Thank you so much for your reviews, they make me incredibly happy!
I never intended to let the two dance together at this first ball, but the Storyfairy just came up and put the idea in my head. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I still only own storyline and OC's.

May 1803

For the first time in a long time

Laura Roslin

Surprised she looked from his face to the hand he held out to her now. What was that all about? He had made it clear that he did not dance! And she had answered that she didn't dance either! Did he want to mock her? Or challenge her? The first impulse was to decline, to play it safe, but as a lady she could not really refuse. Well, she could, but that would mean to sit out the rest of the dances as well. Would that matter? It had not mattered to her for almost fifteen years now, she had always been content with just watching others twirling around. Until now. Something in the way he looked at her made her want to throw caution in the wind and just go with it. Of course it would stir gossip, but for God's sake, she was used to that. It would also show Lord Adar that she was not crying after him but amusing herself with somebody else.

Smiling slighly, she layed her gloved hand into his, letting him lead her to join the lines already assembled. Laura was feeling strangely giddy, as if she was a young girl again attending her first ball, even though that was far from the truth. When the music started, she curtsied deeply, looking to the floor. When she raised her head, their eyes met again and she felt the same flutter in her chest than before. It was utterly ridiculous Laura told herself, they had just met! It must be the excitement of doing something unexpected, of a personal little rebellion. The music started and the couple at the top of the line began to dance, giving her a moment to gather her thoughts. She knew that she knew the steps, she had done them so often even though not recently. The last time she had been on a dancefloor had been two years ago after a small dinner party in Bath. In a slightly drunk state to be precise.

"Commander, when was the last time you danced?", she asked with a little flirty smile to show that she did not mean offence. He tilted his head, then he smiled back. "I am not telling you that Ms Roslin", he answered finally, making her surpress a grin. Soon, the couple next to them started to move and then it became their time to join in. As she had hoped, the steps were automated in her body, that gave her an opportunity to focus on the conversation. "I don't believe you", Adama stated suddenly, making her raise an eyebrow. "That you don't dance. You perform as if you did it every day", he clarified after a moment. "Thank you Sir, but I can assure you, I was speaking the truth. I rather think it is a relic of my youth, when I never missed an opportunity to be on any dancefloor. However, I am inclined to accuse you of lying as well. You seem well aquainted with steps and figures for the fact that you claim not to dance either."

The formation ripped them apart, not giving him time to answer. When they came close again, he finally responded: "I did not lie that I usually don't dance at social events, if I am forced to attend them at all. However, when Leopold, Zachary and Karolina started to be interested in dancing, they hasseled me into practicing with them." He looked a bit sad in that moment, so Laura decided not to ask further. She had the impression something had happened in this family, but it was not her business after all. Still it was interesting that he did not mention a wife and neither a governess. Ms Roslin made a mental note of inquiring about the family if the opportunity presented itself.
"So tell me Commander", she asked instead, "what made you asking me to dance?" His eyes narrowed a bit and he seemd to choose his next words carefully. "To be honest, I don't know. But for some reason I am happy I did." Only years of training in self-control made her refrain from flushing crimson red, though Laura was pretty sure that there still was some red blush visible on her cheeks. "You are too charming Commander Adama", she responded, loving the way his name tasted on her tongue. She could see that he had a reply ready but held back in the last moment, solely smiling.
He was smiling a lot, real smiles with sparkling eyes, but on the other hand, so was she. Born and raised in England's high society, her manners could be flawless if she wished, including polite liftings of the corners of her mouth, empty and only for show. Tonight, her expression was heartfelt and genuine, even though it was still inside the boundaries of propriety. Old habits died hard and she was stilla aware of where she was.

Time flew by and Laura became more and more convinced that he was indeed a good dancer, moving swiftly and easily for a man of his age and his figure. Adama was definitely not fat, but also not a young god such as his son. They ended up in two rows, facing each other. A bow. A curtsy. It was over. People were clapping around them and the woman was happy that they would have another dance together. Her euphoria was slightly dimmed when it was announced that they woud indeed dance a Cotillion. She did not want to change her partner so often, she wanted to keep dancing with Adama! Her mood sank even more when she discovered that the Thighs would be in her group, she could really pass on that. Judging by the Commander's expression, he felt the same, so she squeezed his hand slightly when they walked over. After all, Laura was used to polite conversation with people she could not stand. She was not so sure whether the same applied to him. It could have been worse though, as long as she did not have to dance with either Lord Adar or Admiral Cain, Laura considered herself lucky.

Thank you for reading!

A bit of Information about Regency dancing:
Only a man could ask a woman to dance, not the other way round. A woman had to agree, unless she had already promised the dance to another. If she refused, manners dictated that she had to sit out the other dances for the rest of the night.
A couple usually danced two dances together. This took around an hour. A man was only allowed to ask a woman to dance two couple of dances with him, even if they were engaged.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the time in which my story is set, mostly English Country Dances were danced in long lines to suit the British ballrooms, the quadrille and the waltz were introduced in the 1810ths. In Country Dances, there are subgroups consisting of 3 couples and the dances always start and end with the men on one and the women on the other side. A Cotillion is a dance for four couples in which the partner is changed a lot.

Another piece of information: Men did not wear wedding rings

Up next: The Cotillion