The ballroom at the Windsor Hotel was warm and crowded as I danced with Luc several hours later. Grace had stayed behind to finish her article for theGlobe, though I suspected she didn’t want to be in Luc’s company. It gave me the opportunity to be alone with him—if being alone in a room of three hundred people counted.
“Do you think Grace will change her mind?” he asked as we danced to “The Merry Widow Waltz.”
“I don’t think so.” I smiled at other couples as they spun around the room with us. There were a dozen aviators gathered, all guests of honor, though I was the only female pilot. We’d spent over an hour listening to speeches by the mayor, a congressman, and other important Jacksonville citizens, all thanking us for bringing the air show to their fair city, before the dance had started.
But now it was just Luc and I for a moment, and I didn’t want to talk about Grace.
“Do you truly think I am one of the most talented aviators you know?”
He was at least a head taller than me, and he looked down at me now, studying me with his blue-green eyes in the dim light from the wall sconces. It was hard to concentrate when I was this close to him.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
I smiled, wanting him to know how deep my feelings ran. I couldn’t hide it from my face or my voice. “Your belief in me has gotten me this far. I owe everything—”
“You owe me nothing, Hope. I’m simply doing my job.”
I shook my head, loving the feel of his arms around me as we waltzed across the dance floor, my skirts trailing after me. My gown was made with tiers of magenta silk, overlayed with metallic lace extending to the hem. It shimmered under the chandeliers and was designed for elegance and attention.
I moved closer to Luc, as close as our dance would allow, not knowing how to make him aware of my feelings. I didn’t usually struggle to communicate how I felt. After years of being on stage, even in minor roles, ardent admirers sent flowers and made advances. Not to mention Isaac’s interest in me since we were young. But there was no challenge in that, so I had dismissed each of them. I had always known that one day I would meet someone like Luc who didn’t fall over himself to be with me. Andtherewas the challenge.
The song was ending, and I didn’t have much time left to convey my feelings. “Thank you for bringing me to the dance,” I said. “I know how much you detest these gatherings.”
He’d been eyeing the door like a caged animal almost since we arrived.
“I knew it would be important to you,” he said.
My heart fluttered.
“If you want to make a name for yourself,” he continued, “and you want to make a living at aviation, you’ll need to attend events like this until your name is well-known. As your new manager, I could do nothing less.”
I looked away, trying not to feel disappointed. Tonight was all business? “You’re more than a teacher and manager to me,” I said, my voice hushed. “Surely you must know that by now, Luc.”
He was quiet, and I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. I was both frightened and hopeful at what I might see there.
“Of course,” he said. “We are friends. Though, if I will be your manager, then we should keep our relationship professional, should we not?”
I finally looked up at him, and his eyes had softened just enough for me to see that he did regard me with some affection—but was it the kind I dreamed about?
It took a lot of courage to muster a smile. “Of course.”
When the song ended, Luc pulled away. “Are you ready to return to the Seminole? We don’t want to be late for your licensing test in the morning.”
I nodded, still unable to find my voice. I rarely cried—not like Grace, who seemed to tear up at the least provocation—but I was dangerously close now. Could it be that Luc truly didn’t return my feelings? He had agreed to put his own exhibition flying on hold to be my business manager for the flight across the English Channel. Surely that meant something. Didn’t it?
The Windsor and Seminole hotels were less than four blocks apart, so Luc offered his arm to me when we stepped outside, and we headed south on Hogan Street. Darkness had fallen on Jacksonville, but the winter tourist destination was still alive with activity. Magnificent lights lit up the streets and buildings, and music could be heard coming from inside several establishments we passed.
If I was going to spend the next several weeks with Luc, thelast thing I wanted to do was make it awkward. Instead oftellinghim I loved him, I would have toshowhim how I felt.
The new goal brought my head up and banished any threat of tears. If I showed him how I felt, he couldn’t deny me, could he? I would find a way to convince him that we were meant to travel the world together.
Feeling better, I clasped his arm a little tighter and felt the bounce return to my step.
But Luc was silent beside me. He dipped his head as people passed us, allowing the brim of his stylish fedora to cover his face.
“If you don’t enjoy their attention,” I asked, “why do you pursue aviation? It’s one of the most compelling things that has ever happened to the world and begs for attention.”
He paused to look in the window of a dark store as we passed. I could see our reflection in the glass. He studied himself as if he didn’t recognize the man before him. It made me wonder. Was he happy?
