In a circle, everyone linked each of their hand to the person on their left and right. They all took 8 steps to the left, then another 8 steps to the right. Then, they drop hands and set twice to the center, then step twice backing out of the center. They turned to face their partner, and set twice, made a single turn, repeat, then back again to their position.
All the while, Geoffrey's eyes never left Serena. They were all skipping and dancing with the music, and the rate of his heartbeat was ever increasing. Not because of the effort, but because of the sight she presented. Her face was turning a bit pink with the exertion, and as a man, he can't help but wonder if her blush ended there. So, despite him trying hard not to let his eyes trail downwards, he ultimately failed. She was wearing an off-shoulder dress and every time they neared the bonfire, the flames reflected on her pale decolletage. And whenever she skips, her breast bounced with her movement. In any other occasion, he would not let a girl affect him so. But Serena was not any other girl. She was his intended, and she will be his.
Serena tried to lay her worries behind and just go with the flow. She did everything she could think of to discourage him already and whatever she did, well, he just kept on interpreting them in whatever way he liked. Then again, how could she dissuade him when they were still engaged? She felt a bit guilty in doing this, but she had no choice. She must build up her career and have solid foundation or wait for Charlton to grow strong enough to ask for her hand, whichever comes first, before she can break the engagement.
Doing the siding of the dance where partners face each other, Serena had no choice but to look him in the eye. Seeing her finally look straight at him, he gave her a charming smile.
Gods, what do she do with him? She can not even hate him for trying to charm her. Besides, how could she blame him when his only fault was falling in love with the wrong person? She would also be a hypocrite to say that she did not feel flattered by his attention. However, what can she do? It's not like she can start a reverse harem like she dreamed of at the beginning. This was not some fantasy but now her reality. She loves Charlton and he was her choice. So, she can only be sorry to Geoffrey.
Not wanting to encourage him, she did not smile back. Not wanting to make him think that she was still affected by what he did earlier, she could not frown too. In the end, she just settled with a straight face, hoping that she's able to project indifference.
Anyway, they were now on the part of the arming. Facing each other, they linked their right elbows and turned each other all the way around. Then they backed away with 4 steps, move closer to each other again, and linked their left elbows doing the same actions.
Geoffrey seeing her make that face only found it funny. So, he chuckled while they were doing the arming. He was enjoying this. He was enjoying seeing all of her expressions. He wanted to kiss her and do all those sinful things his mind has been tempting him to do. However, he knew that he should not act on his desires. She was not ready for them, and he wanted to marry her first. He doesn't want to accidentally make their first child out of wedlock.
Serena saw his eyes crinkle and only felt more guilty. What can she do to stop this madness? Again, she decided that the best that she can do again is to avoid him, or try to act indifferently, and hopefully, the embers of his love? She does not think that it is love, but she doesn't know how to term it, will die down.
After the arming, the song was about to end, and everyone went back to link their hands forming a circle and repeat the initial steps of the song. Then, when the song ended, everyone let go of each other's hand to bow and acknowledge their partner.
--
Charlton watched everything that was unfolding from the sideline. He saw how Geoffrey eyed Serena, and he wanted nothing more than to gouge his eyes out and tear her away from him.
It was infuriating to feel this way. To be so powerless in the face of his own cousin that he can't even fight for the woman he loves. He knew that he should be feeling guilty as he was the other man, the third party, or whatever they call it, and a part of him still was, but he already made up his mind when he chose Serena. So, there was no turning back for him.
He clenched his trembling fist and took a deep breath to stop himself from storming over. He needs to calm down. Right now, if he does that, nothing good will come out of it. He must get used to seeing this until he garners enough power on his side.
He knew that he would try to make it up to his cousin in the future, but he was not stupid enough to think that everything will turn out to become a fairy tale. He has painted the words nicely when he told Serena that he will try to become indispensable to the crown, but in reality, saying those words were akin to treason.
He does not want to get ahead of himself, for right now, he has nothing but determination. He has analyzed all the possible ways that he can get Serena's hand, and in almost every scenario the conclusion was either social destruction or bloodshed. However, he has a plan, and he can only hope that that plan would work.
--
TBC