She spun her head to take a glance at him. Had he figured her out? That scared her. He, though, concentrated on the dance and they never missed a step. But right as she opened her mouth to make a comment, the music ascended to a halt, ending the procession and now the line broke, the gentlemen leading the ladies to the side.
He escorted her to the pillar at the side and looked about the room. “It’s time to fill ladies’ dance cards.”
“And will you peruse getting yours filled?”
Francois leaned against the pillar, his cane back in his grip. “If you recall, my dear, my injury will keep me sidelined for most of the night.”
Ada nodded, confused as to why they were here, if he could not dance. But she didn’t have long to worry. A few gentlemen came forward and asked for a dance. Her card didn’t fill every line, but at least she wouldn’t be condemned as a wallflower.
The musicians ran a few notes, indicating the first dance would start soon. The young George Stillman offered her his hand. She instantly compared him to Francois and found the twenty-year-old was lacking in stance and looks but she could not refuse him. Hopefully, he’d not step on her feet. Nodding to Francois a short farewell, she followed her partner to the dance floor, virtually regretting it in the first few steps of the dance. He was far from Francois in every respect. What was happening to her to think that?
Francois gladly took the glass of champagne from the servant and sipped slowly, letting the bubbles tickle his nose as he tipped the glass, enjoying hearing them pop as it slid down his throat. A drink he’d had plenty of times, but now those days were an eternity ago. Fetid water, brackish and slimy to the taste, had been the common drink of the soldier. Sometimes, they’d get lucky and make an awful concoction of fermenting meat and turpentine with a few other additives to forget the war. So this was heaven…
“What a surprise to find you here, Mr. Fontaine.”
He glanced up and found a young lady standing before him. Her dark hair was piled up on her head with curls fighting to be free but pinned by pearl hairpins. Her ivory skin with those warm brown eyes that danced in the candlelight made her angelic, though her dress teased every part of him to throw aside civility for the wild.
“Why, Miss Prescott, how could I even consider not coming?” He stood, using the cane to lift him up. Amelia was the one reason he’d come.
“My, are you okay?” The shock on her face as she stared at his cane made him grimace. “What happened?”
“The war.”
Her eyes widened as she lowered her voice. “You were injured in the war? You’re not like Jack. Saw him not long back, lookin’ mighty fine in that Union uniform. But you?”
“Signed on with the Louisiana Tigers.” He gave her a lopsided grin.
She laughed. “You two boys could never agree, could you?”
“Outside us both falling over you, I suppose not. But in this war, who does?” Once the words fell from his mouth, he realized the truth in that all too well and it surprised him.
“Quite a profound statement from my carefree Francois.” Her frown tilted up in her smile. “But we are not here tonight to commiserate the war, but to celebrate the holidays. Come, let us dance?”
“Always the leader, my darling Amelia.” He stood with her and put his cane aside, praying his foot would not make him crumple in pain.
“Well,” she took his escort to the floor. “Waitin’ on you does me no good.” Once in place on the floor for a cavalier dance, they went through the opening bows and curtsies and then took their places for the six partnered dance.
“The lady you came with just continues to show what a rebel you are,” she whispered during a spin.
He raised his eyebrows, surprised she’d know Ada. “You know of Dr. Lorrance?”
“Doctor? Oh, yes, I do recall that she took to doctoring. But I mostly know her for her part in the abolitionist movement.”
Francois said nothing as he spun her, restricting his steps to protect his foot. He needed to distract Amelia, or he’d hear nothing but the freemen cause. So on the next encounter, he said, “Did you know Cerisa was in New York for a bit this last year? Ran away, so to speak, from the family curse.”
That caught his partner in surprise. “Cerisa here? In New York? Is she still?”
“No, no. She’s back home, with a husband in tow.”
Amelia laughed as they broke in tune to the dance, faced each other and bowed.
“Cerisa wasn’t to be held back any more than you two boys. Good for her. And thank you for the dance.”
He nodded. “My pleasure.”
Amelia disappeared, off to greet other guests, so he scanned the crowd to find Ada. He caught the whirl of her blue gown in the distance. Relieved, he headed back to a chair to sit when he heard another familiar tone.
“Well, my oh my, look what the cat dragged in.”
Pleasure raced through him at the sound of her tongue and he turned. “Jaquita?”
Ada laughed at what her dance partner said without really hearing him. A business owner of something she didn’t pay attention to, he had asked her to dance and she had no viable reason to refuse. They were at a ball, and protocol insisted that one accepted unless the man was vermin, at which he was escorted out. So they danced, and now he escorted her back to the place she’d been prior to his invitation.
“Thank you again, Miss Lorrance.” He gave her a slight bow and she did her best not
