Dancing Around the Obvious pt. 1

     Eurydice came flying down the stairs, her multitude of skirts splaying around her as she turned the corner. She loved watching her silk, navy gown balloon around her. Her mother had the dress specially made for tonight.

    Eurydice smiled when she saw Rome standing at the bottom of the staircase, “I knew you’d be here!” She walked down the rest of the steps.

    “Well of course! I can’t let you go through this alone!” Rome smiled and winked at Eurydice. He certainly was a charmer. There was a reason that all the girls in town fawned over Rome. He was tall, dark, and strong. And he looked extremely handsome in his forest green suit.

    Eurydice chuckled and greeted her childhood friend with a hug. The feeling of his arms around her was familiar and comforting.

    “How long have you been here?” Eurydice asked as she pulled away.

    “Only about a half-hour.”

    “See any good prospects yet?”

    Rome shrugged, “You know how it is. It seems as though all the women who come to these things are made from a single cookie-cutter, and not a good one at that.”

    “The men are the same way. They all love the way I look but care nothing for the woman inside.”

    Rome shook his head, “That is a shame. But to be fair, if they knew the woman inside, they may run for their lives.”

    Eurydice punched him playfully, “You’re so charming, aren’t you? It’s a good thing your family has money or else the cookie-cutter girls might never look your way.”

    “And what a shame that would be.”

    “A travesty indeed.”

    Their laughter echoed through the halls as they made their way to the ballroom. When they quieted, Eurydice began to hear the gentle notes of dancing music floating through the air.

    Rome smiled, “Ah, I love this song.”

    “Well then, would you care to dance?”

    He laughed, “Very funny, Eurydice.”

    “I am serious.”

    “You know the rules. We’re from the same town. We can’t dance together.”

    “No, the rules say that we cannot marry, not that we can’t dance.”

    Long ago, there was a great civil war among the cities of Eurydice and Rome’s country. When the rulers had finally come to peace, a law was put into place that only allowed people to marry outside of their city. The hope was that the constant interweaving of families would discourage another war.

    “The whole point of dancing is to find a spouse.” Rome reminded Eurydice.

    Eurydice shook her head, “Not necessarily. We can dance strategically. Alone, you and I are both fine specimens. We are both wealthy, of good breeding, educated, and easy on the eyes, if I do say so myself.”

    Rome chuckled at this.

    “But together,” Eurydice continued, “We would be a powerful pairing. Just imagine how attractive each of us would seem if we were seen dancing together.”

    “Alright. I mean, the worst thing that could happen is that I share a dance with my best friend.”

    “Exactly. Now, Mr. Cathernine, are you going to ask me to dance, or must I throw myself into your arms?”

    “Oh, Miss Phineas, I may simply fall over and die right this moment if you do not dance with me!”

    “Then I suppose we must.”

Rome held out his hand for Eurydice and led her into the ballroom. Everything was bathed in a golden light as people bustled about. The room was made of a white marble that contrasted beautifully with the dark colors of Rome’s suit and Eurydice’s dress. They made their way through the crowd to the center of the dance floor. If this was going to work, they needed to be seen. They assumed the waltz position and Rome began to twirl Eurydice around the room to the lively tune of the music. She threw her head back and laughed as he picked her up and spun her in the air. For a moment, there was no marriage market, no crowd, no ball. There was just Eurydice and Rome dancing together. When she was with Rome, she didn’t have to grow up quite yet. She could still hold on to those tendrils of childhood.

    When the song was over, Eurydice was disappointed. It was the feeling one gets after eating a delicious dessert. It is great while it lasts but leaves you wanting more. She could tell by Rome’s expression that he felt the same way. They were comfortable together. She wished that she could have spent the whole night dancing with him, but that would have been a waste of a ball that her parents spent good money on for her to attend.

    Rome lingered a moment, unsure what to do. It was clear Eurydice would have to be the one to go first. So, she curtseyed to Rome. He took his signal and bowed to her, smiling up at her one last time before he turned on his heel and walked away. Eurydice nearly followed him.

    Instead, she made herself wander around the room, scouting out the men. She could always tell their wealth and stature by the way they looked at her. The less wealthy men, here looking for a woman to elevate their status, stared at her hungrily, paying special attention to her fine clothes and jewelry. The men rich beyond Eurydice’s wildest dreams, just looking for a pretty woman to stand by their side, looked her up and down with calculating gazes. If they found her suitable, they would come and speak with her, but most would soon find her too smart and witty for their tastes. Then, there were those men simply looking for a companion with whom to spend their days and carry on their family name. These men may glance at her fine clothes and attractive figure, but approach her more cautiously, genuinely interested in getting to know her.

    Eurydice danced with all of them. She enjoyed dancing with men below her stature and often found them to be kind and handsome gentlemen whom she liked, but of whom she knew her family would never approve. They sent her here to find someone to elevate her status. She tried to dance with the extremely wealthy, knowing full well that her father would approve, but found that she could only keep her mouth shut for so long. After about two dances, she was ready to smack them in the face. There was one gentleman, in particular, Eurydice couldn’t recall his name, who had told her that her mouth was more beautiful stationary. She couldn’t resist the urge and had “accidentally” stepped on his toe. When Eurydice tired of these men, she began to set her sights on the more realistic companions.

