|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 16:14:03 GMT -5
She set her fingers on his sleeve, allowing him to lead her back into the ballroom.
Michael shrugged. "Sure, why not? Before your slippers are ruined..." His voice trailed off when he saw Nick an Lillian walk back into the ballroom. Toward the dance floor. "Come on," he muttered, taking Bea's arm and following suit.
|
|
Birdie
Junior Member
Posts: 458
|
Post by Birdie on Jan 26, 2012 16:36:06 GMT -5
Nick led Lillian out to the line, trying not to look nervous or uneasy.Wordlessly he turned her to face him then held out his hand for hers.
Bea scurried after Michael, surprised at the sight of Nick and Lillian about to waltz. "I thought for certain she'd refuse," she whispered with wide eyes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 16:41:52 GMT -5
She gracefully set one hand on his shoulder, the other in his hand, and stepped closer to him. For some odd reason, her heart started beating faster.
Michael couldn't help but smirk, mimicking the actions he was watching Nick and Lillian do. He put a hand around Bea's waist, taking her right hand in his left. "Someone owes me a favor..." he muttered, his voice hushed.
|
|
Birdie
Junior Member
Posts: 458
|
Post by Birdie on Jan 26, 2012 17:02:08 GMT -5
Nick put his hand against her waist, furrowing his brow as their sudden closeness made him pull in a breath. Odd, that. He'd danced with plenty of girls before, and more than that, but he usually wasn't so on edge about it.
Bea placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a begrudging smile. "I don't know how, Michael Bennett, but somehow you've cheated. Lillian would never have accepted," she mumbled back.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 17:56:33 GMT -5
Lillian tilted her chin up a smidge as the music started to play. Nick was more graceful than one would think; waltzing with him seemed so natural.
"Well, I can obviously control Lillian's mind. Didn't I tell you?" he teased as he led her into the dance.
|
|
Birdie
Junior Member
Posts: 458
|
Post by Birdie on Jan 26, 2012 18:26:22 GMT -5
Nick turned with Lillian in his arms, moving to the tempo of the waltz. "I suppose we should make the usual small talk. That's required of dancing, isn't it?" he said.
"You didn't mention it, no," Bea answered, smiling as she followed him in the dance. "What will your favor be, then?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 18:55:16 GMT -5
"The weather today was very fine, was it not? And I hear it shall be just as lovely tomorrow," she replied, thinking that she hadn't planned on reading tomorrow anyway. Not when the weather would be so promising.
"I shall think about it," he assured her, raising a brow down at her. How come he had never noticed how stunningly beautiful her eyes were?
|
|
Birdie
Junior Member
Posts: 458
|
Post by Birdie on Jan 26, 2012 19:03:18 GMT -5
"It was tolerable," Nick conceded. He'd seen very little of the weather, in all honesty, having spent most of the day hiding in his father's study to escape the wrath of his mother and sister -- balls brought out the absolute worst in them, and his brothers were simply no help.
Bea smiled at him as winningly as she could. "You couldn't give me a hint?" she asked. Knowing Michael, he would think of something really dreadful.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 19:15:44 GMT -5
"Oh, more than tolerable to be sure," she countered, brows furrowed. "Did you spend any time out of doors?"
"No," he laughed. "Because I don't know myself. I'll have to think about it."
|
|
Birdie
Junior Member
Posts: 458
|
Post by Birdie on Jan 26, 2012 19:57:47 GMT -5
"I don't believe I did," he told her with a frown. He watched her as they danced, drawing his eyebrows down. Was this going well? He enjoyed dancing with her, in spite of the awkward awareness of how close she was, but they were talking about the weather. The weather, honestly!
"Ill-prepared as ever, Mr. Bennett," Bea chided teasingly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 20:03:38 GMT -5
"Why not?" she asked, even though ladies usually did not ask such questions. It was considered too forthright, but Lillian had known Nick for years now.
"Excuse me?" he retorted, teasing. "When am I ever ill-prepared?"
|
|
Birdie
Junior Member
Posts: 458
|
Post by Birdie on Jan 26, 2012 20:15:10 GMT -5
Nick blinked at her, a little surprised that she was asking. "Oh...well, my father and brothers are all sportsmen, of a sort. It's too loud and frantic for me. I'd rather stay out of the mess." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I suppose I always just assumed that was all one did out of doors."
"Last week," Bea said promptly, with a prim little smile. "You woke up late and missed tea with Lillian and me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 20:22:22 GMT -5
Lillian couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head a little. "Of course not, Nick! I take walks and ride my mare and have picnics and read and play various lawn games..."
"That, my dear friend, was not being ill-prepared. That was just being hungover," he corrected her.
|
|
Birdie
Junior Member
Posts: 458
|
Post by Birdie on Jan 26, 2012 20:35:01 GMT -5
Nick lifted his eyebrows, trying to imagine himself doing any of those things. "Those aren't precisely gentlemanly pursuits, Lillian."
"Isn't that the same thing?" she asked. "You knew you were supposed to have tea with us, but you went to White's the night before. Therefore, you were ill-prepared."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery on Jan 26, 2012 21:37:24 GMT -5
"I've seen many gentlemen out doing just such activities. Granted, they were with ladies, presumably courting them...So, er..." Lillian's cheeks suddenly went pink.
Michael opened his mouth to retort, but find he couldn't think of anything to say. So, instead, he replied back with "Well, then, if you accuse me of being ill-prepared, I should ask you what your favor would've been."
|
|
