What Happens By Candlelight

Chapter Ten: Dance Lessons

Sabrina lacked talent in learning and retaining knowledge. While it only took me a few days to learn the necessary steps of many dances and to execute them gracefully, she still had the issue of stepping on people's feet.

"Ow!" Madeline greedily rubbed her foot, pouting at the newest disaster to befall her. "Honestly, you can write and compose music day and night, but you can't remember a few simple steps and rhythms? My feet can't take any more damage!"

Madeline took a seat, still grumbling about the soreness in her toes from our prior lessons. I casually took my place before Sabrina, silently praying for the safety of my own appendages.  "Let's take it from the top please."

Timothy, the youngest of the three siblings, nodded compliantly, turning himself back towards the piano and beginning the piece once more. Sabrina and I bowed to one another and began once more. She paid more attention to her feet while trying to mirror my movements.

"No! Go left-" I groaned at my now crushed toes, annoyed at myself for not avoiding the catastrophe. I let out a deep breath, hoping it would temporarily soothe the unmistakable feeling of annoyance building inside of me. "Let's try once more. You're getting better every time!"

I watched the girl deflate, losing all confidence in herself. "What's the point? I doubt I'll be ready to dance with or in front of others anytime soon. In fact, I think I'll avoid dancing for the rest of my life!"

She was just as dramatic as her sister.

"Really, you should give up on her," I ignored her little brother's comment, choosing to not pay any attention to him for that moment in time.

"Start from the beginning again Timothy, or I'll make sure that your dessert is given to the dogs!" He began again quickly, hardly giving us time to prepare. "Now, count the beats in your head, let your feet guide you along with the music." 

Eventually, we made it to the end of the piece - my feet unharmed. It was refreshing and made me proud to know the girl had come so far since she started over a week ago. I learned that the three siblings were easy to acquaint, and could be very kind once you earned their trust.

"Finally!" Madeline made her presence known by walking between Sabrina and me. "Now we can move on to the waltz! Sabrina to the pian-"

"The waltz? Isn't that a bit... scandalous?" Madeline waved her hand, dismissing my comment completely. Sabrina rushed past her, taking her brother's spot on the piano bench.

Timothy, who barely reached Madeline's chest at his short nine-year-old stature, pulled on her skirt to gain the attention he desired. "May I dance with Miss Christina?"

He was a handsome child, with dark locks and bright intelligent eyes. He, like Sabrina, was very talented on the piano, and a very accomplished writer for his age. I was surprised by his musical abilities the first time I saw him play, as well as Sabrina's talent for composing. Together, they made a fantastic team, despite the age difference between them.

"I suppose you can, but do keep up with her pace," I lifted a brow, wondering what that meant. Madeline's gaze shifted to me during my confusion. "The difference in height makes it quite difficult, don't you think?"

Why was I always looking for a reason to get mad and hate her?

Perhaps because she endangered my mission. Or because she seemed so... perfect. It was so unnatural for a person to have so few faults.

The boy gently latched on to me, smiling widely as he did. Was he infatuated with a woman twice his age? How adorable!

Sabrina began to play, letting the fast music drown out our thoughts. The child stumbled from the difference in our steps but remained upright and concentrated. He must have taken this moment as a challenge, wanting to be better at something than his sister. While it was endearing in theory, it was rather difficult to dance with someone so small.

"Now spin!" 

There was no possible way I could get underneath his arm to spin. Madeline must have lost all sense of sanity left in her petite body. Still, he lifted his arms up and stood on the tops of his toes to give me as much room as possible. With a small groan, I tried to squat down enough to complete the simple move but only resulted in failure as I fell to the ground.

Laughter surrounded me, and I couldn't help but join in.

Until a much deeper chuckle sounded from the doorway. All of us stiffened and looked up, expecting the General or one of his close workers, only to find the Lieutenant Colonel, with his arms behind his back and a rare smile lighting up his features. I scrambled back to my feet, finding my mission to be clouding my thoughts, as well as my soon-to-be failure.

"I believe, Miss Evans, that dancing is much easier with a partner closer to your size," Timothy pouted, seemingly upset by the fact. "May I be obliged with a dance, perhaps?"

Did he want to dance, to waltz, with me? Had I not made a fool of myself already? Wouldn't he prefer Madeline over me? Surely Madeline would suffice as a better partner than myself!

When did he arrive back to the camp, anyway?

"I suppose," I hesitated, watching as he took Timothy's place before me, and casually guiding my hands on his shoulder and into his own palm. It was both natural and uncomfortable all at the same time.

Sabrina began to play the music once more, and by the look on her face, her thoughts had wandered far, far away from the four people in the room. It was rewarding enough just to watch her play; to see her get lost in the realm of music. If I had such talent, I would be anywhere but a colony in the midst of war.

"She is exceptional, isn't she?" I hardly remembered the man I was forced to stand so close to. While it was embarrassing that I had completely disregarded all of my walls and barriers, it was also refreshing to trust someone so dearly.

I suddenly felt horrible for letting Madeline watch as the one she had been pining for affections from, showed an uncomfortable amount of attention and adoration to someone else entirely. Someone she had begun to trust.

I could hardly see her out of the corners of my vision, but she seemed perfectly content watching. Perhaps she was daydreaming, imagining that he was dancing with her instead. Or maybe she was hiding her true thoughts behind a ditsy mask. Either way, she appeared completely unbothered on the outside.

"You're supposed to look in your partner's eyes," I did as he suggested without question, finding the piercing gaze I had lived without the past week and a half. "Much better."

My brown eyes must be so boring compared to his gaze. How is it fair of him to find my orbs just as fascinating? I feel as if he's purposely messing with me as if he knows my plans and mission and trying to throw me off by switching the roles around.

He couldn't possibly know my mission... Could he? Has he figured out my ties to the Continental Army and their militias? Has word spread of the missing spy? He wouldn't do anything to my brothers to get to me, right? Where are they anyway? Have they been hurt? Killed?

"Your brothers are off giving the General their report on the battle and the behavior of the battalion. Nothing important, so they'll be over in a minute or so," Now he can read my thoughts. Great. Was it really that obvious that I was upset? How did he know I was thinking of my brothers at the end there?

The song finally ended. With a small bow from the both of us, we separated, creating a socially acceptable space between us. 

"My turn! Oh, please stay for another waltz Lieutenant Colonel!" Madeline popped up as if she was waiting for the final chords of the song to hit.

"I would love to Miss Madeline, but I have business elsewhere," he lowered his head in her direction before doing the same to me. "Be in the garden at 9 o'clock."

So now he was making secret meetings with me. Lovely.

No one else heard what he said to me, and proceeded on as normal. There was a knowing glance he made before exiting the room, the only indication that I wasn't hearing things. 

So now, I have a Rendez-Vous with the Lieutenant Colonel. Fantastic.