And the last thing Ella needed was the distraction of him here.
But she felt so perfect in his arms.
He didn’t want to let her go, because if he did, he might never get to hold her again.
And that would be a tragedy, because Ella was everything he’d ever wanted.
But he couldn’t have her, he reminded himself. And it would be better to let her go, even if he didn’t want to. Even if the thought of letting her go felt like giving up a piece of himself.
She needed someone who belonged in this new world of hers. Not someone who had been told to come to the commoners’ ball or risk being in trouble.
He didn’t like balls. He didn’t like theatricality. He didn’t like anything to do with any of it.
The only reason he was here was for her.
And she needed someone who wanted more than just one night.
But it was hard to think when she was looking up at him with stars in her eyes, like he was the reason her world kept spinning.
She needed someone who was better at being around for things like this. Someone who didn’t want to run away and hide.
She needed someone more than him.
It might kill him to let her go…but he would do it for her.
All too soon, the dance came to an end, and he released her.
“Thank you for the dance, my lady,” he said, bowing to her.
It killed him to let her go, but it was for the best. Another young man stepped up to take his place, and Dietrich forced himself to walk away.
He wouldn’t watch her dance with another man.
Couldn’t.
He aimed for the door, his feet blindly carrying him far away from here.
Far away from her.
But before he could get out of the room, his mother and John intercepted him.
“Hello, my darling,” his mother said, catching him in a hug. “It is good to see you.”
“I am glad you could come, Mother,” he said, giving her a hug in return. “I was wondering if you would make it.”
“Couldn’t miss this,” his mother said. “This is your big moment.”
He let out a grimace. “If that’s what you want to call it. Sure.”
His mother gave him a knowing look. “I know this is hard,” she said quietly. “I was hoping to hear that you had won her over.”
Her eyes twinkled as she said it, and Dietrich shook his head.
“I am not trying to, Mother,” he reminded her. “She deserves better than me.”
“She’s not going to find better than you,” John said bluntly, “so she might as well have the best.”
Dietrich smiled at his second-in-command. “Thank you for the support,” he said, “but I truly believe that she would be better off without me.”
