Chapter 3.2
“I can’t miss the first dance at my sister’s debut party. I’m really fine. Thank you for your concern, Mr. White.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I was worried that you might not be feeling well because of me.”
He, smiling as he spoke, was also her partner, whom she had personally invited today.
“It’s my first time attending such a party, so I was worried I might be a bit clumsy at escorting.”
Andrew was someone who frequently visited the Earl of Hazel’s residence for business matters, and as a result, he was quite familiar with Theodora. Although he was a commoner without a title, her father often praised him for being diligent and good-natured, even though he was not a suitable son-in-law. Thus, when Theodora needed a partner for today’s event, she chose him as her sacrificial lamb.
“You’re not clumsy at all. And it’s my invitation, after all. I’m grateful just for your attendance.”
It wasn’t just empty words. Theodora genuinely liked Andrew’s low voice and calm manner of speaking.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are my partner today, Mr. White.”
Moreover, he was one of the rare men who didn’t look at Theodora as if evaluating her. Andrew deserved her gratitude just for not scoring her from head to toe on whether she was a good bride.
“Hmm. I hope that thought doesn’t change after we dance.”
Watching him smile awkwardly, the music announcing the start of the ball began to play. In the center of the hall, surrounded by nobles, stood Eloise holding Adrian’s hand.
Adrian led Eloise with movements close to perfection, and the two started the first dance. The scene of the couple, like something out of a fairy tale, drew envious glances from the attendees, who exchanged various comments behind wide-open fans.
“They really are a beautiful couple.”
“Exactly. How can they suit each other so well?”
“I heard he’s staying at Hazel’s. I wonder if we’ll hear engagement news before he even adjusts to the south.”
“Look at the Earl of Hazel smiling ear to ear. Well, thanks to his second daughter, he might get to connect with the Bachelet Ducal Family, so it’s understandable. But, is the eldest daughter still unmarried?”
Even if she didn’t want to hear it, the words pierced her ears, and she bit her lip.
“Shall we prepare to dance as well, Miss Theodora?”
As if to block out the uncomfortable conversation, Andrew changed his position. He was indeed a kind and considerate man. Theodora felt deeply grateful and took his offered hand.
After the main couple’s dance ended, it was time for the young nobles with partners to dance. Theodora watched Eloise and Adrian bow and retreat to one side of the hall.
But her gaze soon returned to the front, led by Andrew’s hand. She thought she might have made eye contact with Adrian for a moment, but she couldn’t be sure.
“Please take care of me.”
Led by Andrew’s hand to the center of the hall, she soon felt his hand around her waist. With a slightly faster waltz tune than before, the two began to step slowly.
“Considering your worries, you’re a very good dancer, Mr. White.”
When the music was about halfway through, Theodora left her honest impression.
“I’m giving it my all. Honestly, I’m more focused than when I’m examining legal clauses.”
Hearing Andrew’s serious tone, Theodora chuckled, and he returned a gentle smile. Contrary to the prejudice that he might be a bookworm who only looked at books due to his profession, Andrew’s body, seen up close, was quite solid and well-built.
Feeling the large, warm hand that enveloped hers, Theodora naturally recalled the last time she held Adrian’s hand.
‘I wonder what it would feel like to dance with him.’
Come to think of it, although they had wandered here and there together, they had never danced together. As a partner, Adrian would not only be very charming but also feel completely overwhelming, Theodora vaguely imagined.
Even Andrew, who was just a bit taller than average, felt like an embrace, so with Adrian, who was taller and had a better build, she thought it would feel like being entirely surrounded by him.
Recalling the memory of being briefly held by him during a sword fight in the field recently, Theodora unconsciously remembered the firm yet warm body exuding heat.
“Miss Theodora?”
Perhaps it showed that she wasn’t focused on the dance, as Andrew called her with curiosity. Theodora felt a bit embarrassed. Even while dancing with another man, only Adrian came to mind.