    She danced with a young man named Gordon Rose. He was sweet but much too young for her. Plus, he was a dreadful dancer. He kept stepping on her toes. Then, there was Mr. Newport. He wouldn’t tell her his first name, insisting that she must call him Mr. Newport until they were married. He never did anything outside the limits of decorum, and he wasn’t nearly rich enough for Eurydice to put up with that. Then, she danced with Wesley Golding. He was nearly as perfect as his fine, satin jacket, if only he had taken a breath between listing his many favorable attributes and asked Eurydice something about herself.

    Eurydice was beginning to feel worn out. She was afraid that, yet another ball would go by without a beau. Not that her time was running out. She just hated disappointing her parents again and again. That’s when she noticed someone was watching her.

    The man stared at Eurydice from across the ballroom. A smile crept across his face as he noticed Eurydice was watching him as well. She pursed her lips and began to assess the man. He wasn’t entirely unattractive. He had a square jaw that was shaded by a gentle stubble and light hair that was neatly combed back. His hazel eyes which in themselves would have been gorgeous were obscured by large, square glasses. However, the shimmering rings on his fingers and the fine fabric of his suit indicated that he was wealthy. This suspicion was confirmed by the fact that his suit was perfectly tailored to fit his slightly muscled figure in the most flattering light.

    Eurydice smiled as he made his way toward her. She would dance with him, eventually. If these other men had taught her anything, it was her value. This man needed to know how much she was worth. He had to earn her hand, even if it was just for one dance. She planted her feet firmly in place and began to examine her finely embroidered skirt, refusing to look up even as he drew close.

    The young man cleared his throat and bowed, “Good evening, miss. My name is Thomas Wickham. May I inquire after yours?”

    Eurydice looked up at him, her face resolutely expressionless, “Inquire of my what?”

    “Your name, madam.” The young man’s grin never wavered.

    “Oh, yes, that. My name is Eurydice Phineas.”

    “Eurydice, what a beautiful name.”

    “My mother picked it out. Would you like me to introduce you?”

    “Um, no thank you.”

    “Alright, then. Was there perhaps a reason that you came over here?”

    Thomas was startled by her question, “Oh, oh yes, ma’am- uh Eurydice- Miss Phineas, would you care to dance?”

    “I see no reason why not.”

    “Excellent. Shall we wait for the next song?”

    “Yes.”

    Thomas sighed in relief, “May I stand with you until the song begins?”

    Eurydice looked him up and down, “Would you move if I told you no?”

    He cleared his throat, “Well, I am a gentleman and I always respect a lady’s wishes; however, I do not believe that you have the power to infringe upon my freedom to stand wherever I wish.”

    Eurydice grinned, “Clever.”

    Thomas stood by Eurydice for the rest of the song. She laughed to herself as she watched him squirm from the corner of her eye. He was very nice but didn’t appear to be the most confident fellow. And he never seemed to know what to do with his hands.

    When the music finally paused, Thomas held out his hand for Eurydice. She took it and allowed him to escort her to the dance floor. His hands were thin and rough, but strong, as though accustomed to manual labor. Perhaps he worked for his wealth rather than having others work for him. Eurydice liked this prospect.

    As the couple took their places, Thomas adjusted the way that he held Eurydice so that they were in the starting position for a waltz. Eurydice was struck by how careful he was with her, almost as though he were handling a delicate piece of china.

    The dance was pleasant. Mr. Wickham was light on his feet and seemed to have a good sense of rhythm. He paid careful attention to Eurydice as they spun around the room, hanging on every word she spoke. When he asked for another dance, she did not refuse. The next dance was much slower and the music quieter, giving them time to talk as they moved. Eurydice found that Mr. Wickham was quite intelligent and, though his interests seemed rather bland, he was genuinely curious about what she had to say. By their third dance, Eurydice was beginning to feel something of an affection toward Mr. Wickham. He was charming at times and was certainly very attracted to her.

    A sudden movement on the dance floor caught Eurydice’s eye. She caught a glimpse of Rome’s forest green suit. She looked over to see him dancing with a girl she’d never seen before. The two looked like they were having fun. The girl was gorgeous and seemed to be enjoying all of Rome’s jokes, which would certainly boost his ego. Maybe Rome had finally found his match.

    Eurydice felt chills cover her body. Her face grew hot, and she could feel a lump rising in her throat. Could she be jealous of the girl Rome was courting? No, that was silly. Jealousy was indicative of many other emotions that Eurydice was not ready for.

    She looked up at Thomas, “Mr. Wickham, what do you think about love?”

    “Love?” He seemed surprised at her question, “Well, I think love is somewhat of a rarity these days. But, when it is found, I think it is one of the most precious things in the world and thus, should be fought for and protected at all costs.”

    “Hmm.”

    “Was that not the answer you were looking for?”

