Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Daniel was the first brave challenger.

Hmm. It felt like I’d become a racing bull with two matadors before me.

Gary hesitated after I told him it had been seven years since Mildred’s last dance, but his mind was made up. He seemed uncomfortable with the idea of me dancing with Daniel first.

“I must be the first to dance with you, of course.”

The first dance was supposed to be with the person of the opposite sex with whom you were closest. I wasn’t sure whether I ought to consider it fortunate that fathers and brothers qualified—not just spouses and fiancés.

For example, Ashley had neither a father nor brothers, but she would have no problem with her first dance because she was pretty, and all men wanted to hold her hand.

I was less sure about Iris and Lily.

I took Gary’s hand and went to the dance floor while thinking sad thoughts.

Women with no close relations or family, and who had neither money nor good looks, were not asked to dance. They hugged the wall and tried to look uninterested in dancing. Recalling Mildred’s memories of such events left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Those girls were only seventeen. They would be excited by the prospect of a debutante ball, only to face embarrassment once they got there.

“What a stupid fairy tale.”

I realized how ridiculous a fairy tale “Cinderella” was. Beautiful and kindhearted Cinderella had only been saved by the prince because she was beautiful, not because she was kind.

What did that leave for girls who weren’t pretty?

“I told you not to get too friendly with Baron Wilford,” Gary said quietly as we began to dance.

I glanced at Daniel. He was leaning against the wall. I turned back to Gary.

“I don’t know why you think we’re friendly, Brother.”

I had no intention of becoming good friends with Daniel. Our relationship was based on him putting me in harm’s way and then remunerating me for it. If Gary interpreted this as closeness, I would have to question his social skills. Maybe he’d heard a rumor somewhere.

I did my best to dance, watching everyone else’s movements through the corner of my eye and following them. I drew away from Gary and clapped my hands. Then, I drew back to him and clapped my hands again.

Gary took my hand and went on. “You’re saying you did not plan to meet Baron Wilford here?”

“Meet who where?”

“Here. At this party. I am asking if you planned with Baron Wilford to meet him here.”

Why in the world would I do that? I was speechless. I scowled at him.

“My dear brother, if I wanted to meet someone, I would not have chosen a crowded place like this. I would meet them at a quiet location without any pesky intruders.”

Of course, by “intruder,” I meant Gary. He stiffened slightly as he seemed to realize I was insulting him, but he was wise enough not to question me.

“So you did not plan to meet with Baron Wilford here?”

“I am curious why you would think something so ridiculous.”

Gary frowned in annoyance. He sighed. The distance between us grew, then narrowed. “I overheard something on my way to get your drink.”

I wanted to say that he had left to get drinks for both of us, but I let it go.

“I heard Baron Wilford has never attended this party before. Everyone is wondering why he’s here.”

“Really?” I looked back at Daniel. He was talking to another woman some distance away. I spied several women in his vicinity making eyes at him. And men too.

Huh? I blinked. Was that really a line of men behind those women, waiting to speak with Daniel?

I accidentally stepped on Gary’s foot.

“Agh!” He gasped quietly and swayed. Huh? What do I do?

I quickly let go of Gary’s hand and stepped away. It was better for one person to lose balance and not the both of us. I steadied myself and took his hand.

“Are you okay, Gary?”

If I hadn’t regained my balance, Gary could have dragged me to the floor, as he was twice my weight. Luckily, he hadn’t fallen and was just slightly shaken. The dancers stopped briefly, then restarted without us.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, taking Gary’s hand. I added, “I told you. It’s been a long time since I danced.”

Gary had been the one who wanted to dance with me. He was about to lash out in anger when he heard what I said, but stopped. He acted like nothing had happened instead and resumed our conversation.

“Everyone is wondering who Baron Wilford has his eye on.”

Hmm, so that’s why he thinks we agreed to meet here. Gary seemed to be under the impression that Daniel was attending this party for the first time to meet up with me.

“You have nothing to worry about,” I said, responding before the music could finish. “Like you said, Lord Wilford is above my station, isn’t he? Why would he ever want to see me?”

Gary looked as if he had been slapped in the face. I was surprised to recognize guilt in his eyes as well, but the music ended before he could speak.

