Chapter 8 part 1
Bartleby, Sonia, Mindy, and Manic teamed up to get everyone calmed down while Robotnik and Lady Wyndermere got Sir Charles to an examination room. Dingo faithfully followed with his gun aimed directly between the bastard's eyes.
"Lady Wyndermere, would you be willing to allow him to resume his house arrest at your home, given these circumstances?" He asked as he began tending his wound. He felt the man tense up a bit at the prospect of being confined once more.
She nodded. "Since he is making an effort, then yes I would allow him a place in my house again. However, he must help in the cleaning and repair of the room that he destroyed and he must apologize to Sleet for the injuries he incurred." The baroness' eyes became dangerously narrow. "But let me be quite clear. If you hurt that boy again, Sir Charles, you will be praying for Robotnik to get to you first."
Sir Charles nodded. "Yes, your ladyship." He bowed. "I am at your service."
The ball was salvageable and the dancing resumed. Bartleby held his beloved baronet to him as they turned around the floor to Vivaldi's "Spring." Sonic danced with Sally and Manic with Mindy. Until Sonic had enough of the dull classical music.
"Sonia, when is the real fun going to start?" He asked her as they met on the floor, the two couples dancing side by side.
Sonia giggled. "What do you have in mind Sonic?" She asked.
"Yes, Mr. Hedgehog," another courtier asked. "Do tell us, what do you consider to be a fun time?"
Bartleby looked sharply at the man. "Sonia, if you and your brothers wanted to play for us, I'm sure everyone would be delighted. The instruments have all been recently tuned."
Sonia pulled away from Bartleby and kissed his cheek. "That sounds like a great idea. It's about time court life had a bit of fun."
Sally and Mindy joined Bartleby while Sonia, Sonic, and Manic went up to the instruments waiting for them. "Let's set it off! Start a chain reaction, never let it stop…"
Robotnik looked at Sir Charles. "Given your wound, you're likely not up to staying for the remainder of the ball but you'll also understand that I don't trust leaving you alone." He explained candidly. "So you will be taken to a recovery room and Dingo will stay and keep a watch on you. You will also take these..." He pulled out a bottle with pills from his desk. "For the pain in your shattered shoulder blade. Bone wounds are particularly painful."
Sir Charles nodded as he accepted the pills. "Thank you… I'd expect nothing else…" He said, burying his face in his hands. "Do you think he'll forgive me?" He asked, surprising the scientist.
"I think… I think your nephew is a good kid. I think if you really intend to change your ways then you have a chance to regain his respect but… bear in mind…" Robotnik sighed. "If you falter again, if you hurt him again, no matter how minor, that'll be it. You'll have Ginny to contend with but it'll be worse. You will lose him forever." He turned to Virginia. "Shall we return to the ball, milady?" He bowed and offered his arm.
Lady Wyndermere smiled. "We shall. It sounds like the children have taken over the entertainment." She giggled as she took his arm. Everyone knew she was his favorite in his court, he made that no secret. Few others knew him the way she did.
Neither of them saw Sir Charles watching their backs with a small grin as they left.
They rejoined the ball, each laughing at the aristocracy adjusting to this music at the debutante ball. A black jaguar female approached them. "Sire, are you well? We were concerned."
Robotnik nodded. "Yes, Lady Pardus. And it looks like everyone is having a good time. Has your daughter been enjoying herself? I believe it's her third season this year."
"It is. Felicity loves the season and she was so looking forward to dancing the night away. Are you sure that this music is appropriate though?" She asked with concern. "For a ball?"
Virginia laughed. "Oh, Maude, this party is for the youth of course. If they prefer this to classical waltzing, then that is their choice. There's nothing untoward about it after all. And I don't see any problems with music about dancing and having a good time. Remember, Julian? The way we used to dance the night away. Why, we'd hire a sitter and paint the night red on Saturday nights."
"Yes… though I don't know that I could do that today…" He said as Bartleby joined them.
"Agreed, Uncle, you are far too old…" The prince with a playful glint in his eye, earning himself a look of indignation.
Robotnik raised his eyebrow. "Is that a challenge, brat?" He looked at Virginia and offered her his hand and looked up at Sonia who nodded.
On stage, Sonia looked at her brothers. "Follow my lead, they want a salsa." She explained, earning a couple of shrugs. Together, she began leading in a traditional, lively salsa, with its staccato, fast beat. "Oye mi cuerpo pide…"
Robotnik and Lady Wyndermere joined hands and their eyes met the guests cleared the dance floor for them. Together, they stepped and twirled around the floor, coming close and pulling away. There were obvious limitations to their movements that weren't there a decade or so ago but the dance was still flawless. When the song ended, they took a bow to thunderous applause.
Manic and Sonic both laughed. "I had no idea that he could dance like that." Manic laughed.
Sonia laughed as they transitioned into another similar song and the others started dancing again. She watched Bartleby as he watched her with adoring eyes. She smiled until she saw the duchess' daughter approaching him.
Drina put a hand on his shoulder, getting his attention. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I just wanted to make sure you were okay after that ordeal. That was terrifying."
Bartleby nodded as he remembered the fear. "It was. Thank you, I am fine." He said as he only just acknowledged her.
She put a plastic glass under his nose, filled with punch. "I thought you might like some punch." She put herself in his line of sight.
The prince resisted frowning and pushing her aside. "Thank you, Drina. I am perfectly, but thank you for your concern." Why couldn't this feline take a hint that he wasn't interested?
"You know, they're playing. I'm sure that your future queen would want you dancing with the rest of the guests. Would you care to be my partner?" She asked as she offered her hand.
Bartleby wished terribly that it would be beneath his training to refuse her and sighed. "Very well, you may have one dance with your prince." He saw Sonia frown deeper and grinned sheepishly. "But that is all." He took her hand and led her onto the floor while Sonia changed the song to something less personal.
Drina saw her mother smile at her and she nodded. "You look very handsome tonight, Your Highness. I hope it's not out of line for me to say so."
"Thank you. And you look very nice yourself. Though I'm surprised that you are not with a date." Bartleby deflected her flirting.
She sighed. "My mother didn't want me promising any one man too soon," Drina explained. "I had a dance partner a bit ago, but he wussed out." She leaned in. "Sonia is nice and all, but... She's also the only young lady you've spent much time with, outside of school. Are you sure that you've made the right choice?" She asked with a grin. "After all, it's forever and you'll have to deal with all of her little flaws for the rest of your life. Besides, will the council really accept her as the next queen?" She gasped when Bartleby dropped her hands, his eyes flashing with lightning.