As we began dancing, I searched the room, looking for Betty. I hadn't noticed when de Grave had come back. He looked as though he hadn't a care in the world as he danced with Isabelle. I wondered what he and Betty had talked about in the garden, assuming that Betty had been able to track him down. I wondered where Betty had gone off to - &quot;Ouch!&quot; &quot;Oh, I do beg your pardon, Miss Delacourt. But you _have_ been warned of my clumsiness. I trust your foot is, ah, undamaged?&quot; &quot;Quite,&quot; I responded in a stiff tone that was belied by my smile. Despite Lord Windham's avowed clumsiness, he was a skilled dancer, moving with assurance and grace. I found myself disappointed when the dance was over. But then Lord Windham stayed standing in front of me. &quot;I know I'm being dreadfully selfish, but will you dance with me again? That is, if your card doesn't mind.&quot; &quot;No, my dance card doesn't - I mean, _I_ don't mind, Lord Windham.&quot; After that dance was over, not one but _three_ men were waiting to ask for the next dance. 2008-05-03T23:06:39Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/29288 <p>Nice continuation, even with a believable little bit of verbal fumbling on her part.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29288?basename=60231 2008-05-03T23:06:39Z THX 0477 http://ficlets.com/authors/thx_0477