Here we go with chapter 6 - The Cotillion.

I have to thank you all so much for you reviews, all the ones I can answer via PM and also Maxy, Starbuck and all the Guests that have left the others.
As explained at the end of the last chapter, the Cotillion is a kind of dance, the 4 couples begin standing in a square.

Disclaimer: I still don't own the BSG characters

May 1803

Dancing a Cotillion

William Adama

Apparently Ms Roslin shared his mixed feelings towards Ellen, that somehow made her rise even higher in his esteem. He found the blonde woman insufferable, but for Saul's sake he put up with her. What he loved about her was a mystery to Bill, on the other hand Saul was also drunk for at least half of his life. Maybe that clouded his judgement. When his partner squeezed his hand, something like a lightning went through his body, he had the suspicion that it had been even worse had she not worn those silken gloves that went up over her ellbows. If she had felt it too, she did not show, the woman just went on walking next to him until they found their position in the square.

Saul looked at him slightly confused, while his wife's face was the picture of disbelief.

"Commander, I thought you did't dance!", she exclaimed, "Ms Roslin, how did you talk him into it?"

The woman just smiled politely, apparently not feeling like answering this question.

"She did not Mrs Tigh, I asked her to!", he stated, emphasizing the "I".

He would not let anybody think that this well-mannered lady had broken any code of conduct. Luckily the music started and he had to concentrate on the steps. Cotillions had never been his forte, quite soon he felt lost among the twirling bodies. Suddenly Ms Roslin was standing beside him, taking his hands in hers.

"First to the right, then to the left", she advised him quietly before the dance led them to move into different directions again.

He whispered a quiet "thank you" when they met again. Was he mistaken or did she actually wink at him?

Out of the corner of her eye he saw her talking to one of the other men, they seemed to be aquainted. However he observed that she kept her expression guarded, he could not say what she was actually thinking.

"Commander Adama, I never took you for somebody looking for a rich heiress", Ellen commented when she came up beside him.

It took him all of his self-control not to groan.

"Mrs Tigh, I can assure you, I am not. I merely decided to join the dance for a change", the man tried to cut the discussion short.

"Well, some female influence would do Karolina some good", she remarked rather bluntly, making him clench his jaw.

When his partner swung to his side again, it felt like a light summer breeze, lively and bright. Her dancing skills could really rival the ones of every girl and woman in the room and Bill was well aware that people were staring.

"Commander Adama, you will set the feather on fire if you keep on staring like that", she teased him lightly, refrering to the huge construct that adorned Mrs Tighs hair.

The thought of it made him chuckle, a low rumble in his chest. As soon as he turned his head further towards Roslin, a faint smell of her parfume reached his nose. Why had he not realized it before? It was not as heavy as the ones that most people of her age wore, it was refreshingly different: A bit of citrus, a bit of blossoms, jasmine if he was not mistaken. During the short time they had spent together he had understood how she had managed to break so many hearts, she really was something else.

In the back of his head, alarm bells started to ring. That woman was dangerous, she was too perfect somehow, this could not be true. He could not fall for somebody like her, a stranger, God, he could not fall for anyone! Still, she had him under her spell and at some point during the Cotillion he resigned to it. It would only be for one night anyway. As soon as the music stopped, Bill offered her his arm, leading her away towards the refreshments. He knew that this was expected, but at the same time he also wanted to get away from the other couples and their gossiping. It surprised him slightly when she declined a glass of punch, after all he had seen her drinking it before.

"If I drink another glass I will get too wobbly on my feet", she admitted, "there is nothing wrong with spicing up the evening a bit, but all within reason I would say."

That was something that Karolina still had to learn, her father pondered. In the meantime Ms Roslin had put off one of her silk gloves and snatched one of the little snacks from the table. He was silently wondering who had come up with the idea of using puffy pastry, even Ms Roslin had problems eating them.

"It is simply impossible having these with dignity, but I love them too much", she remarked, flicking crumbles of her gown.

Even this random gesture looked elegant, how could this be? He realized there was still something stuck at the corner of her mouth and he resisted the urge to brush it away.

"Your mouth", he uttered, mentally slapping himself for his lack of finesse.

With her finger she made it disappear before putting her glove back on.

"Thank you", she answered politely but not unfriendly.

Then she looked across the dance floor.

"Your daughter looks bored", she remarked and Bill found that the woman was right.

"She does not know enough people and I think whatever you said to her earlier refrains her from blowing up conversations."

"I did not intend to spoil her evening", Ms Roslin answered a bit apologetically, "I simply wanted to protect her from mean comments."

"And I am grateful for that."

Suddenly, his companion seemed to recognize somebody.

"Commander, would you oppose if I introduced Miss Thrace to some friends?"

Thanks for reading!

The parfume Laura is wearing is modelled from "Chanel: Mademoiselle". Her dress is the same colour as the silk top she is often wearing under her suit during BSG season 1 and 2.

Up next: More introductions