The moment when the stars fell over the count's estate (5)
- There is a fountain ahead. Maybe we can sit there for a while?
- Fine.
There was nowhere to sit. Finding no other way out, I sat him down on the edge of the fountain, and I sat down next to him. I felt the water splashing behind us. She felt cold. We were both in pajamas, so we could easily get cold. I thought about wrapping him in my shawl. But when I did, he shook his head.
- No, it’s not necessary.
– You are dressed lightly, you are definitely cold, put it on.
“I don’t need it, put it on yourself.”
–...Your body is weak.
I grumbled worriedly, and his expression instantly became stern. He takes off his shawl and throws it into my hands. After that, he seemed to calm down a little.
– Do you feel better?
- Yes.
– What nightmare did you have today?
– I dreamed of the day when I lost my sight.
I closed my mouth, unable to ask any more questions. When the conversation died down, the silence was broken only by the sound of the running water of the fountain. I started pumping my legs, and he looked into space.
“I couldn’t sleep because the memories of the party kept coming over me.
- Why?
“Because I had so much fun, I still feel excited.”
Even now, when I close my eyes, I can still see the bright hall and hear the music playing. No, now I see and hear it even with my eyes open. I smiled softly.
– I have never worn such a dress before. No, I've never even seen anything so beautiful. Violet offered it to me as a gift, but I refused, it seemed to me that it didn’t suit me, and it was also too expensive.
“Violet has so many dresses that it’s impossible to count them.” No one will judge you if you get one of them.
“But I won’t be able to wear it.”
Of course this dress was beautiful. This is the kind of outfit every girl dreams of wearing at least once in her life, but now that I tried it on, it seemed to have lost its beauty. The dress would have shone so much brighter if Violet had worn it.
- I'm happy with what I have.
– You are not greedy for clothes.
“I just think everyone should wear what suits them.”
And even if I still had it, I would have nowhere to wear it and no one to show it to. So it's better if Violet wears this dress. I was glad just to be able to try it on.
– It was so difficult to dance in it! It was necessary to remember the movements, walking like this and like that.
I hesitantly repeated the movements Lucas had taught me that day. He showed me how my hands should be positioned. Violet moved gracefully, not to mention Lucas and Ethan, and even Vincent, who couldn't see, danced beautifully. But for me it was difficult.
- Ugh, it seems like I'll never learn to dance.
I stood up again and tried to recreate the dance from the party. My legs immediately became confused. I shook my head. Then it only happened by chance that I got together with Lucas. And when I danced with Violet, it was so informal that I didn’t think about it and just had fun.
– But Sir Lucas is a really good dancer!
I remembered how smooth his steps were, in contrast to my clumsy ones, and how he led me without hesitation. It even seemed to me that I was doing a good job too. My delight faded when I realized how many times I had stepped on his feet.
While I was grumbling to myself, Vincent stood up and extended his hand to me. I froze in surprise, looking down at his fingertips.
- Do you want something?
- Give me your hand.
- What?
- Let's dance.
- I? S-with me? – I stammered. Vincent nodded. - Why?
- Because I want to dance.
- B-but why?..
-You don't like it?
- Not exactly, but... But...
I stared at his hands and hesitated. I was never taught to dance, I never had the opportunity to learn. Even dancing with Lucas, I stepped on his foot so many times. He'll probably be in pain all night. Lucas tried not to pay attention to it, but I could see that he was in pain.
I hesitated, unable to accept his hand. Vincent, who was waiting for me, put his other hand behind his back and leaned over slightly.
– Would you like to dance with me?
-...
His unwavering emerald eyes looked at me. I clenched my fingers convulsively.
“What if I’m not good enough and I step on your foot?”
- I will forgive you once.
– What if I step twice?
- I'll think about it. Later I’ll decide what to do with you.
- For the sake of general peace, let's not dance. I value my life.
- Kidding. You can step on it.
He stands there with his arm outstretched. And he says to decide quickly.
- I'm not going to dance anywhere else. You can just keep a good memory of it.
“You can’t dance as bad as you say.” Are you that unsure of yourself?
- Yes. I'm really a terrible dancer.
At this moment I only answered honestly, but he did not back down.
“You just have to follow my movements.”
“But I really, really can’t.”
