It was a failure. Halfway through the sequence, Lizzie let out a laugh that echoed in the room, and Amelia followed suit until both of them were bent over at the waist.
After a moment, Amelia straightened, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. Lizzie clutched her stomach and Hugh could tell she was trying to control her laughter.
He was…stunned. Despite her warm welcome of Amelia, Lizzie had been shy, even before Aaron Walters had destroyed her world. She had chafed at the idea of dancing and had begged him to dismiss her dance teacher years ago. His presence made her nervous, she said. He had agreed, thinking he could hire someone new in time. But every time he brought up the subject, Lizzie blushed and demurred and pleaded with him not to make her exhibit so publicly.
But here she was, actually enjoying the lesson Amelia was teaching.
The two women regathered some tiny shred of composure, and Amelia smoothed an errant curl from her cheek before she said, “What about a waltz, Lizzie? It’s a bit slower? Certainly more romantic.”
Lizzie’s smile fell and she backed up a step. “Oh, no. Not the waltz. That is not…I don’t wish to…”
Amelia moved forward and caught her hand. “You are a lovely dancer, Lizzie. Very naturally graceful. You needn’t be nervous. A waltz can be very enjoyable.”
Lizzie ducked her head. “I cannot be a very good dancer. I haven’t had much practice.”
Hugh could see the confusion on Amelia’s face, and he knew why. Most young ladies, especially the ladies of Lizzie’s rank, were trained almost from the time they could walk to dance. They knew every song and turn of foot by heart by the time they were Elizabeth’s age and ready to come out to Society.
“I assure you,” Amelia said carefully. “When you come back to London with Hugh and me, you will be the belle of any ball. You needn’t worry yourself.”
All the color drained from Lizzie’s face, and Hugh could stand by no longer. He rushed into the room with a wide smile he hoped would distract Amelia from this topic of questioning.
“Good afternoon, ladies. I did not know there was a ball here today.”
Lizzie’s face brightened a little at the sight of him, and she rushed forward to take Hugh’s arm. He felt the slightest tremble to her grip as she curled her fingers around his bicep.
“Amelia was just teaching me a few dances,” she explained.
Amelia was watching them closely, and he could still see the troubled expression on her face. “Yes,” she said slowly. “Lizzie seemed so enraptured of my description of the first time you and I danced that I thought it might be fun for both of us. But I’m not very good at leading.”
Hugh caught her eye. “You seem very well equipped at doing so.”
She blushed immediately and he stifled a smile. At least distracting her was enjoyable. And it seemed to have worked, for she didn’t press further on the subject of why Lizzie didn’t like the dance.
“You are a very good dancer, Your Grace,” she said instead. “Perhaps I could play the pianoforte and you could help Lizzie with the steps yourself.”
Hugh blinked as he looked down at his sister. That was an option he hadn’t considered before. He’d simply did as she asked and sent her dance teacher away, but he’d never thought to teach her himself. It wasn’t the worst idea. He could go slowly if she required time and patience.
“Would you like to try?” he asked her softly.
Lizzie’s hesitation was plain on her face, but then she glanced over at Amelia. Clearly, she wanted to please her new sister-in-law. That drive seemed more powerful than her nervousness. With a tiny sigh, she nodded. “If you have the time.”
“I do,” he said, and smiled at Amelia as she walked to the pianoforte that was in the corner of the room. She settled into place and began to play.
For a moment he was stunned into silence. Ladies were taught so many skills. His sister, herself, was a fine musician and singer, though she had to be coaxed to show off her talents. He supposed he’d guessed that Amelia would be a proficient in some of those arts, too, but he hadn’t expected her playing to be so…beautiful. So passionate.
She stopped playing and laughed. “Is this a concert or a dance lesson? Go on, you two,spin!”
Hugh shook off his surprise and took Lizzie’s hand. They stepped out together, and as Amelia began the song over again, he spun his sister around the floor, taking his time as he walked her through the steps. At first, Lizzie was hesitant. She looked at her feet regularly and muttered beneath her breath with every missed step.
But as the song continued, he watched her confidence grow. It was a beautiful thing to behold, for so much of it had been crushed under Aaron Walter’s boot. To watch Lizzie flower, smile as she figured out the timing of a step…it warmed Hugh’s heart.Thatwas the gift Amelia had given to him. To them.
As the song ended, Lizzie curtsied and then turned to Amelia with a nervous laugh. “How did I do?”
Amelia got up and came around the pianoforte to embrace his sister gently. “That was wonderful. A little more practice and no one will ever know that you didn’t feel comfortable.” She glanced at Hugh as she continued, “I have no idea why you didn’t learn to dance years ago, but you are a natural.”
Lizzie tensed, and Hugh smiled down at her. “Lizzie, I have a hankering for Mrs. Masters’ bread pudding before I leave. Do you think you might ask her very sweetly to put it on the menu for tonight or tomorrow? You know she’ll never refuse you.”
Lizzie nodded and hurried from the room. After she’d gone, Amelia turned to Hugh, her gaze narrowed. There was a beat of silence before she said, “You don’t want me to know anything, do you?”
