To Luciana’s credit, she was not struggling half as much as Rook. Forced into his first real lead role with only a few basic steps to his name, he screwed up his face in consternation. Luciana had to pick up the slack, and she had only ever danced with competent partners like Melody, Maxwell, or Christopher. The only reason her taking the lead with Schue hadn’t ended in disaster was because of his skill, something Rook distinctly lacked.
The result was Luciana’s worst performance yet.
“No, Rook, like this,” she said.
“Like this?”
“No, not there! Your foot goes—”
“Whoa!”
“S-sorry!”
Where there should have been open floor, there were feet, and despite Luciana’s own dancing talent, this partner was beyond her. There would be some bruised toes by the end of this routine.
Melody grinned. It’s a very good thing you’re getting this practice while you still can, my lady.
Being Maxwell’s partner would surely put Luciana in the spotlight, and that would mean many dance requests from men of all skill levels, including amateurs. Luciana had to be able to accommodate them all, lest she make a fool of herself in front of her peers and suffer consequences that warranted no explanation. In any case, Luciana needed practice with men like Rook just as much as she did with men like Schue. From the looks of it, the former was more pressing, so Melody left them to their own devices.
Elsewhere, entirely divorced from any such considerations, Micah savored the sight. “Free entertainment sure is nice, isn’t it?”
“You’re a plucky one, eh, Micah?” Hubert said.
Off to the side, Lect watched, clapping, scowling. Watching. Watching so closely one might have thought he was glaring, but perish the thought.
Oblivious to their completely neutral observer, Schue danced on, and Melody kept her eye on her lady. Luciana and Rook continued to stumble and trip, which Micah had to smirk at.
“A love triangle with the world’s prettiest maid at the head. What’s not to love?”
The young maid hardly paid attention to where she was stepping or how the not-so-sly Hubert was turning. This was too good. Besides, Hubert didn’t mind. The girl amused him.
He redirected his attention to the world’s prettiest maid and bore witness to the thing of beauty she and Schue were creating. And yet, all the while, Melody did not take her eyes off Luciana. There was a gentleness in them, a tenderness he had only ever seen in the woman he loved.
There are moments when it’s uncanny, he thought. Sometimes, she’s the spitting image of Selena.
He’d often caught Selena gazing at the child in her belly with the same love that Melody now turned toward her lady. How he had wished and daydreamed that that child had been his.
I hope she and the baby are doing well. Though I suppose the baby’s grown by now. I wish they’d come to visit.
Just as melancholy threatened to take hold, he noticed a pair of eyes on him. “Something on your mind, Micah?”
She smirked. “Should I make that a love square?”
“No. No, that’s all right. Don’t give Luciana any funny ideas, now.” Cold sweat beaded on his back.
Micah smirked wider. At her chest, the Uovo del Mago shook ever so slightly.
And on the lesson went. The next day, the Rudlebergs danced again, and Luciana improved. Rook became a better lead. Then came the day before their departure.
Melody nodded, satisfied with and proud of all they’d accomplished in so short a time.
But Luciana had reached the end of her fuse. “Melody! All you’ve done is dance with Schue, Uncle, and that knight!” she fumed. “When is it my turn?!”
“Dances are between men and women, my lady.”
“Ugh! The Spring Ball had a same-sex dance! Why can’t the Summer Ball have one too?”
“What can you do?” Schue said flippantly. “Don’t worry, my lady, I’ll dance with you!”
“I’d rather dance with a pile of pudding. It would be half as slimy.”
“I’m not slimy!”
Luciana hated how good he was. She hated how easy it was to dance with him. But more than anything, she hated him.