He was only checking her temperature, she was sure, but the touch came as such a surprise that Aurora had to stop herself from darting back. Frozen in place, she could only watch as Elmore's frown deepened.
"You're warm," he stated, "it could be the heat of the ballroom that made you dizzy. Have you been drinking?"
Aurora shook her head, because she knew the reason for her overheating face, and it wasn't alcohol. If Elmore hadn't touched her so suddenly...but she refused to admit that aloud.
"I must be dehydrated," she said — and took another sip of punch to make her point. "I'll be fine once I cool down, I think."
"You should have the orange juice too, then. I can sit with you until you feel better?"
It was so sweet that Aurora almost felt bad agreeing. He was missing the dancing because of her. Yet he looked at her with such a genuinely adoring look, a soft smile on his features, that Aurora found she didn't have the will to say no.
Had he always looked at her like that? In truth, Aurora had never paid enough attention before to notice; but it was such a soft look, so caring, that she found herself unable not to smile too.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while. Side by side, but with respectable distance between them, Aurora found herself wishing that she could sit closer. These feelings had come out of nowhere, for no apparent reason at all, but she couldn't shake them.
The telltale tickle of another cough came on, but Aurora forced it down. This time, it worked.
When Elmore did eventually speak, it was with a hint of that old concern in his voice. "Can I do anything for you? Another drink, maybe fetch your father?"
Goodness, no!The last thing she needed was Father worrying too. He was good at that, worrying. He wouldn't let it go until he knew the truth.
Which was why Aurora shook her head and said, "no, thank you. I'll be all right, and he'll only want to take me home. We need him tonight more than ever; he's always been good at talking to people."
Elmore hummed but didn't immediately reply. Instead, he took another long drink of his lemonade and turned to gaze out across the entrance hall.
Aurora did the same, for lack of anything more interesting to look at. The entrance was huge, far larger than the narrow entryway at home. The floor was dark polished wood that created a stunning contrast with the pale walls, which were made of cream striped wallpaper.
It was beautiful, Aurora had to admit; and completely unlike anything she had seen before. It was incredible to think that this was normal to some people, that they lived in houses like this and thought nothing of it. To Aurora, it was incredible.
She was so distracted that she didn't even notice Elmore stand, not until he was offering his hand to her.
"I believe your set with Lord Foley has come to an end. Shame. How about you and I dance instead?"
A smile quirked at Aurora's lips as she agreed. "I'd love to," she replied honestly, "my dance card is almost empty, anyway."
Elmore only smiled as he helped aurora to her feet. Together, they wandered back into the ballroom and quickly found themselves surrounded by other dancers.
The music slowed, peaceful and melodic, as they prepared for a waltz.
Aurora found herself relaxing in Elmore’s grasp as they waltzed, her mind drifting. She had never been this close to him before; close enough to smell the faint sweetness of his cologne, and to see the little flecks of blue in his dark eyes.
As if he caught her staring, Elmore smiled. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked.
Aurora felt herself flush, but she couldn’t lie. “Yes,” she admitted, as his hand tightened around hers. “I’m not usually much of a dancer, unless it’s with Father…but this is nice.”
He simply smiled and reached out to flick a loose curl from Aurora’s forehead. The touch, so simple, made her blush darken.
If he noticed, Elmore was kind enough not to say. Instead, his hand slipped back into hers and his broad grin settled into something easier, calmer.
They danced for the rest of the set in peaceful quiet, content to be by each other’s side.
* * *
By the end of the ball, Aurora was exhausted. The pain in her chest from coughing had dulled into no more than a nuisance, but she still hated how distracting it was.
At least she had managed to avoid Lord Foley for the rest of the evening; until now at least, because Father was talking excitedly as he brought Lord Foley over.
"Have you thought more about our project?" Father was asking, "we thank you for inviting us to your ball, of course, and I wouldn't want to rush you."