Page 61 - RotalTutor

turned from her, and he never even saw it. They walked across the courtyard arm-in-arm. They paused when they came to the mop-water-soaked earth where he had poured water on her. It glistened in the moonlight. He glanced at her, then lowered his eyes and looked away again. She wanted to tell him it didn’t matter - that she didn’t blame him. She had harassed him, and he had hardly ever done anything in return. She wanted to say she was sorry. She wanted to ask his forgiveness. She wanted to ask him to let her try again - to let her have another chance. But the words remained pridefully stuck in her throat. They entered the ballroom as the first song ended. They were formally announced, and he escorted her to the front of the room where both sets of their parents sat. They turned and faced the hall. He bowed and she curtsied. In response, the men in the hall bowed, and the women curtsied. Then she felt Alexander pulling away from her, and she tried instantly to tighten her grip on his arm. But his movement was so quick and deliberate that she didn’t have time. He moved up to stand by his parents. A girl’s escort would have the first dance, unless he was only a servant and considered unworthy of her. The realization that he did not take the first dance was not lost on her, nor on anyone else in the room. It made her understand all too clearly how he now felt. Sir Phillip, Duke of Chalsey, was instantly there requesting a dance. She curtsied and took his arm. He led 59