What Happens By Candlelight

Chapter Eighteen: A Dance Or Two

We hid behind one of the walls of the maze, watching an annoyed Madeline speed past our hiding spot while grumbling curses under her breath. I lifted my hand to cover my mouth, where a laugh would have surely escaped me. When she disappeared around the corner once more, I removed the limb and let the chuckles leave my lips.

When the mirth died down some, I turned my gaze back to my accomplice, who had already been looking at me. There was something entirely different about him. Usually, he had an unreadable expression, he was always hiding something behind his eyes. Now, all of his emotions were out in the open for me to see. 

There were too many emotions for me to read in the dim light of the moon, but I could guess quite a few of them.

My back was already pressed firmly against the leaves of the hedges, but if I had room to back up I would. His eyes reflected the same emotions he had showed moments prior - before we had been interrupted by Madeline.

Slowly, he lifted the back of his hand to my cheek, gently caressing it before it moved the brush the stray strands of my dark hair behind my ear. I held my breath, not quite sure what to do.

"I believe," he moved his other arm behind me, pressing against the small of my back, "I was promised two dances." 

While a part of me wanted to comment on the lack of music, but I couldn't really bring myself to. I wanted to dance with him again. Who was to judge us on our lack of music or timing?

I lifted my skirts slightly in one hand, placing it on the arm that held me in place. "Indeed you were Lieutenant Colonel."

We began to sway, though the silence quickly ended. "I'd like you to call me Gabriel," I pondered over the idea in my head. "Even if we are in the company of others."

"What?" The question escaped my mouth before I could even think about what I was doing. "If I did that then-"

"Then people will think we are courting or entering a more intimate relationship?" I nodded, biting my tongue from saying anything I may regret. "That is the point, dear."

Did he actually want to court me? Of all the beautiful and wealthy women, especially those here tonight who were begging for attention from the bachelor, he chose to see and talk with me? Wouldn't Madeline be a better match? A girl raised from a young age to marry a man with a title, who would be more than happy to settle down with a British Officer?

Instead, he chose the only girl in attendance who was actually a spy for the patriots.

"You wish to enter a courtship with me? Have you talked to my brothers?"

"I don't have to talk to your brothers, seeing as you are an independent entity from them. Besides, I out-rank them. I can overrule any order they dare give me," the hand on my back added more pressure, forcing me to step even closer. His mouth closed onto my ear, fanning warm breath across my neck. "And trust me, I will not listen to any man who tells me to keep away from you."

We spun around some more, the both of us trying to regain our composure. "I haven't even responded, nor have you asked in the first place. How did we manage to skip so many steps in the process?"

There was a twinkle in his eyes, though he said nothing at first. "I knew I would choose you, almost from the very beginning. Did you know, that the night you spoke to me, I knew I had to make you mine? That I would stop at nothing until I held you in my arms? And then I nearly lost you because I don't know how to communicate my problems without forcing those closest to me further away."

My feet stopped working. He had actual feelings for me, and here I was pulling him along like the monster I was. "I... I don't know what to say..."

"Say you'll at least try! Say that you'll court me if only for a month, it will be the happiest month of my life. There is no possible way you could make me feel miserable! I can promise you; there is no possible sadness you can put me through as long as you accept my offer," Pleading. He was pleading for me. If I asked, he'd probably fall down to his knees and beg. 

How could I possibly deny a man so desperate for my affections? He wasn't asking for marriage, and courtships can easily begin and end with no gossip. A month, I could give him a month. 

"I accept-" the phrase hardly left my mouth before his lips interrupted me. My eyes widened in shock, not expecting such intimacy so early on in a relationship. Most people did not kiss until they were well through the stages of courtship, and even then most waited until they were married.

There was a breathless silence as he pulled back, the most stunningly beautiful smile on his face. I was taken aback by it. Gabriel hardly smiles around others, but it often made an appearance during our times alone.

"You know not the joy in my heart upon hearing those words," a blush crept up my cheeks.

"I think- I think I do," I studied his features a little more, before stopping on his mouth.

"We should head back inside-"

"Gabriel? Can you stand still a second?" Reaching up, I wiped my thumb over his top lip, where a hint of the rouge makeup I wore rubbed off. I tried to ignore his eyes and instead focused on relieving his face of all traces of me. "There."

My hand fell back to my side before I began to walk back towards the plantation. "Like it never happened," I added a moment later, trying to add a lighter air around us.

"Oh, it happened still, and I believe I will have to joy of seeing your red cheeks for the next upcoming days."

The party was still going strong despite the time. Though Sabrina had disappeared, as well as many other crucial members of the high ranking officers. Edward was speaking with the general, who laughed at some comment. I assumed it was safe to join them, seeing as they were laughing with one another.

My hand was grabbed, and wrapped around someone's arm, though I didn't need to look to know who. "How do you suspect we keep a low profile if you go about grabbing me so suddenly?"

A chuckle. I was only responded to through a chuckle.

"A certain Private Nottingham was going to make his way over here, so I thought it best to interfere," Gabriel patted my hand and continue to escort me over to my brother.

"Ah," Edward smiled the moment he caught my eye, "If it isn't my little sister, who disappears, only to reappear once more!"

He must have been drinking with Thomas at some point. While he still had his wits about him, he had lost much of the reserved composure he had built over the years. "Brother, you must have put the wine to good use this evening."

The men surrounding him chuckled, though most of them were no better, and many were far worse.

"General," I greeted him politely, having not seen the man since the teacup incident. "A fine party to celebrate the holidays."

"Ah yes, it was a catastrophe-"

"Christina! I have been looking everywhere for you!" Madeline was by my side, grabbing the arm that wasn't taken. Gabriel was too engrossed in another conversation to notice or care. "Where did you go? I tried to find you, a handsome Private Nottingham was hoping to join you in a waltz, and even got permission from Mrs. Shatner!  She's very hard to get-"

"Gentlemen, my daughters-daughter! Madeline, and her companion, the younger sister of the Captains Evans', Christina," I bowed my head, catching the eye of Gabriel, who still kept my arm wrapped around his own. "And I'm sure you've met the Lieutenant Colonel, who seems to be attached to the Evans girl. Anything we should know?"

No. I half expected him to reply with that too, seeing as he often changed his personality around people.

"Miss Evans and I are considering the possibility of courtship, though we have some more social ladders to climb before anything can become official," chuckles and hoots were heard from the crowd of men, while Edward seemed to frown a bit.

Madeline disappeared before I could even notice.

"I should retire for the evening, gentlemen," I gave Gabriel a look before separating myself from him and the crowd. Slowly, I disappeared into the dark hallways.

I could go back to my room, or I could enter the general's office while it was dark and no one was around.