“But it feels like forever. My legs hurt.”
“Try focusing on a spot in the distance,” she advised. “It helps the time pass more quickly.”
She winked at Wei over the scamp’s head. Warmth thrummed in Wei’s chest. It had been a long time since he’d felt like a…a part of something. While he had found a family of sorts with Shifu Lam and Yao, he realized now that he’d been so wrapped up in his vengeance that he hadn’t appreciated his time with them as much as he should have.
Yet Glory had a way of making him forget the darker side of life. She made him remember what it felt like to be happy and carefree. To look toward the future with hope…
“Am I doing horse stance correctly?” Horatio said, gritting his teeth.
“Set your shoulders back. Like this.”
As Wei placed a hand on the lad’s shoulder, intending to adjust his position, Glory reached out at the same time. Their hands touched, setting off a spark of electric awareness. Her breathless laugh revealed too much and made him hard as a rock…
“I thought I heard a ruckus in here.” The Duchess of Ranelagh and Somerville swept in, looking regal in a striped navy dress. “Oh, hello, Mr. Chen. I did not realize you had arrived.”
“I was early, Your Grace.” Wei bowed. “I hope that is not an inconvenience.”
“Not for me. It seems, however, that the boys have been pestering you when they are supposed to be working on their lessons.” The duchess gave her sons a reproachful look. “Does your tutor know where you are?”
“We, um, told Mr. Welton that we had to use the necessary,” Theodore admitted.
“Which we did,” Horatio said virtuously. “We just stopped here on our way back to the schoolroom.”
Her Grace rolled her eyes. “With arguments like that, I predict a shining career in politics for both of you. Now run along, and don’t keep Mr. Welton waiting.”
“Yes, Mama,” the boys chorused before filing out.
“Now, Mr. Chen,” the duchess said pleasantly. “Glory says you will be attending her ball.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you. I will be most pleased to attend.”
Although Wei was not certain how he would fit in with the high-kick crowd, he looked forward to celebrating his beloved’s birthday with her. In fact, he had a gift to mark the occasion…which he would have to give her in private to avoid suspicion. Nonetheless, he took it as a positive sign that Glory’s mother had invited him—a tutor and therefore a mere cut above a servant—to a social event. Perhaps, with time, her family could accept him after all.
“Splendid,” the duchess replied. “In that case, I was hoping you might lend a hand with something.”
“I would be happy to assist if I can,” Wei said.
“Since you have done a marvelous job of teaching Glory to curb her impetuosity, perhaps you could help her apply that principle to dancing. You see, my daughter is a gifted dancer, but she has a marked tendency to lead.”
“Mama.” Glory glowered at her parent. “Must you embarrass me in front of my…” She caught herself in time. “My shifu?”
“Who better than your shifu to teach you to dance?” The duchess’s rebuttal proved that she had contributed to her offspring’s ability to argue. “Dancing is a form of movement, not unlike martial arts.”
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace.” Wei’s face heated with embarrassment. “I am afraid that I am not a qualified teacher for Lady Glory. Unfortunately, I…I don’t know how to dance.”
“Oh. I did not realize…” The duchess was obviously flustered.
Glory gawked at him. “You don’t know how to dance?”
“Not in the English fashion.” Feeling more self-conscious by the moment, Wei tried to explain without coming across as an unrefined idiot. “Given the demands of the clinic, I did not have time to learn. To be frank, there was also no reason. I do not attend many social gatherings and…”
He realized that he was digging a bigger hole. His lack of wealth and status were already huge obstacles to gaining the approval of Glory’s family; he did not need to emphasize his lack of social graces as well. He was the impoverished soldier’s son all over again, not knowing his place. Upsetting the order of things and asking for trouble. Aiming for a lady who wasn’t just out of reach but out of his sphere entirely.
“It appears the tables have been turned.”
Glory’s voice brought him back. She was smiling, and her sweet dimples calmed his inner tempest.
“How so?” he asked, bemused.
