sure she was okay since only moments ago, she had appeared happy, but then tears had come into her eyes. Something must have been wrong, or perhaps she had just remembered something that had brought her sadness.
“Ophelia,” he whispered her name just as the music ended.
She quickly curtsied, almost running away from the dance floor. Edward turned after her, trying to follow, when Lady Alice suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blocking Edward’s path. He had every intention of pushing her out of the way, but within the ballroom with so many eyes on them, he knew he could not be improper. Although, he could think of nothing else but Ophelia, who had run towards the open glass doors of the balcony.
“My Lord,” Lady Alice’s falsely sweetened voice forced him to look at her, and he had to force himself to breathe to get calmer, “you must at least look at me while I am standing before you.”
“I have to be somewhere, Lady Alice,” he said curtly, “I will talk to you later.”
“You will hurt me very much if you move from here,” she replied, “as if you haven’t hurt me enough already tonight.”
“Pardon me?”
“Everyone in the ballroom believes you are wooing that … that woman,” she said snidely, hatred dripping from her face.
She disgusted Edward.
“That woman is Lady Ophelia Jennings, and you must learn to be respectful, Lady Alice, or else this conversation is pointless.”
“I hardly believe she is fit for your company, My Lord.”
“I do not remember asking for your opinion, Lady Alice,” he said with a false smile, trying to keep the bite out of his tone, “and she does not have my company alone but all of my attention. Believe it or not, I am courting her and wooing her.”
“I thought we had established that you were to court me this Season?”
“I do not remember ever establishing that, Lady Alice,” Edward replied clearly.
“You must at least dance with me, My Lord,” she said, “you have ignored me all evening, and I will not be able to bear such ignorance anymore. A single dance will not be hurtful to anyone.”
Edward took deep breaths, trying to remain calm despite being thoroughly annoyed at her behaviour. He knew she would not let him go until he consented, and Edward had no desire to create an unnecessary scene in the middle of the ballroom. Lady Alice had always just been one to seek attention and would doanything for it. Hence, it was best that Edward gave into her demands to rid himself of her.
And then he would find Ophelia.
“Of course, Lady Alice,” he agreed, “we shall dance right now.”
