Emilie of the Royal Heart

Chapter 42: The Countess Loves a Dance

 Emilie glanced at Elias. Elias glanced at Emilie. They both realized just how close they were standing and how it might have looked to Analeigh. It looked like they were flirting. Which they absolutely were. And they absolutely were not supposed to be.

To Emilie's utter shock, Elias leaned out from her to better face Analeigh and he said in a clear and unabashed tone, "I know you from somewhere, don't I?"

"Uhhh..." Analeigh's voice skittered, but she recovered, "yes, your imperial highness. My father was your school tutor, I have crossed your path a few times during our childhood."

"That's right!" he triumphed, pointing at her as he recalled, "you're An-lee! I thought I recognized that ash blonde hair," then he glanced down at Emilie and tapped her on the arm to get her attention even when it was obvious he already had it and he shared in a casual air, "did you know this poor woman had to sit in on my piano lessons?"

"You play piano?" Emilie said.

"He doesn't," Analeigh disclosed with a polite shake of her head.

"Oh, you don't have to lower your voice for me, Countess. I know I was terrible," Elias snickered, taking a step away from Emilie to relieve the tension in the ballroom. It was only the three of them in the gargantuan hall but it felt ready to pop. More distance between Emilie and Elias created a steady, though small release valve for the pressure. Emilie could finally turn around to look at Analeigh directly.

Adorable.

There was no other word to properly describe the way the Countess carried herself today. Emilie wanted her to sit on the side of her saucer and dip her in her tea like a biscuit. Her dress was a purple-ish grey in a perfect bell shape with a smooth top layer and many ruffly layers peeping out from the divide at the front of the skirt. It reminded Emilie of a mushroom and the way Analeigh's grey-purple bodice hugged to her frame in puffy ruffles down her chest with puff-ball sleeves over her shoulders, she looked like a little woodland creature. The pink ribbons in her yellow hair stuck out in loops and Emilie imagined little pink bunnies hiding in Analeigh's curls and she struggled not to burst into sunshine at the sight of her.

The doors of the ballroom opened and a string quartet entered in, giving an excuse for Emilie's eyes to dart away from both Analeigh and Elias for a moment of relief. But she quickly peeked back at them as Analeigh timidly approached Elias.

"The -the Deyism Unification Day Ball is two days away, as you know, your imperial majesty, and I'm afraid Lady Emilie is in need of further instruction, so... I didn't mean to interrupt... er... anything, but..." Analeigh suggested, her cheeks blooming in rose trying to navigate their circumstance.

"I see, I see," Elias nodded, scratching his chin. His eyes roamed the floor and then he peered up at Emilie. She could see the scheme cooking in his eyes. He was still looking at her when he said to Analeigh, "well, you know -I have nothing to do until tomorrow. I imagine Emilie's going to need a partner to dance with and seeing as I'm already here, I might as well lend myself to the situation."

"Oh," Analeigh warbled. Emilie thought she saw her eye twitch as she chewed on her lip. In her next breath, the expression disappeared and she smiled warmly, "of course, of course. It will be very helpful to have you. Let me speak with the musicians and then we can begin."

She strode off to the side and Emilie's eyes followed her. Despite everything, a taut string of longing pulled Emilie's mind after Analeigh. Did she still care for her? What was life at the manor like now, without her? Was Analeigh so awfully lonely? Was she mad at her for leaving? And what did she have to tell her when she rushed in?