Applause resounded throughout the hall, preventing anyone from talking. As a result, Gary lost his chance to continue the conversation. The dance floor was busy with people trying to exit and enter the circle.

Daniel found his way in and extended his hand to me. “Please.”

“You have been warned,” I said, and took Daniel’s hand. The next song began. It was faster than the first. “It has been seven years since I last danced.”

“But you just finished one. Doesn’t that change the record?”

“I take that to mean you didn’t see me dance.”

Daniel’s hand touched the back of mine. He pulled me toward him lightly and raised an eyebrow. “Of course I did.”

“Then you wouldn’t say such a thing.”

I moved my feet to the steps. Forward one, two, three. Twirl. When I was back in front of Daniel, his mouth was curled in a crooked smile.

“I saw, and I say.”

I was about to move to the right, when he pushed me slightly to the left. Huh? I had been moving before I noticed everyone going the other way. My eyes widened.

I had almost bumped into the man on my right.

He’s good. I smiled up at Daniel. I put my hand on his shoulder and hopped two steps left, then returned to my original place.

“Oh.”

I had jumped too far in and stepped on Daniel’s foot, but he didn’t even flinch. He left my foot on his, took my waist, and twirled us in a half circle.

He could ignore it, but I couldn’t. Holding Daniel’s hand, I made one circle around him. “Are you okay?”

Daniel narrowed one eye and responded as if he did not know what I was referring to. “What do you mean?” He grinned.

Uh-huh...

Daniel smiled, and I froze on the spot. He went on, pretending nothing was wrong. He took my waist and stepped back, then forward along with everyone else on the dance floor.

This man is an amazing dancer.

I didn’t have to check Mildred’s memories to tell Daniel was a good dancer. Even though I was simply following him, our rhythm did not stray from the others around us. Even our poses matched theirs.

It was completely different from dancing with Gary. With Gary, I had to check that I was the right distance from everyone else and make sure not to step on his feet.

I didn’t need to worry about anything with Daniel. All I had to do was follow his guidance. It made talking with him easy.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked.

Daniel and I were face-to-face. I took a step to the side. Daniel’s leg grazed mine under my dress. His large hand was above my hip.

“Anything,” he said.

A smile crossed over my face. I can ask anything, but you won’t give me any answer. Daniel saw my expression and smiled.

“About the young man you were with the day we met,” I began.

“Yes?”

“Do your families know each other?”

If their families were acquainted, it was likely that the young man’s family was also part of the nobility. Daniel seemed to realize why I was asking. I could feel his gaze on my cheek.

“Yes, our families are acquainted. And if you are asking if he is a noble, he is.”

“He has debuted then?”

Daniel did not reply. His hand slipped up my waist. It was a simple movement with no emotion in it at all. Yet the hairs behind my neck stood on end. I inhaled sharply.

“As I recall, you said you were not interested in him as a man, my lady.”

To my astonishment, Daniel sounded offended. Huh? I looked at him, confused.

Daniel’s expression was no different from before. I stopped moving, and the music came to an end with me. People began to clap.

“Just because I am not interested in him as a man does not mean I am not interested in him for other reasons.”

I clapped along with everyone else, then I turned to exit the circle. I’ve danced with Gary, and I’ve danced with Daniel. That’s good enough.

“Mil... My lady.” Daniel called from very close behind me. His quiet tone was like the touch of his hand on my back.

He passed this test, since, at the very least, he had not called me by my name. I put my hand on my hip.

“Lord Wilford, I do not know anything for certain because you won’t tell me, but I had a feeling that young man was around my daughters’ ages.”

“Your daughters?” Daniel furrowed his brow. His head tilted slightly to the side. “Wait, are you interested in him as a potential future son-in-law?”

“I would not go as far as that.”

Obviously. I didn’t know his name or his family. I had no idea what kind of person he was. I wasn’t thinking of marrying him to any of my daughters right now.

“I simply want my girls to meet as many people as possible. It is easier for them to meet older people at present, but I want them to meet children their age.”

Women in this world, especially noblewomen, had to get married. It was basically mandatory. The only way to avoid it was to have a lot of money.