Grace and Fury (Grace and Fury #1)(26)

“My apologies,” Asa murmured, his attention returning to his dance partner.

Cassia bowed her head. “It was nothing, Your Eminence.”

“That’ll be all,” Ines said, and the woman playing the piano ended the piece with a little flourish. Asa relinquished Cassia’s hands.

“Thank you for the dance,” he said, bowing.

Cassia dipped into a graceful curtsy, her long, loose hair falling in a shimmering curtain to hide her face. “It was my pleasure, Your Eminence,” she purred.

Nomi moved aside so Cassia could leave, but her mind was still sluggish. Her gaze never left Asa, who was waiting in the center of the room, scuffing a foot on the floor. In all her fruitless scheming, she’d never imagined he’d be at her dance lesson. But could she risk asking him about Serina here? Did she dare?

The instructor, wraith-thin with graceful hands, clapped twice.

Nomi jumped. Awkwardly, she stepped forward. She had never learned how to dance. Serina had always practiced with Renzo, and no one had thought to include her in the lessons. The instructor would have to do more than give her pointers to refine her style. He would have to teach Nomi every step, every turn.

“Stop frowning,” Ines ordered. “A Grace never frowns.”

Nomi straightened her shoulders. If she was going to survive here, if she was going to find out what happened to Serina, she had to control her frustration. She had to learn these things. She couldn’t risk displeasing anyone.

She stood before Asa and dropped into a curtsy. At least practice had helped in that regard. The sunlight picked out the silver in her dress as she moved, making it sparkle like starlight.

“I must apologize, Your Eminence,” she said. “I’ve little experience with dancing.”

His warm hands enveloped hers. Her fingers trembled. He guided her left hand to his shoulder and held on to the other. The first glittering notes of a song filled the room as he drew her closer, close enough to whisper, “Neither do I. That’s why Father makes me do the lessons with the Graces.”

He smelled of espresso and warm sand. Without quite realizing it, Nomi swayed a breath closer. A hidden pin pricked against her thigh.

The instructor counted out the beats. “One, two, three, four. Step back, step left, step forward, and back.”

Nomi tried to focus, but the question she wanted to ask him drowned everything else out. Did she dare? She risked impertinence, and Ines was there, watching. She’d told Nomi not to ask questions. If she heard Nomi…

Asa stepped forward, right onto Nomi’s foot.

She jerked back and tripped on the edge of her pinned-up gown, wobbling. Asa’s arms tightened. He stepped to his left as she stepped to her left, and their arms strained, pulling them back together.

The instructor cleared his throat. “Your Eminence, please forgive me for creating confusion. My instructions were for Nomi.”

Asa made a strange noise in his throat, like he was swallowing a laugh. “Of course.”

The music started again. Asa stepped forward, Nomi stepped back, and somehow they found a bit of rhythm. They did several revolutions around the room before Ines said, “Nomi, lift your chin. You’re looking at your feet as if you’re afraid they’ll walk off without you.”

Nomi lifted her gaze in time to see Asa bite back a smile.

He leaned a little closer. “I never trust my own feet when dancing,” he said. “They have a habit—” He stomped on her dress, jerking her against his chest and more pins into her waist. She struggled not to wince as his laughter rumbled up. “Well, of that,” he finished.

She stepped to the left. He might be a little wooden, but she wasn’t helping. Neither were the pins. “And I’m a poor partner. I’m sorry.”

His hand tightened on hers. “You are not the awkward one here. Not in that dress, with all the heavens embracing you.”

Nomi had never been paid such an extravagant compliment in her life. Cheeks flaming, she looked down, and the dress winked back at her, little glitters flashing against the black.

“I feel like a stranger,” she confessed. “Not like myself at all.”

“Your whole life’s been upended.” He shrugged. “Of course it’s unsettling. Everything’s different and unexpected.… This wasn’t your choice.”

Nomi glanced up in surprise. No one else seemed to understand that. Everyone acted as if she should be thrilled, or else they denigrated her for being a lowly servant elevated without cause. She darted a look at Ines, whose attention was caught by something outside the window. Perhaps this was her chance.

“I wanted to ask—” she began.

“Try a spin,” the instructor interjected.

Asa took an exaggerated breath. “Here we go.…”

He spun Nomi out, hard enough that she had to grip his hand lest she sail across the room. And then, suddenly, they were sailing, twirling in impulsive circles better suited to a faster, wilder song than the pianist played.

Nomi’s hair blew back from her face and she couldn’t help it—she laughed outright. Asa spun her out and back against his firm chest, and they teetered a little.

He smiled down at her, and his eyes were a deep coffee brown, turned up at the corners.

They took off around the room again, galloping through a pattern of steps Asa may have made up, for all she knew. But she didn’t care, nor did she feel a single pinprick. For the first time in nearly a week, her nervous muscles loosened, her worry faded, and her head didn’t ache with questions and regret.