Matilda chuckled softly. “Practice? I thought you had taught her all there is to know about dancing. And she wasn’t all that bad, to begin with.”
“I was rusty, Matilda,” Judith interjected quickly.
Aaron nodded. “Indeed, but she is much better now. However, it is an important ball we are going to, so one can never be too careful.”
“Ah, I see,” Matilda relented and then departed, but not before giving Judith a knowing look.
What was going on here? Aaron wondered what the two of them had been talking about before his arrival but then dismissed the thought. Whatever it was, they had to focus on what was important right now.
“I thought we could go to the ballroom and practice there,” he said and offered Judith his arm, which she took.
They made their way to the ballroom, which stood empty and silent. As they walked, he felt her hip bumping into his every now and again—a technique he’d thought her, although one she was to use with other gentlemen, not him.
“Well, what would you like us to practice?” she asked, looking up at him expectantly.
The polished floor gleamed under the soft glow of the chandeliers. Aaron turned to Judith, his expression serious.
“We should practice a couple of dances the Lord Chancellor is particularly fond of, but which are not often played.”
Judith raised an eyebrow. “What sort of dances?”
Aaron hesitated for a moment. “One of them is the waltz.”
Judith’s eyes widened. “The waltz? That’s not a socially acceptable dance. Even Lord Byron was scandalized by it.”
Aaron smiled. “It’s becoming quite popular now. And I know the Lord Chancellor likes to dance it, and if he does, so will everyone else. Now, do you know the steps?”
Judith shook her head. “I don’t.”
He stepped forward, his gaze never leaving hers. He had always adored the waltz, as it allowed one to be close to one’s partner, although he had to admit, he suddenly wasn’t too sure if showing her was such a good idea. He was trying to stay away from her, after all. But he could not let her embarrass herself, especially if someone at the ball asked her to dance this dance.
“I’ll show you. Don’t worry.”
Judith glanced around the empty ballroom. “But we have no music.”
Aaron’s smile widened. “We do.”
He began to hum a soft, lilting melody, moving his feet in time with the tune. She watched, fascinated, as he demonstrated the steps, his movements fluid and confident. Music had always come easily to him, and he could remember melodies with ease.
“One, two, three. One, two, three,” he said and went back to humming.
Their eyes met, and Aaron felt a spark of something indescribable.
“Now you try,” he said softly.
Judith hesitated, then placed her hand in his. They began to dance, Aaron humming the melody as they moved together. She picked up the tune and started to hum along, her voice blending with his. Likewise, she mastered the steps with ease, stepping on his feet only once. He counted out the steps for them, guiding her with a gentle touch.
As they danced, he felt the warmth of her body close to his, their gazes locked. The room seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in a world of their own. They moved in perfect harmony, each step bringing them closer together.
Aaron’s heart raced as he looked into Judith’s eyes. He felt an overwhelming urge to protect her, to be the person she could rely on. But more than that, he realized, he wanted to be with her. The thought of her being with someone else, even someone as good and decent as Graham, filled him with a sense of dread.
The mere idea of Graham holding her like this filled him with rage, which was, of course, irrational…
“This dance is quite something,” Judith said, her eyes shining, though he noted tension in her jaw.
She seemed to be struggling with her thoughts, just as he was. He wanted to tell her how he felt, to confess everything, but the words were stuck in his throat. Instead, he held her a little closer, letting the dance speak for him.
As the final notes of their hummed melody faded away, they came to a stop, standing across from one another in a manner that was a little bit too close to be proper.
