A/N: The reception to the first chapter was so great that I thought I'd go ahead and post the next one. Enjoy!
Regina leaned against David by the wall of the ballroom. King Leopold certainly knew how to throw a party. Unfortunately, it was not one the two eighteen-year-olds wanted to attend. She had just finished dancing with one of the many men her mother approved of.
"So what did you think of that one?" He asked.
"His breath smelled like onion," she said, wrinkling her nose as she looked at him. "Not an attractive quality."
"Yeah, he seemed like he was kind of a jerk," he said, though he had no means of knowing that.
"Not as bad as the one who kept grabbing my backside, though," she said.
He clenched his jaw, remembering the one particularly handsy suitor that had angered him so much. She didn't deserve to be treated like a piece of meat. "Thanks for coming with me," she said, leaning her head against the wall and smiling at him. She squeezed his hand, but immediately released when she saw her mother walking toward them.
"Regina, it is not ladylike to slouch like that. Stop being such a wallflower," she insisted.
"Mother, I just danced to five consecutive songs with gentlemen of your liking. I would really like to rest for just one moment while the swelling goes down in my feet," Regina responded.
Her pleading was ignored as Cora took her by the wrist and led her to another young man with brown hair. He was tall, easily over six feet. David watched them dance around the floor. For a woman who hated these events, she was very light on her feet. She moved flawlessly about the floor, even with the clumsiest of partners, though this one was able to keep up with her. She was stunning, and he wanted nothing more than to be out there dancing with her in his arms.
When the song ended, she made her way back toward David, who was now sitting at a table off to the side of the dance floor. She exhaustedly sat beside him.
David chuckled as he watched her, and he couldn't help but notice the little bounce of her breasts as her bottom hit the chair. "So I assume that one wasn't any better?" He asked, taking a seat on the floor beside her.
"Oh, no," she said. "Daniel was actually quite the gentleman. He has even less desire to be here than I do."
"I didn't realize that was at all possible," he joked. She placed a hand on his thigh and gently squeezed, thanking him for the third time. He nodded.
"What about that girl you keep talking to?" She asked innocently, having noticed another brunette approach David multiple times throughout the night.
"Oh, the princess," he said exasperatedly. "She's…persistent. Keeps calling me Charming."
"That's a nice compliment."
"No, it's like she thinks that's my name," he said, causing her to laugh.
"That would be incredibly pretentious," she said.
"Plus I think she's only fourteen." This caused them to laugh even louder. Her eyes squeezed shut as she snickered about the poor girl. He kept his eyes on her as they laughed together. He loved when she laughed. It was a beautiful sound.
David then noticed Cora across the room. She wasn't looking, but he knew it was only a matter of seconds. He stood, and in an exaggerated fashion, he offered Regina his hand. "May I have this dance?"
She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Seriously?"
Through a smile, he said, "It's that or be set up with the guy your mother is currently talking to," he said just as Cora noticed them. She began to move, but it was too late. Regina and David had already made their way to the crowd of dancing couples.
"M'lady," he said, offering his hand.
Regina laughed as David helped her from the carriage. "Thank you, kind sir," she said teasingly. They linked arms as they made their way to the house. As soon as they were inside, Regina kicked off her shoes with a grateful sigh, returning to her natural height. Her curls had fallen due to all the dancing, but she was still stunning. He couldn't help but stare at her.
"David?" She said, calling him back. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," he said, smiling at her. "You just look beautiful," he told her.
She smiled shyly. "You look pretty great, yourself," she said, pushing his shoulder playfully. He wanted so badly to kiss her. She looked absolutely gorgeous. They had actually had fun at the party. But before he could work up the courage, her parents walked in.
"Regina, it's not proper to kick your shoes off wherever you please," Cora said, completely ignoring David. The young woman scurried to pick up her heels from the floor as her mother led her to her room to change and undoubtedly scold her from her behavior during the night. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him again before turning to half-listen to her mother.