- Fine. I will dance slowly so you can keep up, but you will have to look around. I can't see, so you'll have to help me.
He snapped his fingers. Vincent had no intention of backing down. The word “Come on” was read in his gaze. I swallowed dryly and looked at him. My thoughts were both simple and complicated. The excitement I felt during the day returned.
I took a deep breath. Pressing one hand to my chest, I took his hand and led him to the other side of the fountain.
As we stood face to face, my mouth went dry from nervousness. He put one hand on my waist and took mine with the other and pulled me closer to him. I put my hand on his shoulder, leaning back slightly. I had already danced once, so getting into position was easy.
He stepped aside. My legs clumsily followed suit. This was the beginning. Our bodies spun in unison, and when he walked in the opposite direction, I moved with him. I awkwardly kept pace with him, and he led me, as promised, very slowly.
Lucas pointed me in the right direction whenever I was lost. But Vincent didn't tell me to do this or that. Instead, he just calmly led me so that I could follow him on my own. I easily kept up with him, although with some delay.
After the day's dancing, my movements became a little smoother, but I still couldn't call myself a good dancer. Besides, I didn’t have a nice dress or nice shoes on. Just a white nightgown, a shawl to ward off the cold, and a pair of cheap shoes to match. He, too, was wearing pajamas and a robe, not a tailcoat.
If anyone saw us, they might think we were ghosts and scream. I giggled at the thought and Vincent quirked an eyebrow as if asking why I was laughing.
“If someone saw you and me, they would scream,” I said.
“He would think we were ghosts.”
- Yes, hee hee.
I laughed because our thoughts converged.
The shirt fluttered and pressed against my skin. My gaze was fixed on the sky, where the stars were falling.
The world sparkled. The stars falling on the mansion became a chandelier, the sound of the fountain became music. This is a hall and we are dancing. It was no different from the hall during the day.
The sensations of this moment again delighted me.
Stars fell from the sky and seemed to envelop him and me. The feeling of the touch of the fabric, the warmth of our clasped hands, the cool breeze in my hair, and the man standing in front of me seemed different to me than usual.
Everything around me began to shine.
It was joyful.
And it was so much fun that I beamed with delight.
-You dance well.
- And you keep up with me.
- That's because you are a good teacher.
– Or because you are a good student.
I shrugged. But we all make mistakes when we let our guard down - I stepped on his foot.
- I'm sorry.
He frowned. I quickly removed my foot, but he couldn't help but complain about it.
- Too slow.
– Decide already whether you criticize me or praise me.
- When I try to compliment you, you immediately lose your guard.
- Everyone can make mistakes, but you are immediately rude.
I muttered, and he shrugged. Meanwhile we were still dancing around.
- I'm not rude, I'm just honest.
- You shouldn't be so honest.
“My charm rests on this honesty.”
– Why do you say such strange things? By the way, Miss Violet was surprised that she had never seen you grumpy before. Don't you understand that not everyone knows about your bad character?
-You are impudent.
– Insolence is my charm trait.
- I know. But how dare you open your mouth in my presence?
“I do this only out of deep respect for you.”
He accepted it without saying a word. We suddenly laughed. Our light laughter echoed around us. If anyone had heard him, he might have gotten scared and run away. A man and woman spin around in the moonlight, laughing hysterically.
A strong wind blew. I bowed my head under the currents of air, closing my eyes and enjoying the sensations.
Suddenly I lost my balance.
- Huh?
- Hm?
He began to fall back, and I followed him. We fell almost instantly and ended up in a fountain.
Water filled my nostrils. I waved my arms and legs and felt the bottom. Exhaling, I suddenly started coughing. I came to my senses after a long cough, smearing the tears that had appeared on my face.
I looked around in bewilderment. We actually fell into the fountain. I was so focused on dancing that I forgot to look around. I looked at the dumbfounded Vincent.
- You.
- Sorry... Apchi!
-...
I sneezed and sat down, my clothes wet and heavy. The breeze that had previously been cool now seemed icy. The silence around was filled with the sounds of sneezing.
But some of them weren't mine. Vincent also sneezed, sitting down like me.
We sneezed in unison and looked at each other. We both looked like wet mice.
And then we burst out laughing.
I laughed first, followed by him. For some reason I couldn't stop laughing.