The Florist And The Prince

~ 41 ~

Avery

Avery swallowed hard as she looked at the long line of smartly dressed young men that stood before her and her fellow contestants. Madam Eunice and the Royal committee had to be joking, they couldn't be serious this was only there second task.

"This is Madam Beatrice Del Corre from the Royal Baudelaire Academy." Madam Eunice introduced the tall, immaculate blonde haired woman beside her. "She is a dance teacher and this fine young men are some of her students, who she has brought with her to help teach you how to dance ball-style. As you all know, a tradition for every Royal family is to host balls and our Royal family has special dance that they always perform during their main annual ball, but you must first learn how to waltz properly before learning that dance. Madam Beatrice."

"Thank you Madam Eunice." The blonde woman nodded politely.

She was a few years younger then Madam Eunice, from her visual observation Avery guessed that she was in her late twenties or early thirties.

"Good morning ladies."

"Good morning Madam Beatrice!"

"Thank you. Firstly, dancing is not only a form of art and a way to express yourself but a form of identification. Every country in the world has its own unique way of dancing that identifies them and so do we, but before we get into that I will teach you some of the basics. Henry." The dance teacher nodded to one of the boys.

Avery made sure to watch carefully as Madam Beatrice and Henry carried out the first dance, a simple waltz. She did know how to dance and wasn't terrible, but she had zero knowledge on how to waltz.

The ball room in which they all stood in was a larger oval room then the throne room with an arched ceiling that had intricately paintings on it along with two big elegant chandeliers hanging down and lining the Eastern side of the room were floor-to-ceiling windows and likewise with the West and, Northern and Southern sides had big French doors completed with a lavish creme coloured carpet that complimented the dark wooden floor. Avery stood quietly along with the others and watched as Madam Beatrice and Henry dance gracefully, and fluently to the soft, music that was being played from the record player that stood beside Mrs. Carrigan (another member of the Royal committee). They're movements were one with the music.

"Okay, that was just the basics of a waltz. Very simple and easy to learn." Madam Beatrice turned back to face the eligibles as she spoke after dancing. "The next few dances that we will run through are also waltzes but with a mix from our ancestral roots; Spain, France, Sweden and Germany. Henry."

After an hour and Avery loosing count of how many different styles of dance patterns were performed by Madam Beatrice and Henry, she found herself standing in line with the other contestants facing the boys from the Royal Baudelaire Academy.

"The young man standing opposite you will be your dance partner. Alright, please step forward and introduce yourselves to one another as you will be partners for the how many weeks that you learn how to master waltzing." Madam Beatrice said and they all did.

Looking at her partner, Avery could see that they were about the same age and just like her, he looked biracial. Part being part Asian and Caucasian. He wasn't that taller than her, only a few inches with a lean physique and jet black hair that was gelled back, golden-brown eyes and fair skin.

He gave a small bow then stood up straight and smiled kindly at her. "Hello, I'm Earl Eugene Guildford."

Avery smiled and curtsey back. "Avery Cartwright, my Lord."