The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale #2)(26)

The second ball would take place on the last night of the two weeks. There he would reveal whom he had chosen to be his wife.

Already they were starting to come down the stairs to the ballroom floor.

The leader of the musicians was looking to Reinhart. He gave him a nod, and the musicians started to play, a sound that should draw the rest of the ladies from their rooms.

Jorgen strode toward him. “My lord, you are in a very good place from which to observe while everyone is dancing. Are you sure you do not wish some paper and a piece of charcoal for taking notes?”

“I shall rely on my memory.”

Jorgen bowed and hurried away.

Reinhart spoke to his male guests. When they had all been properly greeted and stood talking with each other, he counted the men silently. Only nine, just as planned.

Lady Fronicka was coming toward him. No other ladies had dared to approach him, but he should know already that Lady Fronicka was not timid.

“Lord Thornbeck, your castle is perfectly suited for a ball. I am very eager to dance, for I love to dance and could dance all night.” She smiled at him. At least her lips smiled, but her eyes seemed to be calculating exactly what kind of reaction she was getting from him.

She chattered on about balls and dancing. He signaled the musicians once again to announce the first dance.

“I shall find myself a partner,” she said, “but I wish I could dance with you, my lord.”

When he did not react to her statement, she turned away and approached a group of young men. One of them immediately led her to the middle of the dance floor. Quickly more couples followed. Soon the only person left was Lady Dorothea. She was standing alone on the other side of the room.

The music began. The dance was a rather complicated one, but the dancers all appeared to be proficient. For the first time Reinhart was glad for his lame ankle, since he was completely unfamiliar with the steps of this dance.

By the end all the ladies were smiling. There must be something about dancing that they enjoyed. Perhaps it was the way he used to feel when he had practiced sword fighting and jousting with the other knights—invigorated and alive. But with his lame ankle . . . he wondered if he would ever feel invigorated and alive, if he was always to feel somewhat weak and useless.

A second dance was immediately announced. The couples changed partners. One of the young men left the group and appeared to be asking Lady Dorothea to dance. She shook her head, smiling. He went back to his partner, and the dance began.

Reinhart started walking around the perimeter of the room and made his way to the other side and to Lady Dorothea. “So you do not wish to dance?”

Instead of smiling with all teeth showing, as Fronicka did, there was only a slight upturn to the corners of her lips.

“I never learned this particular dance, I’m afraid. Please do not concern yourself, though. I am perfectly content to listen to the music.”

He was not so sure he believed her. After all, what lady had never been taught these well-known dances? But it might embarrass her if he pressed her to join the dancers. And since she wished to listen to the music, he said no more.

“Lady Magdalen looks very pretty tonight,” she suddenly said.

He caught sight of Lady Magdalen dancing with a young duke’s son. “Indeed.”

Was she so unselfish that she would wish to draw his attention to another lady’s beauty? Perhaps she did not wish to marry him herself and that was why she was trying to make him think of Lady Magdalen.

“Did you know that lady before you came here?”

“No, we only just met, but I like her very much. She is kind. There is no pettiness or jealousy in her, and she is very openhearted. Those are very good qualities in a margrave’s wife, I think, to care about her people in such a way. She is also a good dancer.”

“Indeed. And do you not also have those same characteristics, Lady Dorothea?”

She looked up at him with wide eyes, her lips parted, as if his question had frightened her. “I . . . Me?”

The dance ended and the musicians announced the next dance. Lady Magdalen was coming toward them.

“Lady Dorothea, you know this dance,” Magdalen said, a little breathless. “You should dance.”

Just then, one of the young noblemen asked Lady Dorothea to dance. “Yes, I thank you,” she said.

She let the young man lead her to the group of dancers, leaving Lady Magdalen standing beside Reinhart.

“I thought Lady Dorothea did not wish to dance.” He eyed Lady Magdalen.

“I think she will enjoy this one.” Magdalen had a very placid look on her face as she watched the dancers.

“Do you enjoy dancing?”

“Yes, but I did not think she could have wanted to stand here all night. Oh, forgive me.” She turned to him with a sheepish look. “I did not mean to say that she would not have enjoyed talking with you.”

He could not help a slight smile. “Do not distress yourself. I understand what you meant.”

But his words did not seem to put Lady Magdalen at ease. Instead she turned a bit paler as she watched the dancers and chewed on her lip.

They were silent until the song ended, at which time Fronicka hurried over and nudged Lady Magdalen out of the way to get close to him.

“You must forgive us ladies for enjoying ourselves so much while we dance,” Fronicka said.

The musicians announced another dance, but Fronicka turned so she was facing Reinhart, ignoring everyone else.