At first, neither of them said anything. They danced in silence.
Theodore would have thought it would be awkward, but it was nothing of the kind. Instead, all he could think about was the way Margaret looked up at him, and how perfectly she fitted into his arms. It was as if they had their own private moment in this busy room, a moment which could not be encumbered by anyone.
He even slid his hand further across her back, holding her a little closer to him. At least here, she was safe in his arms. He would keep her safe from men like Mr. Urwin. From men like her father too.
He jolted in surprise when he realized this was yet another feeling, one which he could not remember ever feeling before in his life.
Protective.
Margaret smiled a little.
“You’re smiling,” he observed softly.
“I am. You’re a much finer dancer than you give yourself credit for, Theo. You should dance more.”
“You are the first person I have danced with in many years.”
“Then I am honored,” she whispered as he twirled her around the floor, narrowly avoiding colliding with the many other couples. “Will you honor me with a second dance tonight?”
“Ah, is a lady asking a gentleman to dance?” he teased her.
“Perhaps a wife is asking her husband to dance,” she mused, her hand moving a little on his shoulder. He rather liked this intimate grasp between them.
It reminded him of their comfortable breakfasts together, how at ease he had become in those moments. There were times when he even resented the staff coming into the dining room now, for it disturbed the privacy he had with Margaret.
“Well, Maggie, how can I refuse you?” he whispered.
“Now, I see it is your turn to smile.” She nodded.
“Maybe just a little smile.”
“It’s a big smile! It makes you very handsome, you know. When you allow yourself to smile.”
“Me? Handsome?” He chuckled at the idea, rather thrilled when she laughed with him. When had things ever felt so easy with her or anyone? “I am far from that.”
“You are, Theo. Believe me, you are.”
“Ha! I do not think I could laugh loud enough for that.”
She giggled with him, until they fell into a comfortable silence again, dancing and staring at one another. He longed to pay her a compliment, as she had done him.
“I wish you had more reasons to smile,” he said softly. “I was glad to see how much the new dress made you smile this evening.”
“It is the kindness that made me smile,” she whispered. “Your kindness.”
He felt warm. It was a foreign feeling, to have such compliments paid to him. He had to shift the conversation for he was so unused to the feeling.
“What else makes you smile?” he asked.
“My family.” She answered swiftly. “My sisters. How about you? Do you have any family left? Cousins that make you smile?”
He slowed their dance a little. With a flash, he saw the one family member he had left in the world. He saw her furious face. He could feel the way she had pursued him across the heathland in her fury.
“Demon!”
Her shout echoed in his mind.
“Theo?” Margaret whispered.
