"Cat dear?" The Duchess fluttered about me, "Why are you not dancing?" she scoured the room for Frank, "Where is that Frank of mine? He was supposed to sign your dance card!"
"It's fine, the girls got to him before he had a chance," I tried defending Frank, but I was running out of luck, "Really," I tried getting the duchess's attention "It's fine. He need not dance with me."
But the duchess was determined, "Frank?" she spotted him in a crowd of girls, "Frank of Avon come here right now," the girls made room for him to leave the circle. Frank looked relieved to have an excuse to leave his girls behind, "Right here Mother," he took her arm, "Now what did you want to see me for?"
"Did you just end your sentence with a preposition?" The duchess's train of thought momentarily distracted. Frank just rolled his eyes, "Fine, did you want to see me mother?"
"Oh yes," she started her scolding session, "Frank, why did you not sign Cat's dance card? You said you would," her eyes flashed. Frank looked down at his shoes, "All of the girls came around, I tried to hang on to Cat, but the other girls pushed her away," he looked truly miserable, and I for once felt sorry for him.
"It's quite alright Your Grace," I assured her, "He will make up for it," Frank didn't answer, "Won't you Frank?" I asked quite pointedly.
"Um, Yes Cat," he was still looking uncomfortable, "In fact, they just finished a dance."
Seeing that her job was done, the Duchess floated back over to her friends. Frank offered his arm, "Care to dance Miss Royal?" I put my gloved hand in his, "It would be my pleasure," he whisked me onto the dance floor, much more gracefully than anyone I had ever known.
"Where did you learn to walk so gracefully?" I curtsied.
"I had a dance teacher who taught me everything," he bowed.
"I don't think I've ever danced with anyone so graceful," we came together for a turn.
"And I don't think I've ever dance with a girl so beautiful," He whispered in my ear.
I said nothing, but raised my eyebrows, "Surely you are mistaken."
Frank looked at me, a different way than he ever had before, a soft look to it, "The Earl is never mistaken," he spun me around with amazing speed. I breathed in sharply, alarming Frank, "Are you well Cat?"
I nodded my head, but my insides screamed No! No! No! I was feeling quite dizzy. The heat, the spinning, I felt as if the whole ballroom was spinning, "Frank, do you mind if I go to the library for a minute?" I started to break away from the dance floor, "Surely you can find another dancing partner."
"I'm coming with you Cat," he held on to my waist leading the way to the library. He studied my face with concern, "Are you sure you are well Cat?" He opened the door to the library.
"I'm just dizzy from all of the heat," I sat down in a big chair, "Really Frank, go back, you owe some girls a dance. Don't stay here because of me."
"No Cat," a curl had fallen in front of his face making him that much more handsome, "I'd rather be here with you any day. All they say is 'Francis, how tall you've become,' or 'Francis how handsome you are'. I'm honestly tired of it," he sat down next to me, (the chair was extra big, big enough for two slimmer people like ourselves)
"Are you sure you don't need anything Cat?" I could feel his eyes on me, and his warmth sending shivers throughout my whole body. I turned to look at his wonderfully sweet face, tempting me to get closer, although I knew I shouldn't, I couldn't resist. I rested my head on his shoulder, "I'm fine now Frank, you can go join the others down at ball," although to be honest, reader, I did not want him to leave. This feeling that I was experiencing, what was it?
Could it possibly be love?
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