    Eurydice shook her head, “I wasn’t looking for any answers. It’s just, that’s not what I was expecting you to say, is all.”

“Why? Do I not seem like a hopeless romantic?”

    Eurydice hadn’t detected the sarcasm in his voice, “Not necessarily. You just seem very…practical.”

    Thomas laughed, “It’s alright, Miss Phineas. I know how I come off. And though I would very much like to be a hopeless romantic, I tend to see reality for the way it is. But I can see the hope and light in your eyes. You see things the way they should be. That’s a wonderful quality about you.”

    “Thank you.”

    Thomas was a wonderful man, practically perfect. Eurydice could see herself building a life with him. He had a good amount of wealth to provide for her and their children. She knew that he would love her until his dying breath, and she would try to do the same. Eurydice would be nuts to throw him away.

    But Rome, her heart said. No, that was silly. Rome was her friend and nothing more. But the way she felt when she was around him was the way she had always imagined love to feel. But her heart was already crying at the prospect of someone else in his arms. But what would his lips feel like on hers?

    But the law. But the laws in place kept them apart. She was just being silly. She remembered her mother telling her once that her feelings would try to betray her and that she must learn some self-control. That had to be what was happening now. Her imagination had gotten away from her, that was all.

    Rome was her best friend. She loved him like family. No, she didn’t. She loved her parents and sisters with every fiber of her being, but what she felt for Rome was different. It was an earth-shattering, heart-breaking, rule-bending, logic-defying desire. It was the imagination of a future together and a bond forged from years of kinship. It was an all-consuming ache in Eurydice that had been building for years.

    “What do you think about love, Miss Phineas?”

    Eurydice broke from her thoughts, “I don’t know. I never dreamed that I’d find love in our society. It seems like a luxury only a few can afford. It is as though the best we can hope for is mutual affection and respect.”

    “That doesn’t seem like a very hopeful outlook.”

    “Maybe I’m all out of hope. Maybe the best I’ll ever get is watching the man I love dance with someone else and picture myself in his arms.”

    Thomas nodded, “I see. Well, Miss Phineas, I think that you deserve the world, and any man that doesn’t see that isn’t worth your time. But, if you can, you should pursue him.”

    Eurydice looked back over at Rome. He was already staring at her, smiling.

    “Thank you, Mr. Wickham. You truly are a wonderful man.”

    “You’re welcome, my dear. And please, call me Thomas.”

    “Well then, I will see you later, Thomas.”

    Eurydice turned around but couldn’t find Rome. He seemed to have disappeared in the seconds she had been talking to Thomas. Eurydice began to search the crowd for Rome. When the dance ended, she was pushed to the edge of the dancefloor. She stood on her tiptoes, scanning all of the faces, and spotted Rome across the room. He had found her, too.

    The music swelled. The next song was starting. Rome looked at the band, then back at Eurydice. He gave her a questioning look. She nodded. He slowly swayed over to her, taking her hand ever so gently, pulling her into him.

    As the dance began, the two moved together fluidly. Now that they were closer, Eurydice could see just how beautiful Rome’s eyes were. She’d never noticed them before, how they were golden with specs of the purest amber and splashes of green like a warm, summer meadow. They were deep and bright and looking at her, only her.

    When the dance ended, Eurydice was closer to Rome than she remembered. Had he pulled her closer or had she gravitated his way? She couldn’t recollect. She didn’t want this closeness to end.

    Rome must have seen it in her eyes and before she could walk away, he grabbed her wrist and twirled her to the middle of the dance floor.

    “Care for another dance?” He smiled roguishly.

    Eurydice nodded and curtseyed. As the next dance began, Eurydice locked eyes with Rome. She wondered if he marveled at her eyes the way she had at his. As they stepped to the rhythm, she felt her heartbeat quicken. Rome twirled her and spun Eurydice into his arms, causing her skin to stand on edge. Once again, his arms were around her, but they felt different this time. They were safe yet forbidden. A refuge from the world that would try and tear them apart.

    The music quieted and grew slower. Rome drew Eurydice closer, and she rested her head on his chest as they swayed to the beat. Eurydice felt as though time stood still when she was dancing with Rome.

    He looked up at the clock, “It’s almost time to go.”

    “Just hold me close for now.”

    “Eurydice, we can’t stay here forever.” She could feel his heart begin to race.

    “I know.”

    “I would go to the ends of the earth for you. To have you.”

    “I know.”

    “So what’s next?”

    “I don’t know.”

    “We could fight. It doesn’t have to be this way. Just because there was a war decades ago doesn’t mean that there will be one now. Surely the ties between families are strong enough to-”

    “Rome.”

    “Yes?”

    “I don’t want to fight.” She could feel the tears brimming in her eyes.

    “But Eurydice-”

    “Shh, just let us have this moment.”

    “Okay.” He rested his chin on her head.

    Eurydice committed every second to memory. She held onto the feel of Rome’s arm around her waist and his hand holding hers. She remembered the way he smelled, sweet and warm like honey or coconut. She memorized the gentle, building notes of the song. Years from now, she would think of him every time this song would play.