Page 64 - RotalTutor

no one at all. If she chose someone, that man could then be her escort. Sir Phillip stood conspicuously near her parents, sure that she would come to him. She knew who she wanted to dance with, but she feared how he might respond. Had his heart been so battered that he would have difficulty reacting positively to her? What would her father think? What would everyone think? Wouldn’t it just be easier to choose no one? But choosing no one was still a choice. She thought of Alexander taking her father’s anger in her stead. Then, for no explainable reason, her mind wandered back to that day on the mountain. She could almost feel Nell’s arms around her neck and the kiss on her cheek. She remembered Alexander and the children. She thought of him giving her his food and going hungry himself, as he was even now. Suddenly, tears came to her eyes, and she didn’t care what anyone else thought. She walked right past Sir Phillip, whose smile quickly faded. She proceeded right past her shocked father and past her mother. She boldly passed Duke Reginald and Lady Margaret and stopped in front of Alexander. There was an audible gasp in the hall, and a groan from her father. Alexander slowly raised his eyes to meet hers. She held out her hand to him and smiled. He stood as if in shock for what seemed like the longest time, and slowly, ever so slowly, but just as surely, he smiled back at her. She could see a sparkle of tears form in the corner of his eyes as he gently took her hand in his. He escorted her to 62