6.3 KiB
| title | summary |
|---|---|
| The Dance | The big night and the first dance. Galadin is attending as Glorias and it is everything she hoped it would be. At least until someone recognizes him. |
There are countless presentation balls throughout what is known as the Social Season. The early ones are a show while the later ones are were decisions are made, alliances forged, and enemies earned. --- The Dance of Grace
After years of fantasies and days of worry, Galadin's first presentation ball exceeded everything he had dreamed it would be. For the last hour, his dance card had been filled with one partner after the other. He loved every moment on the floor, hand-in-hand with his partner and his green dress flowing in the wide circles of one classical dance after another.
The last minute dance lessons still echoed in his hand as he looked into the eyes of his current partner, an older man with a military badge of honor on his breast. He was easily twice Galadin's age but seemed to be enjoying himself.
He knew that his mother had been careful about his dance card. No one famous or in the center of attention for the city would be taking his hand. She was careful not to risk the family's reputation on Galadin's fantasy, but somehow she managed to find enough suitors to keep Galadin dancing.
One of the twirls came up. He smiled, tasting the faint flowery flavor of his lipstick, and let his hand be drawn up to spin around. His heels threatened to twist but he bore down and stepped into it, spinning on the tips of his toes before coming down in perfect harmony with thirty other debutantes dancing. The shudder brought a swelling of joy and he smiled through the tears that threatened to ruin his makeup.
"You look beautiful, bedame," said her partner. Galadin already knew that he wasn't seriously looking and there was no chance he would be asking for Galadin's hand. All he wanted was to be seen dancing with one pretty woman after the other.
"Thank you."
The song ended with a flourish.
Her partner make the customary bow and kissed the back of Galadin's gloved hand.
With a blush, Galadin curtsied and let himself be drawn to the edge of the dance. There was a bit of a crowd but he would be delivered back to his mother.
While they made their way, Galadin glanced up at the balcony. There were three painters with easels frantically drawing and working their brushes. Two other artists were concentrating on their canvas with a haze of magic drawing colors across the page.
The idea that he would be in one of the pictures of the balls sped up his pulse. He smiled broadly and fought the urge to wipe the tear from his eye.
Then he caught sight of Dame Dorin, his original dance instructor, looking at him from next to the painters. A pale shiver of fear rose up in the back of his throat as she tilted her head slightly and then hurried down the stairs.
Turning away, Galadin fought a whimper. Did Dorin notice him? Would she ruin his secret? He focused on not letting his tension grip the fingers of her partner, but his other hand tightened in the growing fear.
Just as they reached the tables, Dorin approached. She had a fake smile on her lips as she held out her hand. "There you are!" She held out her arms in welcome.
Her partner stopped. "Oh, you are from Dame Dorin's school?" It was a pointed question. There was a lot more than just debutantes by themselves at the ball, there were also all the seamstresses, instructors, and women involved with presenting them. The success of debutante expanded to include not only herself but those who helped her.
Galadin gulped and glanced at Dorin.
She gave an encouraging nod.
Terrified that he was about to have his secret revealed, Galadin said, "Y-Yes. I've been going to her for weeks."
Her partner gave Dame Dorin a bow. "Your instructions were impeccable, Taladame Dorin."
"Thank you, Besire," she said with just a quiver of her lips. Dorin was clear to call her "dame", not "taladame" for a lady who had lost her husband.
"I'll leave your charge in your hands, I have some business to attend to."
Galadin's heart rose up in a brief worry. Was he going to talk to Galadin's father? Was his mother wrong?
Dorin took Galadin's hand and deftly brought him to the side. "He's not going to your father, Love. A pair of his card game friends had just arrived with their daughters and he has his eyes on one of them."
"Oh," Galadin wasn't sure if he was disappointed or relieved.
Dorin turned and held Galadin's hand, looking him over. They were away from the others. Her lips pressed tightly together. "So, this is why you stopped coming to my lessons?"
A deep blush colored Galadin's cheeks. He felt naked in front of Dorin. Slowly, he nodded.
"Tadame Potsur?" It was the other instructor, a drunk woman who could barely move but knew enough to keep her mouth shut about Galadin's secret.
"Y-Yes."
Dorin shook her head. "Oh, she's just... the worst. You should have come to me. I would have helped."
"Would you?"
Dorin shrugged. "When I can count the number of bedames and besires I'm teaching with one hand?" She sighed. "Yes, I would. It may have taken me a bit, but when I saw you with that... man, I knew there was a chance you went that way."
She lifted Galadin's gloved hands and lowered them, "Just not this way. You do make a lovely bedame but some of your movements still scream besire."
"I'm sorry." Galadin ducked his head.
Dame Dorin's eyes grew hard for a moment and then she smiled. "I'll tell you what. You tell everyone that I'm still your teacher and we resume your lessons after the ball. Your form is beautiful but you need to bring your hand more into a curve when you spin. It has to look like a ribbon flowing in the water."
She gave a short laugh and some of the attention faded. "Besides, Potsur won't be standing much less attending this ball. A silk lady should always attend the affairs of their charges, that goes triple for their most promising."
Galadin's heart almost exploded. "You think I"m promising."
"I'm willing to steal Potsur's efforts and have you claim your skill as from mine. That is putting my name at risk as much as you are putting yours." She nodded her head and pulled Galadin close.
Stepped forward, Galadin leaned forward as Dorin kissed her on the cheek. For a moment, he felt like a real debutante but the fleeting sensation faded.
"I'll see you tomorrow." She winked. "I'll make the arrangements with your mother."