In the days before the ball, most of Alexis’s normal studies were put on hold, replaced by dancing lessons. He hadn’t needed to be properly taught to dance since he was twelve, with only one lesson a month now to make sure he was not slipping. However, at this ball there would be many ladies who would not know how to dance – or worse, would believe they did. Leading such a partner was a very different skill to dancing with someone who could move in equal step.

“No, no, no! You need to take a firmer grip on her hand! You should not just hold her hand, you are to grasp it firmly!”

The instructor sounded exasperated, as well he might. There was only a week left until the ball and he had still not mastered it perfectly. It did not help that the girl who had been chosen to help him learn had absolutely no clue how to dance. It had been fine when he was given partners who had some idea of what they were doing, but this girl seemed incapable of following a lead.

He supposed it didn’t help that she was not a particularly calm girl. She was both nervous and over-excited, and she was very resistant to actually touching him, which is a rather necessary part of dancing. He didn’t want to forcefully make her hold onto him, but the dancing teacher merely scorned at this.

“You are not here to have a friendly chat, you are here to dance! Honestly, both you and your brother are hopeless at this.”

“Really? Thomas is? He was gloating to me that he had perfected this long before I will.”

“That is true, but he started lessons a few months ago, in the name of ‘taking no chances’. If you mess up, with any luck there will be less people looking.” He turned to the girl. “My dear, this is strictly confidential, and if I hear anything either of us has said repeated by anyone, ever, I shall make sure that you are banned from the bakery at the end of Market Row.”

The girl looked stricken by this. “Never ‘ave I tasted a pastry better than what they make there. Sir, I won’t breathe a word.”

Alexis raised his eyebrows at the dance instructor, who merely shrugged, as if to say ‘If it works, it works’.

By the end of that day, Alexis still did not have the hang of it. Lucas, the dance teacher, sent the girl away but would not yet let the prince leave.

“Why do you think you are struggling with this?”

“Because I have not done it before, surely? Learning anything takes time.”

Lucas sighed. “You’re not wrong, but you are a fast learner. You should be doing better than this.”

“I can offer no explanation,” Alexis spoke a little apologetically.

“Well, I shall tell you what I think! I think you are focused on the wrong thing. You are not thinking about this in the right way. Your aim is not to have the lady dance perfectly. You are only to make sure that you dance impeccably, and neither lose your partner nor let her fall over. It does not matter if she dances a jig while you are trying to waltz!” He had been gesturing wildly; now he dropped his hands to his sides. “Can you do that?”

Could he? He would not know until he tried, but that was not an answer he would be allowed to give. “Yes. I will do better tomorrow.”

He turned to leave, but was called back again.

“One more thing. It would best if you could avoid letting your feet be stepped on. It leaves scuff marks on your shoes.”

He looked down, and his brightly polished shoes were indeed in a rather sorry state.

“Understood. Thank you, Lucas.”