‘Indeed, it is. Children already have very little control of their lives, and losing their parents leaves them with less.’
‘Is that why you chose to be happy?’ she asked. She couldn’t stop wondering about that comment.
‘Yes.’ The music began, and Drake asked, ‘Shall we?’
‘Yes,’ she replied. Even though she wasn’t sure whether she was agreeing to start their dance, or to join Drake in his choice to enjoy himself.
As they began to waltz across the floor, she pondered his answers in more depth. It was easy to do so, because Drake was such an excellent dancer. Each move was smooth and in time with the music, and that made following him so simple that she didn’t even need to think about it.
Coincidentally, what he’d said about leaving his wife and children home alone for months on end was similar to what her father had said about why he quit sailing. Her father had said he’d never regretted that decision, and she’d never doubted that. But she didn’t doubt what Drake had said, either.
Lifting her face, her breath caught in her throat at the way Drake was looking at her and smiling.
‘You are an excellent dance partner,’ he said.
‘Thank you,’ she replied. ‘I can say the same for you and must wonder how that is possible, considering you’ve been at sea since a young age.’
‘My aunt had me dancing with my cousins as a boy,’ he said. ‘Where did you learn to dance so well?’
‘Miss Ada’s Finishing School for Young Ladies,’ she replied. ‘Dancing was a weekly requirement.’
‘They held weekly dances?’
‘No, we were required to attend dance classes once a week,’ she explained.
He frowned slightly. ‘Who did the girls at the school dance with?’
‘Each other,’ she answered.
‘Did you ever dance with boys?’
‘No, it wasn’t allowed, but I have had male dance partners, especially since returning home.’
‘I imagine you have, and I’m honored to be your partner this evening.’
‘Thank you, I’m honored to be yours.’ She did feel honored, and proud. Which was as surprising as the happiness that had been steadily filling her all evening.
Then again, why shouldn’t she be happy? Despite what her family might assume, Drake was not interested in marriage. Though she was, and would someday marry, it felt good not to have to worry about that tonight. That had to be why she was so comfortable with him.
Comfortablemight not be the right word for what she was feeling. Every part of her felt alive, excited, and, well, happy.
Perhaps there was something to what he’d said. Perhaps a person could become truly happy, just by choosing to do so.
The following day as she walked into the zoo, Meridith still felt that surprising lightness. Drake had offered to pick her up today, just as he’d offered to give her a ride home last night, but she’d declined. There was no reason to encourage her family’s assumptions any more than she already had.
Though, oddly enough, no one had mentioned Drake while they’d all been in Peter’s coach on their way home last night, nor this morning.
She hoped it stayed that way, because she enjoyed spending time with Drake. She couldn’t find anything unlikeable about him. Certainly not like she had with the other men with whom she’d been forced to spend time.
With a smile on her face, Meridith admired the animals and buildings while making her way towards the elephant enclosure. It almost felt as if she was pulling the wool over her family’s eyes, both when it came to Drake’s potential as a husband, and about their outing today. She hadn’t told anyone that she was meeting Drake, simply that she was going to the zoo, which wasn’t unordinary.
She hadn’t mentioned the prospect of elephant rides, either, and in that instance her discretion was tinged with a sense of regret. She knew her nieces and nephews would have greatly enjoyed receiving rides on Hugo today, too, but she was no longer allowed to bring them on her visits to the zoo. It was considered too much of a distraction from her own life—by which, of course, her siblings meant her search for a husband. She did have hope that after hearing about the rides, Peter might change his mind about letting her bring the children with her again. Visits to the zoo had always been more enjoyable with Mary and the boys along with her, and she would enjoy having them accompany her again.
She also now believed that she understood what people meant when they’d suggest that someone was walking around with their head in the clouds. That was exactly what she’d been doing since last night. Thinking so much about Drake, about dancing with him and laughing with him and having a wonderful time with him, that she couldn’t focus on much else. Other than seeing him again—in just a few minutes now. She couldn’t recall a time when she’d been so excited to see someone.
Should she be quite so excited about that? The question disconcerted her, and she forced herself to notice more about her surroundings instead.
Though the zoo was a popular place for many, there appeared to be an overly large number of people here today, both adultsand children. They all appeared to be heading in the same direction as she was. The elephant enclosure.
