Instead of smiling with all teeth showing, as Fronicka did, there was only a slight upturn to the corners of her lips.
“I never learned this particular dance, I’m afraid. Please do not concern yourself, though. I am perfectly content to listen to the music.”
He was not so sure he believed her. After all, what lady had never been taught these well-known dances? But it might embarrass her if he pressed her to join the dancers. And since she wished to listen to the music, he said no more.
“Lady Magdalen looks very pretty tonight,” she suddenly said.
He caught sight of Lady Magdalen dancing with a young duke’s son. “Indeed.”
Was she so unselfish that she would wish to draw his attention to another lady’s beauty? Perhaps she did not wish to marry him herself and that was why she was trying to make him think of Lady Magdalen.
“Did you know that lady before you came here?”
“No, we only just met, but I like her very much. She is kind. There is no pettiness or jealousy in her, and she is very openhearted. Those are very good qualities in a margrave’s wife, I think, to care about her people in such a way. She is also a good dancer.”
“Indeed. And do you not also have those same characteristics, Lady Dorothea?”
She looked up at him with wide eyes, her lips parted, as if his question had frightened her. “I . . . Me?”
The dance ended and the musicians announced the next dance. Lady Magdalen was coming toward them.
“Lady Dorothea, you know this dance,” Magdalen said, a little breathless. “You should dance.”
Just then, one of the young noblemen asked Lady Dorothea to dance. “Yes, I thank you,” she said.
She let the young man lead her to the group of dancers, leaving Lady Magdalen standing beside Reinhart.
“I thought Lady Dorothea did not wish to dance.” He eyed Lady Magdalen.
“I think she will enjoy this one.” Magdalen had a very placid look on her face as she watched the dancers.
“Do you enjoy dancing?”
“Yes, but I did not think she could have wanted to stand here all night. Oh, forgive me.” She turned to him with a sheepish look. “I did not mean to say that she would not have enjoyed talking with you.”
He could not help a slight smile. “Do not distress yourself. I understand what you meant.”
But his words did not seem to put Lady Magdalen at ease. Instead she turned a bit paler as she watched the dancers and chewed on her lip.
They were silent until the song ended, at which time Fronicka hurried over and nudged Lady Magdalen out of the way to get close to him.
“You must forgive us ladies for enjoying ourselves so much while we dance,” Fronicka said.
The musicians announced another dance, but Fronicka turned so she was facing Reinhart, ignoring everyone else.
“I shall stay by your side for this dance, my lord, even though I do enjoy dancing very much. I would much rather talk with you.”
He looked down at her. “That is very sacrificial of you.”
She blinked, looking as if she did not know how to respond to that. She was not nonplussed for long. “I do love this room. The floors are beautiful and I’ve never seen such a perfect room for dancing.”
Fronicka continued to talk about the room and the castle as everyone else started to dance. Everyone, that is, except Lady Dorothea, who stood nearby, talking with one of the young noblemen, the Duke of Wolfberg. Did Lady Dorothea think him handsome? He was younger than Reinhart, and as a duke, his rank was higher. Besides that, he had two strong ankles, unlike him. Was Wolfberg complimenting her as she smiled and glanced down at her hands? Why were they not dancing?
“What do you know of Lady Dorothea?” Fronicka suddenly asked. “There was some rumor I had heard about her from some travelers who came from Plimmwald. I’m sure it cannot be true.”
“What rumor?” Reinhart purposely kept his tone bland.
“Oh, I would never repeat it. Something about Lady Dorothea and one of her father’s knights, Sir Dietric. I am sure it cannot be true. People do gossip, especially the lower classes.”
Reinhart forced himself not to react to her words. Calmly he said, “If you are sure it cannot be true, I am surprised you mention it.”
Lady Fronicka opened her mouth to speak, closed it, then opened it again. “I do not know why . . . I say whatever comes to my mind. It is my greatest fault. But I cannot help it if someone blurts out such gossip in my hearing. I would not wish to hurt Lady Dorothea with such false gossip, which I am sure is exactly what it was. After all, if she truly were with child, it would show. I am sure it must not be true.”