Regrets about leaving your home?" she asked.
"No," I said--making my first Court white lie.
Her relief was unmistakable as she sat back against the satin pillows, and I was glad I'd lied. "I hope we make it to Carad-on-Whitewater by nightfall," she said. "I really think you'll like the inn there."
"Why?" I asked.
She smiled. "You'll see."
I made a face. "You can't tell me? I think I've already had a lifetime's worth of surprises."
She laughed. "Dancing."
I rubbed my hands together. "Great. Strangers to practice on."
Still smiling, she shook her head. "I confess I find your attitude difficult to comprehend. When I learned, it was a relief to practice with my cousins before I tried dancing with people I didn't know."
"Not me," I said. "Like I told you, if I have to tread on someone's toes, better some poor fellow I'll never see again--and who'll never see me--than someone who'll be afraid whenever he sees me coming. And as for practicing with Bran…"
She tried unsuccessfully to smother a laugh. "Well, he was just as outspoken about his own mistakes when he was learning," she said. "Frequently had a roomful of people in stitches. Not so bad a thing, in those early days," she added reflectively.
"No," I said--making my first Court white lie.
Her relief was unmistakable as she sat back against the satin pillows, and I was glad I'd lied. "I hope we make it to Carad-on-Whitewater by nightfall," she said. "I really think you'll like the inn there."
"Why?" I asked.
She smiled. "You'll see."
I made a face. "You can't tell me? I think I've already had a lifetime's worth of surprises."
She laughed. "Dancing."
I rubbed my hands together. "Great. Strangers to practice on."
Still smiling, she shook her head. "I confess I find your attitude difficult to comprehend. When I learned, it was a relief to practice with my cousins before I tried dancing with people I didn't know."
"Not me," I said. "Like I told you, if I have to tread on someone's toes, better some poor fellow I'll never see again--and who'll never see me--than someone who'll be afraid whenever he sees me coming. And as for practicing with Bran…"
She tried unsuccessfully to smother a laugh. "Well, he was just as outspoken about his own mistakes when he was learning," she said. "Frequently had a roomful of people in stitches. Not so bad a thing, in those early days," she added reflectively.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
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