PROBLEM - Anthony Lockwood

CHAPTER SIXTY NINE

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lxix

in which the dancing actually happens

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ALICE'S EYES LIT up as she watched the couples waltzing in the other hall. She sighed wistfully as she looked at them. She knew that they hadn't actually come here to party - but there was a part of her that absolutely adored the idea of dancing at a ball and milling around at a party.

She would never admit out loud, but she liked mingling with Lockwood. She liked watching the way his eyes lit up and his back straigtened. He was in his element when he was here, cunning and proud.

And she loved seeing that side of him.

Lockwood followed Alice's gaze, watching as she looked wistfully at the dancing. A small smirk danced on his lips.

He remembered how, weeks and weeks ago, when they were about to venture into Combe Carey Hall, she'd mentioned how she'd always craved to go and dance in a ball.

Lockwood held out a hand for her, straightening up as the song ended.

"May I have this dance, Alice?"

This couldn't actually be happening.

Alice looked up at Lockwood in shock, the corners of her lips curling into a small smile. She could feel a blush coating her face.

She took his hand.

"Of course, Anthony."

It was all too surreal as he led her onto the dance floor, turning them so they stood in line with the other couples. All too soon, his hands were on her waist, and he was looking down at her.

And then Alice could hear the violins.

The next thing she knew, she was dancing like they were in some fairytale. They danced gracefully, Lockwood a strong presence before her as her hem of her dress fanned out slightly as she spun.

"You dance really well," Lockwood complimented.

Alice didn't have the heart to tell him that she'd been taught to waltz by the ghost of Anne Boleyn.

"Thank you," she mused, "So do you."

He rolled his eyes, "I was born into an upper-class family in central London."

"I can imagine a little Anthony at fancy dinner parties," Alice quipped, letting him spin her.

"I loved the fancy dinner parties," Lockwood chuckled.

She laughed lightly, "I can tell."

He gripped her waist tighter, causing her breath to hitch. "I'll take you to all the fancy dinner parties you could dream of, if you'd like."

Alice looked up at him through her eyelashes, and for a moment, Anthony Lockwood forgot how to breathe. Her dark eyes stared up at him, utterly transfixed. With the way that the gold on her eyelids glittered against the candlight, she looked almost as if she had the eyes of a fairy or a siren. Certainly not a human. There was nothing human about how dark and ethereal her eyes were.

"As long as you're the one taking me," she whispered.

In that moment, he realised that - had they not been in a crowded room - he would have smashed his lips to hers.