Whispers Of Desires: A Sense Of Courage {Book 3}

❀ꗥ～ꗥ❀ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ❀ꗥ～ꗥ❀

Adanna's mind whirled. Would you be honoured to dance with me? she wondered. Should it not be, would you do me the honour? But she swallowed her thoughts, giving him a small smile as she took his hand. "Yes, I would be delighted," she replied, her voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

They glided onto the dance floor, the music swirling around them like the softest silk. For a moment, the tension seemed to ease as they fell into the rhythm. Yet, just as Adanna began to relax, Hawke spoke again.

"You know," he said, his voice low, "I am in search of a bride." He paused, looking into her eyes.

Adanna raised an eyebrow, a playful tilt to her head. "Oh really?"

Hawke leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Look, Lady Adanna," he began, then hesitated, his gaze dropping to her body before returning to her face. "Let us be honest, a woman of your... stature... options might be limited, especially for a husband."

Adanna's smile vanished, replaced by a look of shock. "Limited?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

"Think about it," he continued, oblivious to tension in the air. "I can offer you stability, security, a roof over your head, and the protection of my name. And let us face it, marrying me would be the best chance you have."

Adanna stared at him in disbelief, her cheeks flushing with anger, but he continued. "As you know, men do not prefer women that are...voluptuous." He paused, running his tongue over his lips, as if he could taste the word on them.

He squeezed her hand with a smug grin. "And if we do get married, losing a little weight would not hurt, would it?"

Before he could finish, Adanna yanked her hand free with a force that surprised even her.

"Get off me!" she spat; her voice laced with icy rage.

Hawke stumbled back, momentarily stunned. He opened his mouth to protest, but Adanna cut him off with a laugh that echoed through the ballroom.

The music stopped as everyone turned to watch the exchange. A hush fell over the ballroom, the shock and disapproval clear in their faces.

Hawke stood there, his mouth still hanging open, as Adanna's words echoed through the hall. "Lady Adanna, you are causing a scene, it is improper to leave your partner mid-dance," he said, his voice hush as he tried to regain control of the situation.

"Improper to leave your partner mid-dance, Sergeant?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, loud enough to draw the attention of every couple on the floor. "Do not worry, I would not want to deprive the others of your..." she searched for a word, her eyes flashing with anger, "unique... approach to courtship."

The laughter died on her lips, replaced by a cold, hard stare. "If you were looking for a slim wife, Sergeant," she continued, her voice ringing out through the hushed ballroom, "perhaps you should have picked someone else to converse with. And if you are looking for a bride, maybe the first thing you should not do is insult the woman's weight and gender!"

Hawke stammered, his face flushing as anger and humiliation warred within him. He mumbled something about causing a scene, but Adanna only laughed again, a sound devoid of humor.

"No wonder you are still unmarried, Sergeant Hawke," she said, her voice laced with icy contempt. "Perhaps if you spent less time worrying about a woman's size and more time about a man's manners, you might have better luck."

Adanna's breath hitched in her throat. The ballroom, once filled with music and laughter, had fallen silent. Every pair of eyes in the room was on her, watching her exchange with Hawke. She could feel the weight of their judgment, their disapproval. Her heart raced, as each stare pierced through her.

"Did you see that with Sergeant Hawke?" a young woman whispered, her eyes flitting towards Adanna.

"Poor man," another replied with a sympathetic tone. "I wonder why he thought that would be a good idea."

Adanna felt a familiar wave of nausea rise in her chest. Her vision blurred as she looked around the ballroom, the faces of the other couples twisted in shock and disapproval. She wanted nothing more than to disappear, to vanish into thin air. Her fingers trembled as they reached for the bodice of her gown, desperately trying to loosen the fabric that suddenly felt like a noose around her neck.

Adanna felt panic rising within her, her heart pounding frantically in her chest. This was the night she was supposed to secure a husband...and she had failed miserably. A choked sob escaped her lips. She glanced towards her family and saw their concerned expressions, but the thought of their pity only intensified her shame.

With a surge of desperate resolve, Adanna gathered the skirts of her gown. Ignoring the surprised gasps from nearby dancers, she pushed through the crowd, her body driven by panic.

The heavy oak doors of the ballroom swung shut with a thud, and Adanna ran into the garden. The night air was cool on her flushed face, and she struggled to catch her breath. She stumbled over a garden path, the heels of her shoes digging into the soft dirt as she hurried through the gardens.

Tears streamed down her face, each sob a ragged gasp. She stumbled blindly onto a nearby bench, her limbs shaking uncontrollably. She felt hot tears soak into her gown as she buried her face in her hands. She could still hear the echoes of Hawke's words, the laughter of the crowd, and the pity in her family's eyes. She wanted nothing more than to disappear from this world, to be free from the pain and humiliation.