That is all.
“Did you take your fill of half-naked statues, Bellamy?” She took the empty wineglass out of his hand and gave it to a passing servant.
“Pardon?” All he’d heard was the wordnaked.
“The statues, did you find them entertaining enough?”
“Oh, the statues? Well, you know, seen one, seen them all,” he said with a grin. “I’d like to know where all their arms went, wouldn’t you? There must be a vault somewhere in Greece full of lost limbs.” If she only knew what he had been thinking while looking at those figures.
Lisbeth took his arm and began leading Bellamy away from the statue of Aphrodite. “I am feeling I must grant you a boon… for having put up with me this evening, not to mention dealing with my grandmother.”
“Really?” Bellamy looked more than shocked, and Lisbeth wanted to laugh but nothing seemed to come out.
“Yes,” she continued, pulling out his infamous list from her reticule. “I thought we should complete one of your wagers.”
“Oh, I see,” was all he said in reply.
She was not sure if he was happy about her suggestion or not. “So, which one shall we complete? This one?” She pointed to an incomprehensible scribble about halfway down the list.
Oliver looked over her shoulder at the one she had selected then frowned. “No! Not that one. Choose another.”
“Why? What does it say?”
“Just choose another.”
“All right.” She looked down the list and pointed to a shorter scribble.
“Definitely not,” he said.
“This one?”
“No!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Bellamy!”
“This one,” he said indicating one towards the top of the list.
She sighed loudly in irritation. “Fine,” she said, relieved that he had at least selected one.
“Good.” He took her by the hand and led her towards the other side of the room. “What? Where are you taking me? Bellamy, I insist on knowing what you have chosen.”
“It is nothing too torturous, I assure you. If you try not to trample on my toes, I’ll try not to step on yours.”
“Trample?” She dug in her heels and stopped. “One moment please, is this by chance a waltz?” They were not quite at the dance floor. “I told you—”
“I know, you don’t waltz. That is why we are doing a cotillion.”
“Bellamy!”
“You do remember the steps, don’t you?” he asked as he pulled her onto the dance floor.
“Of course, I remember the steps, and why is it I trample and you only step? That hardly seems fair.”
The music started and with a satisfied smile on his face he positioned her in the line and took up his place opposite. As the music started he gave a double eyebrow wiggle.
Lisbeth rolled her eyes.
He laughed.
