The Royal Romance - What nearly happened...

Quick, quick, glide

"I think you've finally mastered the Cordonian Waltz," he said softly to her, as they pulled apart for the eighth time that afternoon. "Well done."

"Well, I have got a master tutor," she said with a smile. "I know you'd rather be dancing to a different beat.. I appreciate this, Maxwell."

"Ah, it's nothing," he said, dismissively. There was no-one he'd rather be dancing with, actually. But she couldn't know that. "Hey, Bertrand's coming back, want to show him the quickstep I taught you?"

"Why not?" she breezed, and went to change the track on the CD player in the corner of the ballroom. She made her way back to him, and they started to dance.

"That's it, quick quick glide.. quick quick glide.."

She was finding this a little more difficult, but he was confident she'd get there with a little more practice.

"Rick's going to be so impressed next time you dance with him," he said to her.

"As if I'll ever get to dance with him again," she lamented. "Now he's engaged to Madeleine.."

"You will," he promised her.

"I wish I knew why he'd chosen her," she said, sadly.

He had to have been forced into it, the safe option. Maxwell knew exactly how Rick felt for Jen. He felt sure that Rick would have chosen differently had Jen still been in the running at that point. But he hadn't been able to get in touch with Rick since that night. Obviously, he'd been busy in his first few days as King. Maxwell and Bertrand had decided not to let Rick know that Jen was with them. Hopefully, that way, she'd make quite the impact when she re-entered court for the engagement tour.

"You'll get your chance to ask him for yourself soon," he said. "Now, cheer up. This is a happy dance."

What nearly happened...

As the dance came to an end, Maxwell looked over at a watching Bertrand. "Well, she's mastered the Cordonian Waltz, but her quickstep's a bit.. well.."

"Maxwell, you are too quick to criticise. From here, Lady Jen's quickstep appears.. adequate."

Well, he had a nerve, but Maxwell wasn't going to argue. "What do you say, Jen? Seems you've passed quickstep class with flying colours!"

"Alright!" She gave him a high-five. "So, what's next?"

They both looked to Bertrand.

"I have some House Beaumont business to attend to this evening," Bertrand stated. "Why don't you two have an evening off to recharge."

Excitement rushed through Maxwell's veins. "Can we go out..."

"No," Bertrand scowled. "You know Lady Jen's presence must not be advertised. Even in Ramsford, people will talk, and the grapevine will do its worst. You need to stay here at the manor."

He sighed, as Bertrand walked away. He glanced at Jen, who clearly had something she wanted to say once Bertrand was out of earshot.

"Aw, hell no," she eventually exclaimed. "I've been cooped up in here long enough. We're going out. He just doesn't need to find out."

Maxwell grinned. "Then lead the way!"

***

A few hours later, they were dancing together in what could only be described as Ramsford's "hottest club". To be fair, it was the only club. And, it wasn't really a club. More like a wine bar. But, it generally scratched his party itch when he felt like cutting loose locally. It was providing its usual selection of R&B grooves which they were having lots of fun with. So. Much. Fun.