I swallowed and forced a smile. “I’ll dance as many as you desire.”
He stared at me for a moment and then shook his head. “What I desire is rarely what matters.”
His response was strange, but I hardly had time to discern his meaning when he grinned and offered me his arm.
“Besides, you know what they say when an unmarried couple dances more than two times together.”
I frowned and shook my head. “What do they say?”
He leaned closer, as if he was taking me into his confidence. “That they must be madly in love and an engagement is soon to follow. Unless you want the gossips to talk, you must never allow a gentleman such liberties.”
I slipped my hand through his arm and allowed him to escort me to the front parlor, where the grand piano sat. “And what if the gossips talk?”
“Then your reputation could be ruined and your chances of marrying a duke will be reduced.”
“For dancing with a gentleman more than two times?”
“That is only the beginning,” he said. “Has Aunt Maude taught you ballroom etiquette yet?”
“She told me that a woman must never move about a ballroom unescorted and that a gentleman must take her onto the dance floor and off again.” I spoke slowly, trying to ensure my words sounded proper. “A woman must never go anywhere without an escort. To be seen walking alone is frowned upon.”
Peter, the footman, entered, smoothing back his hair. His eyes were sleepy as he offered a quick bow and then moved to the piano.
I wanted to apologize to him, but Aunt Maude had told me that I should never apologize or thank the staff for doing their job.
“What would you like, sir?” Peter asked Alec.
Alec looked to me. “What wouldyoulike?”
No one had asked my opinion in weeks.
“A waltz?” I said, uncertain.
“Is that what you want?”
It had been the easiest dance for me to learn, so I nodded.
“A waltz, Peter,” Alec said.
Peter began playing a song I had heard earlier in the week. It was a hauntingly beautiful tune that had swept me away. I didn’t know the words—or if there even were lyrics to the song—but I loved it. There hadn’t been a lot of music in my life in Five Points, and if there was, it was Irish folk songs.
Alec bowed to me, and I curtsied, as I’d been taught by Aunt Maude. I lifted the train of my evening gown into my right hand and took a step toward Alec.
He paused for a moment, and I wondered if he was having second thoughts about dancing.
I stood, waiting for him, my heart thumping hard against my breastbone. What if he walked away? Decided he didn’t want to honor Aunt Maude’s request?
Finally, he took a step toward me, his face very serious, as he slipped his left hand around my waist.
I caught my breath. The dancing instructor had been close, but I had felt nothing.
This was much different.
Alec took my left hand into his and we looked at each other for a heartbeat before he began to lead me around the floor.
Just as I feared, I felt clumsy and awkward in his arms. My feet didn’t want to move properly, and I couldn’t seem to remember anything I’d been taught.
I stared down at my feet, trying to keep time.
