They sat around a table on the balcony of the Colonists' Club, celebrating the engagement (finally) of Matthew and Alice. Lucien was teasing Matthew mercilessly, and although she knew it meant nothing, that the two men had done it to each other since their boyhood, Jean could see that Alice was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the barbs.
Knowing her husband, Jean realized that Lucien would never intentionally cause Alice any discomfort. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Dance with me."
He was about to say something further to Matthew, and although she knew it would be witty, she cut him off and took his arm. "Lucien, shut up and dance with me," she repeated, her whisper more fierce this time.
Lucien recognized that tone of voice. He had stepped over the line somehow. He needed to make it right immediately. He would do anything for this woman who had brought him so much joy, so much contentment, so much life.
"Please excuse us," he said to the newly engaged couple. "My beautiful wife would like to dance."
He escorted Jean to the dance floor inside, and as always they fell into perfect step with each other immediately. When she leaned back away from him just a bit, he lifted a questioning eyebrow to ask what he'd done to upset her.
"Lucien, you and Matthew are like brothers and it's fine for you to act like it with your teasing," she began.
"But?" he prompted.
"But Alice is not accustomed to the way you two treat each other. It looked like she was taking some of your teasing personally."
Lucien's heart sank. How stupid and selfish could he be? He would never hurt Alice. Never! He had to apologize to her at once.
Jean held tighter to him, seeing his intention and refusing to let him make it worse. "Don't you dare," she told him. "If you say anything now, in front of Matthew, Alice will only be more embarrassed. Tell her in private, just the two of you."
He nodded, knowing she was right. "Yes, of course," he said soberly. "Jean, I really don't know how I managed to make it through my life without your wisdom to guide me." He kissed her gently on the cheek with a promise of more when they got home."
She smiled at him with just a trace of smugness. "Lucky for you I'm not going anywhere."
She took my arm,
I don't know how it happened.
We took the floor and she said
Oh, don't you dare look back,
Just keep your eyes on me,
I said you're holding back.
She said shut up and dance with me!
This woman is my destiny.
She said shut up and dance!