Mrs. Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) [TBS]

Part 6

I sat on the piano bench as I gently played the song in my songbook. Miss Hardcastle walked back and forth as she listened to me play. 

"You're speeding up. Somewhere else you'd rather be?"

Yes! At my desk drawing! or painting! or anything other than here! "No Miss Hardcastle," I answered as I slowed down,

"Enough." She demanded so I stopped, "The masters can only be mutilated so long." She sighed holding the bridge of her nose, "Come on." She demanded,

I nodded and got up, so we headed out of the music room and I followed her along to the largest room of the house the large hall. She led me to the centre of the room where I stood as she paced around me. 

"Now, once your debutante dance with your father, you shall?"

"Wait silently for any potential suitors."

"Partners." She corrected, "A young eligible man approaches?" 

"I shall greet him," I courtesied, "Offer a smile?"

"A small one. A wide smile is a sign of a willing girl, and we don't want you to look too willing now." She said, 

"Yes, Miss." 

"He will bow to greet you," She said as she stood in front of me and bowed as a gentleman would "He shall offer a hand," she said as she offered her hand to me,

"I shall offer a hand," 

"Which hand?" 

"The right?" I asked, offering her hand right hand. 

"You offer the opposite, left if right, right if left," She corrected,

"Yes, miss." I nodded, she had offered her left so I offered my right,

"Gloves will be on when approaching a young lady, if not you are to request he puts them on."

"But won't I already be wearing gloves?"

"He is to wear his own when dancing with a lady, it is etiquette." 

"Yes, miss."

"He shall kiss it, One kiss on the knuckle bridge. No lower, No higher." She said as she faked a kiss on my hand "Then?"

"He shall ask to dance."

"He shall, a man does not simply take the hand and begin he must ask a lady for her permission."

"Can I refuse?"

"No."

"Then isn't asking irrelevant?"

"It is the proper thing." 

"Then I shall hold his hand, he shall take my waist-"

"Waist not hip, never hip. he takes your hip?"

"I correct him."

"If he still moves his hand?"

"I politely thank him for his intentions to dance but fetch father."

"Good, Your other hand?"

"On his shoulder."

"His jacket." She snapped as she forced my hands like I was dancing forcefully she moved my fingers "Pinch, you pinch his jacket you do not hold him." 

"Yes, Miss." 

"Now step two it." She said, 

I nodded and began my steps,

"Good, very good. Stiff backs and always room you should be able to fit a plate between you." She reminded, "he shall lead with grace and care as if leading the most tentative of ponies"

"So I'm a horse?"

"Do not be smart Y/n."

"Yes, Miss." 

"We do not criticise our partners, with words or expressions." 

"If they can't dance why are they coming to the ball?"

"To witness your debut. Some men have two left feet that is the truth of it, but always we smile kindly." She said, "We do not correct him, this is not the time for a dancing lesson," She said, "You are to dance gracefully, there will be no jumps, no fast spins, none of this dipping madness, it is only an excuse for hands to be in places they shouldn't." 

"Yes, Miss."

"We can allow a small twirl and perhaps more but that is all, you may be the debutante but we do not want too many eyes." She explained, "We do not whisper. unladylike to be whispering secrets in the ears of our dance partners. We are mindful of others on the floor, and we do not! ever! give kisses."

"Yes, Miss." I rolled my eyes a little, 

"You may speak polite conversation is a given when dancing but we do not whisper, we do not shout and always mindful of a gentleman's conversation. No gentleman likes his ear being talked off."

"And if they have nothing important to say?"

"Then dance in silence." She said, "And when the dance is over?"

"I bow again and smile,"

"Good, he shall thank you for the honour and leave to go elsewhere in the party."

"May I speak to him after?"

"No, unless your father approaches you with him."

"When how am I to recall those who interested me?"

"You remember their names." She said, "You may only leave the dance floor on occasion to drink and converse will fellow ladies, but a lady does not cross the ballroom unattended you must ask your father."

"How will I know where my father is?"

"He shall be watching always." 

"Yes, miss." 

"Go may return to your room." she said, "I will deliver your invitations to your room and you are to sign them all and make sure you have a list of all your invitees to check when you get your replies." 

"Yes, Miss." I nodded, as I fixed my dress and headed to my room.