could it do, here on the terrace, with the door open? Such a fantastic evening, why not dance with a perfect stranger? It would probably be my only chance. “What time is it?”
“I’m not sure. Nearly eleven, I think. Why?”
“Oh—I was just wondering.”
The gentleman bowed and held out his hand as I heard violin music swelling inside. “May I have this dance?”
“Why not?”
And we began to waltz. I was nervous at first, not wanting to trip over any planters, but my partner guided me expertly, and I was soon enjoying myself.
“You dance very well,” he commented.
“I enjoy it, though I don’t get many chances these days.” Archibald wasn’t much of a dancer; I knew because I’d tried.
“I expect next Season you’ll have more opportunity?”
I smiled noncommittally in the dark. “I certainly hope so. And you?”
“I enjoy dancing with a good partner. But I’ve had my toes stepped on too many times; sometimes I think women dance badly with me on purpose, just to save their slippers and—” He stopped abruptly.
I didn’t quite follow that, but I added inanely, “At least they weren’t wearing glass slippers!”
“Glass slippers! Is that a new fashion? It’ll keep the surgeons in business!”
We laughed together. I couldn’t see his face very clearly, but I liked his laugh.
When the dance ended, he released my gloved hand, and we stood together on the terrace. Neither of us spoke for a few seconds, then I said, “I suppose I’d better be going in now.”
“Must you?” He glanced back at the door. “I suppose I should, too.” But neither of us moved. My cheeks were warm, and I fanned them. The man took my elbow firmly and led me to a bench.
“Better cool off first,” he said.
“Thank you!”
He sat down, too. The moon was just rising over the mountains beyond the trees, and everything was tinted with silver. “What a lovely scene!” I added.
“I’ve climbed in those mountains—hiked to their tops.” My partner turned to me. “The view from there is—well, it makes Kingston look small. You can even see the ocean and far off in the distance, islands.”
“How lucky of you! I’ve never been far. My father sometimes spoke of taking me to Newport, but—but he never did.”
“Newport’s a fine city. There’s always a wind blowing, and the smell of the sea. Does your father like the sea?”
“He didn’t, not overly.” My eyes weren’t seeing the moonlit mountains now or Newport as I imagined it. They were seeing my father laughing as he declared his legs were meant for land. “He died a year and a half ago. No—” I hesitated, and my companion said quietly, “I’m so sorry.” Then I plunged on, “He’d go to Newport to see his ships. He was a merchant.” Then I sat very still and gazed intently at the cathedral spire.
“A merchant? But he didn’t like the sea? Wasn’t that a handicap in his business? Or didn’t he travel much?” He stopped abruptly. “My pardon again! You needn’t answer. It’s only my everlasting curiosity.”
“I don’t mind. No, father did travel, but he was seasick a lot. Poor Papa! He was always so happy to be home! He’d sit out in the garden and say, ‘Never again!’”
“I’ve had voyages that made me feel that way! Once, we were a day’s sail out of Kamoro and got caught in a northwest tempest. We lost a mast and were blown halfway to Trelonia. Let’s just say I learned to respect the sea on that trip.”
“That must have been dreadful!” I shuddered, then added, “But in good weather I think I’d like to travel, to sail and see different places. Heavens, I’d even like to see more of Kingston! Since we moved into town, we…we haven’t done much. Of course, I’ve been learning to cook but I don’t think that counts.” What was I saying?
“Cooking!” I thought I heard a smile in his voice. “That would be a foreign country to me. I remember venturing into the kitchens as a child and getting scolded for it.”
“Well,
“I’m not sure. Nearly eleven, I think. Why?”
“Oh—I was just wondering.”
The gentleman bowed and held out his hand as I heard violin music swelling inside. “May I have this dance?”
“Why not?”
And we began to waltz. I was nervous at first, not wanting to trip over any planters, but my partner guided me expertly, and I was soon enjoying myself.
“You dance very well,” he commented.
“I enjoy it, though I don’t get many chances these days.” Archibald wasn’t much of a dancer; I knew because I’d tried.
“I expect next Season you’ll have more opportunity?”
I smiled noncommittally in the dark. “I certainly hope so. And you?”
“I enjoy dancing with a good partner. But I’ve had my toes stepped on too many times; sometimes I think women dance badly with me on purpose, just to save their slippers and—” He stopped abruptly.
I didn’t quite follow that, but I added inanely, “At least they weren’t wearing glass slippers!”
“Glass slippers! Is that a new fashion? It’ll keep the surgeons in business!”
We laughed together. I couldn’t see his face very clearly, but I liked his laugh.
When the dance ended, he released my gloved hand, and we stood together on the terrace. Neither of us spoke for a few seconds, then I said, “I suppose I’d better be going in now.”
“Must you?” He glanced back at the door. “I suppose I should, too.” But neither of us moved. My cheeks were warm, and I fanned them. The man took my elbow firmly and led me to a bench.
“Better cool off first,” he said.
“Thank you!”
He sat down, too. The moon was just rising over the mountains beyond the trees, and everything was tinted with silver. “What a lovely scene!” I added.
“I’ve climbed in those mountains—hiked to their tops.” My partner turned to me. “The view from there is—well, it makes Kingston look small. You can even see the ocean and far off in the distance, islands.”
“How lucky of you! I’ve never been far. My father sometimes spoke of taking me to Newport, but—but he never did.”
“Newport’s a fine city. There’s always a wind blowing, and the smell of the sea. Does your father like the sea?”
“He didn’t, not overly.” My eyes weren’t seeing the moonlit mountains now or Newport as I imagined it. They were seeing my father laughing as he declared his legs were meant for land. “He died a year and a half ago. No—” I hesitated, and my companion said quietly, “I’m so sorry.” Then I plunged on, “He’d go to Newport to see his ships. He was a merchant.” Then I sat very still and gazed intently at the cathedral spire.
“A merchant? But he didn’t like the sea? Wasn’t that a handicap in his business? Or didn’t he travel much?” He stopped abruptly. “My pardon again! You needn’t answer. It’s only my everlasting curiosity.”
“I don’t mind. No, father did travel, but he was seasick a lot. Poor Papa! He was always so happy to be home! He’d sit out in the garden and say, ‘Never again!’”
“I’ve had voyages that made me feel that way! Once, we were a day’s sail out of Kamoro and got caught in a northwest tempest. We lost a mast and were blown halfway to Trelonia. Let’s just say I learned to respect the sea on that trip.”
“That must have been dreadful!” I shuddered, then added, “But in good weather I think I’d like to travel, to sail and see different places. Heavens, I’d even like to see more of Kingston! Since we moved into town, we…we haven’t done much. Of course, I’ve been learning to cook but I don’t think that counts.” What was I saying?
“Cooking!” I thought I heard a smile in his voice. “That would be a foreign country to me. I remember venturing into the kitchens as a child and getting scolded for it.”
“Well,
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