However, this was close to an act of God. From this alone, she could roughly guess what kind of life she would lead if she were to marry. Even with her husband before her, she would only think of Adrian in her heart. Truly, it was a pathetic action and something she shouldn’t do to her marriage partner.
While Theodora was lost in such thoughts, the music ended, and her dance with Andrew stopped as well. After exchanging smiles and farewells with him briefly, the sound of a fast-paced dance tune began. At the same time, many people came out to the center of the hall and formed a formation. It seemed that the quadrille was about to begin.
Since she had already danced once with Andrew, Theodora decided to take a break for this song. Just as she was about to tell her partner to take a short rest.
“They say you haven’t really enjoyed the party in the south if you haven’t danced the quadrille.”
Andrew, who was adjusting his grip on her hand, hadn’t expected it either.
“It’s against etiquette to dance consecutively with the same partner, so I’ll let you go for a while, Miss Eloise.”
Adrian, who exchanged her hand with Eloise’s, wasn’t part of Theodora’s plan either. Without time to protest the suddenly switched partner, the quick movements continued.
“Ian?”
She called him by his usual name in surprise, but fortunately, the loud music drowned it out so others couldn’t hear.
“If you suddenly change partners like this…”
Trailing off as she struggled to follow the steps, Adrian supported her arm and raised an eyebrow.
“I thought this was how the quadrille was supposed to be danced, or is my understanding wrong?”
He said with a casual smile. However, there was a subtle tension in that smile that made Theodora feel a strange sense of discord.
“Eloise seems to know that man too.”
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Adrian’s voice sounded almost displeased. As she looked at Andrew and Eloise, who were already dancing far away, he suddenly blocked her view.
“Who is he? A suitor?”
Theodora was briefly puzzled by his unnecessarily sharp tone but replied hurriedly while keeping up with the fast tempo.
“No, Mr. White is a lawyer my father often meets. I wanted to introduce him to you too. He’s very competent.”
“Ah, competent. That’s good.”
Responding in a disinterested tone, he spun Theodora around grandly. The world spun around, and soon her vision was filled with Adrian’s face again.
“But if he’s a commoner without a title, he can’t be a candidate for your husband.”
She couldn’t quite understand what he was saying. Her breath was very short due to the fast dance movements. Or perhaps it was because of his scent and warmth that overwhelmed her every time they drew close.
While she was distractedly moving her feet, a stranger came alongside her, and she linked arms with him to turn. It was Adrian who snatched her waist and brought her back to her place. His body, which was too close for a quadrille, was… Certainly much firmer and hotter than Andrew’s.
No, this isn’t right.
Theodora corrected her thoughts, which kept veering off in a strange direction. This wasn’t the time to lose her mind and be captivated by her friend’s body.
“But, Ian. It’s all good, but if we keep dancing like this, people might misunderstand us as being overly intimate…”
Trying not to be conscious of the firm arm around her waist or the large hand tightly holding hers, Theodora whispered. In fact, by proper etiquette, they shouldn’t be dancing the quadrille like this. Despite needing to change partners continuously, Adrian was unnaturally holding onto Theodora.
“It should look like we’re overly intimate. That’s why I’m doing this.”
“What?”
Amidst the sound of feet tapping, they managed to have a conversation. Unlike Theodora, who frowned, not quite understanding, Adrian maintained a relaxed expression.
“I told you, Theo. I want to help you.”
Ah, was it that story again?
The heat that had risen to her head quickly cooled, and she suddenly wanted to leave. In fact, she had been avoiding Adrian for days because of this issue, but now she couldn’t.
“You’re saying monopolizing me during the quadrille is helping me?”
She tried to protest in a small voice, but it was a futile attempt.
“Anyone with a bit of sense would have realized by now. That the Marquis of Devon is very interested in the young ladies of the Hazel family.”
“So why does that…”
“Nobles are naturally like that, Theo.”
She frowned at his unusually sharp tone but only briefly.