Her lips pressed together into a thin line, and her eyes narrowed only for a brief moment before she rose, walking slowly to the center of the hall.
Aaron followed behind her.
For the first time, he noticed the graceful curve of her back beneath her long auburn hair and the way her hips swayed softly under her dress as she walked.
He looked away at once, only realizing his action after he had already completed it.
His jaw tightened. There was no reason to be staring at her like a fool. She was simply Edith. Scarlett’s friend. Nothing more. And yet his eyes found her again, unable to look elsewhere.
They stopped at the center of the hall, and he swallowed, straightening his back. The Great Hall went silent as they stood facing one another, curious eyes drifting toward them.
Aaron drew a quick breath as the harp began to play a simple tune, cursing himself as the smell of wild lavender enveloped him once more.
He focused on the lesson at once.
He held out a hand to her, and she stared at it, before looking up at him with clear hesitation.
“Must I?” she murmured so that only he could hear.
His brows lifted.
Surely, she hasnae come all the way to refuse me now.
“Aye.” His response was curt.
She obliged, placing her hand carefully in his as though he were a fire that could burn her.
Their first few steps were pure chaos. Edith moved like a soldier, her back completely stiff as he tried to guide her movements.
“Ye must relax,” he whispered in her ear, and her arms broke out into goosebumps.
His eyes narrowed. He had not expected her to be so nervous about the dance, though the sight oddly satisfied him.
He softened slightly.
“Lass,” he added, “perhaps ye should pretend I am someone ye actually like.”
Edith’s lips twitched slightly at the corner. “That would require ye to leave the hall first,” she replied, meeting his gaze only briefly before looking away again.
Aaron smiled faintly.
His smile lasted only a brief moment until she stepped sharply on his boot. She stumbled, but he caught and steadied her.
“Oh.” She laughed nervously.
“Oh?” Aaron repeated.
“Did I step on ye?”
His jaw tightened. “Nay. A horse wandered through the hall and crushed me foot.”
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it, but she quickly regained her composure, raising her chin slightly.
They started over.
This dance was no different from the first. They had hardly completed two steps before she stomped on his boot again, harder this time.
Aaron’s brows drew slightly together. “There is nay possible way ye are this terrible.”
