Alliance

Chapter Twenty-Six

On the fourth morning of Mistress Elle's training, I found myself in the smallest ballroom in a floor length dress. It was my last lesson with Mistress Elle and she was trying to teach me the art of ballroom dance. An art I did not have.

"Okay, the left foot goes there," Audrey tried to guide me through the steps. She arrived half an hour before despite the early morning hour, explaining her mother woke her early to finish the ball planning for that night. 

I stepped where she indicated. "Good. Good. Okay, now twirl."

She lifted my arm and I ducked under it but I was a little taller than her with my heels making it difficult to swoop down and twirl with the corset. But I managed to do it. It was ugly but I managed.

Barely.

"No, no." Mistress Elle stepped up. She fixed what I was doing wrong.

Audrey, bless her heart, saw my frustration. "Let's do a twirl around the room," she cut off Mistress Elle and she swept us away from her. "You are doing fine."

I stumbled a few steps in Audrey's arm. "It doesn't feel like it."

"You'll get it in time."

"Your party is tonight."

Audrey rolled her eyes. "Don't remind me."

I saw why everyone liked Princess Audrey. She was likable and sweet. Nothing like the straight tied royals and Elites who were arriving at the Palace for the past few days to celebrate her birthday. Audrey was a free spirit. It would be hard to pin her down, good luck to any man who tried.

"So, I need some help getting ready later for the dance, mind if I pop up to your room?" she asked.

A questionable look crossed on my face. "Are you asking so you can hide from your mother?"

"Well," another eye roll, "Maybe."

"Of course, that is if I ever escape Mistress Elle."

"Audrey!" a male's voice cut us both off. Audrey and I simultaneously jumped back as if we were both caught doing something we shouldn't.

At the ballroom door, Anthony strolled in. Unlike his brother, he wore bright clothes of cream pants and today sported a light green button down shirt. But like his brother, the top few buttons were undone. "Mom needs you. She's been looking for you over an hour."

"I'm helping Mel! Trust me, she needs it."

"Oh thanks," I playfully snapped, hands on my hips. Audrey only shrugged in reply.

Anthony stopped before us. "Go, mom needs you. Remember the last time you kept her waiting? I can help Mel for a minute."

"No really, that's fine," I waved away the offer. Damn Audrey, she only turned to me and winked before leaving the ballroom.

"Maestro," Anthony waved to the pianist who had also been woken up early by Mistress Elle. The pianist sleepily nodded and began a slow melody.

Anthony bowed to me and I curtsied. I allowed Anthony to step forward and take the small of my back with one hand and my hand with the other. He took the first step and I followed. He led us easier than what Audrey had done. Unlike Audrey, he was trained to lead dances. I followed gracefully and without fault with the music.

We finished one circle around the ballroom before Anthony finally spoke. "You are better than what Audrey was implying."

"Well, you lead better than her," I answered, at that moment my feet fumbled. Looking down at my feet only made me fumble again.