Before Cora even entered the room...she could hear the vibrant Irish jig playing. The place was crowded with cheering dancing people skipping around the room. A grin spread across Cora's face and she began to jump about excitedly.
" All righ' Cora darlin', lets all get over to this 'ere table, then we can do a bit a dancin', " her daddy shouted over the noise.
He lifted Cora up onto his shoulders and jostled towards the table before setting her down on it with her dolly. The music grew and grew to a vibrant crescendo. The smoky room was alive with stomping feet and wild cheers and uproars from the merry crowd. Cora was entranced by the vast movement surrounding her and she swayed along to the beat, tapping her worn shoes and the hard wooden chair.
" Would her highness care to dance? " Jack's voice rang out from behind her and she flung her head round to see him putting on fake airs and the most proposterous impression of the upper class he could. Cora giggled and jumped up, placing her doll carefully on the table, before rushing to dance with Uncle Jack.
They danced around in small circles, Cora standing on Jack's feet having the time of her life. He took her gently by the hand and spun her round and round. Cora grew lightheaded and had to stand still for a minute, the whole room spinning before her. She laughed and continued to spin round and round, getting dizzier and dizzier and more bubbly and giggling by the second. Eventually she slowed and began to yawn slightly. She stood on Jack's feet again, her eyes half closed yet she still felt so awake.
" I'm gonna dance with her now, okay Cora? " Jack led her back to the table and gestured towards the beautiful lady sitting there. Cora felt slightly sad and a hot feeling burned in the pit of her stomach. As Jack helped the other girl up and got into position to dance with her, Cora felt herself grow jealous and cross. Jack looked over at her and smiled encouragingly.
" You're still my best girl Cora! "
The light happy feeling began to return to Cora and she felt a wide grin spread over her face. She was still his best girl. She felt her whole body and being glow with pride and she bounced back to the table and sat contentedly with her precious doll. She watched the pair dance. They looked so happy with one another, so smiling and laughing. She wondered if they were in love, she didn't know much about love being very young but they looked so perfect together. From such different walks of life but yet so perfect together. She smiled, sighed and cuddled her doll closer.
...
What seemed like hours later, a warm, gentle hand layer itself on Cora's shoulder. She looked up, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
" Come on Cora darlin', let's go get some rest eh? "
Cora nodded her weary head and allowed her daddy to lead her back to their cabin, lift her into her warm bed and tuck her in under the sheets. She closed her tired eyes and allowed herself to drift into a thankfully dreamless sleep, awaiting the next days adventures.