Maddox cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him.He tugged at his cravat as if it discomforted him, his gaze darting to the witch couples who had begun dancing to the music that drifted from a quartet of self-playing instruments floating above the fountain: a lute, a flute, a harp, and a tambourine.
“Giselle,” he began, “do you want to—?”
“Gigi, come dance with me!”Christabella burst out from behind the pie table in a flurry of orange skirts.Her hair was braided into a crown, woven with red and orange oak leaves.She wore a puff sleeved blouse and a burnt orange pinafore embroidered with burnished acorns and leaves.It was the dress I had made for her last Harvest, before I left.
She grabbed my hands and made an effort to tug me to the fountain where more witch couples were gathering for the Harvest dance, but to no avail—I was as stubborn as a rock.There would be no dancing for me tonight.I had to keep an eye on my charge.
“Chrissy, why don’t you go to Alexander?”I asked, noting the boy in question loitering near the tables.He was throwing glances our way, as if wanting to approach but not knowing how.
Christabella huffed.“I don’t want to talk to him right now.”
I raised a brow.“You two are fighting?”
“No,” she said, a little too quickly.She swung my hands around.“Come, let’s dance!”
“I have to chaperone Edmund,” I said, extricating my hands.
Christabella pouted.“But Gigi...”She sighed dejectedly, then her face lit up when she spotted Maddox.
She ran to him and took his hands as she had taken mine.“Maddox, dance with me!”
His eyebrows shot up, his gaze darting to me.“I—uh—don’t know this dance.”
“I’ll teach you!It’s really simple, just follow my lead!”Christabella dragged Maddox into the square with the other dancers around the fountain.The instrumental quartet began playing the jaunty, upbeat tune of the Harvest song.Chrissy was as enthusiastic a dancer as ever, her arms raised the highest and her feet stamping the loudest as she bounded in circles with everyone else in beat to the music.Maddox followed with admirable effort, though somewhat clumsily.I smiled as I watched them, their joy contagious.
A smooth voice drew my attention away.“Giselle.I was wondering when you were going to come.”
Edmund appeared beside me, leaning against the table behind us that held dishes of roasted vegetables and a bowl of ruby-colored punch.I quickly searched his face for any wart jinxes unbeknownst to him.His pale skin was clear.Thank goodness.
“I was here for a while,” I admitted.“I just wanted to keep an eye on you on the sidelines.”
“Like a chaperone in a ballroom?”he asked with a laugh.
I waved a hand awkwardly.“Nothing like that.”I was no hawk-eyed mama ready to swoop down on any prospective suitor—not that he was in any danger here.Human men had notorious reputations.Any witch girl who showed interest would no doubt be gossiped about ruthlessly, just like Seraphina Barclay.
We looked on, watching the witchlights reflect off the fountain like drops of sparkling stars, the music lively and bright.I spotted Beatrice in the midst, being spun around by her youngest daughter, Elowyn.
“I’m enjoying myself,” Edmund said after a moment.“It’s nice being part of a gathering like this.”
I exhaled, relieved he wasn’t having a terrible time, then stole a curious look at him.“Don’t you attend plenty of gatherings like this?Banquets and balls and the sort?”
Edmund was no noble, but surely he was rich enough to receive invitations to the various events of high society.
“Less than you think,” Edmund said with a laugh.“Sometimes I join my father on business dinners but even then, the circumstances of my birth get in the way of enjoyment.”His smile turned sad at the corners.
I felt a spike of indignation for him.“The circumstances of your birth aren’tyourfault.”If anything, it should’ve reflected badly on Mr.de Clare, but I kept that thought to myself.
Edmund shrugged.“I’ve gotten used to it.But thank you, Giselle, for treating me like I’m not lesser than.”
Treat Edmund de Clare as lesser than?I almost laughed.“I hardly have the accolades to treat anyone like they’re lesser than.”
“You underestimate yourself,” Edmund said warmly.The multi-colored witchlights flickered in his blue eyes like an aurora borealis.“I don’t think I’ve ever known a lady so accomplished.”
My breath caught.I didn’t know what to say, afraid a simple thank you would seem too self-important.
“Do you dance?”I blurted out.
“Occasionally.The last time had been with my—” He paused and shook his head with a laugh, his dark waves bouncing.“Never mind.”He offered his hand.“Would you like to dance with me?”
