From Coal to Diamond

Chapter Six

"You got the first dance with the woman of the evening." Jonathan, Henry's best friend, grinned at him. "And it seemed like you two hit if off."

"I was helping her from being completely overwhelmed. Any gentleman would have done so." Henry took a place on the wall next to Jonathan. "She seems nice enough."

Silence between them grew until Jonathan spoke. "Come Henry, you must have more to say about her than that. She looked practically swept off her feet by you. Not to mention you haven't taken your eyes off her yet."

"She was simply glad to have a moment away from her friends. Don't get yourself caught up in a romance that doesn't exist." Henry followed Elizabeth around the room with his eyes. Her grace amazed him, even when it was clear she was out of her element at times.

The throng of men around her grew quickly. Through the crowd of men, Henry could catch a glimpse of her smile, or the barest hint of red from her dress. Something about the way she held herself enchanted him.

He saw her back into someone and apologize. Furrowing his eyebrows, he observed her for a moment longer. Before, he could hardly remember anything about the encounter he'd apparently had with Elizabeth. Now he remembered how flustered she had been, how apologetic. He'd even taken a few steps to follow after her. The difference was remarkable.

A smile crossed his lips as he watched her for a few moments longer.

"Henry? What are you grinning at over there?" Jonathan's voice pulled Henry out of his thoughts.

"Nothing." He shook his head lightly before turning his attention to his friend. "Just remembering a chance encounter from a while ago. Have you had any interesting conversations?"

Jonathan immediately started talking about a pretty little thing he'd managed to get a dance with.

"He keeps watching you." One of the girls pointed out Henry who was standing off along the wall.

Everyone had been jealous of her for getting him to dance. She'd been told that he normally stands along the wall and rarely engages in conversation except among the men. The girls had been asking her about who he was and what he was like, simply because he was a mystery to them.

"I don't care if he's looking at me." Her friends had managed to form a circle around her, cutting off from the crowd of men wishing to talk to her. "If he's going to be aloof, I don't need to worry about him."

But she caught him out of the corner of her eyes. He was smiling, and was still looking at her. Elizabeth couldn't help but stare at him for a moment before having to shake the thoughts out of her head. She didn't need to make the first move, or any move. If she wanted, she could simply allow the men to make their moves and leisurely watch.

And yet somehow that didn't sit well with her. If they did everything themselves, she might miss out on something she truly enjoyed. Or someone she truly enjoyed. Henry had been very pleasant to speak with, and he didn't seem upset about their first encounter.

Forgetting she was still looking at him, she was startled when he raised a hand in a subtle wave. Her cheeks flushed near the color of her dress as she turned her head away. Hadn't the girls all told her to be cautious and never show favoritism until there was a clear winner in her head?

"There must be something you learned about him. You can't keep us in suspense." They crowded around her and started guiding her closer towards the wall opposite Henry.

"He was asking all the questions. He was more interested in what it was like to learn here than anything about me. And I guess something about being interested in learning business." She let her back rest against the cool wall. Elizabeth hadn't realized just how warm she felt until the chill of the wall came through the fabric of her dress. "He seemed normal. Why are all of you so curious."