Jacob's Dance and Other Shocking Things

As soon as Aurelia left her brother's company, a swarm of young men buzzed around her, asking to sign her dance card. She fanned herself, inundated with all the attention. She turned down man after man until Mr. Browning pushed his way through to Aurelia and asked her to dance.

Aurelia accepted with a sigh of relief as he led her away from the eager young men. The string quartet began to play a fast-paced waltz, and Mr. Browning whisked her around the room.

"St. Clair seems rather fond of you," Jacob mused.

Aurelia's face reddened, "I have been spending time with him."

"It's not my place to pry," Mr. Browning apologized. "It's funny where life takes you when you grow up is all." He looked down at the girl he thought he would marry and his heart clenched at the thought of St. Clair marrying Aurelia.

"I thought I was going to marry you," Aurelia whispered her emotions betrayed in her voice. "You were the one who chose where life went, I had to find another path for my own happiness' sake."

Jacob's eyes softened as he held Aurelia slightly tighter, "Eve said you found someone else to marry, I was heartbroken when I heard. I only married Eve because she's so like you."

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, "I did no such thing."

"What about Mr. St. Clair?" Jacob looked perplexed. He couldn't understand what she was trying to tell him.

"That was after I found out that you were married," Aurelia gasped as the tears ran down her cheeks. "Evelina played you to get your money and to take away the person I loved most because she was jealous."

Jacob stopped rather suddenly and stared down at Aurelia his face twisting into anger. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't weird that I wasn't at your wedding? My best friends got married and I wasn't invited."

"Evelina-" He started.

"No, you were blind," Aurelia interrupted harshly. "She has you fooled."

Jacob's face darkened at this realization. "I was a fool, a blind fool." His heart hurt so much, he overlooked Evelina's greed in his sadness.

Aurelia nodded in agreement as the song came to an end. Jacob held her for a few moments and kissed her forehead, "I'm so sorry, Aurie, for everything." He bowed to Aurelia and walked away.

Aurelia had never felt more confused in her life, her heart felt so heavy. She went to find where Max went off to. Aurelia made her way through the crowds of guests and Willa came barreling into her.

"Sister, how is your night so far?" She asked eagerly.

Aurelia only shook her head and clutched her sister's hands.

"That bad?"

"Evelina is the devil and tricked Jacob into marrying her," Aurelia whispered.

Willa gasped, "She didn't."

"Jacob thought I had moved on," she explained as tears fell from her eyes. "I no longer hate him, only Evelina."

"Where does that leave you with Maximilian?" Willa asked cautiously.

Aurelia sighed, "Nothing really changed, I still have feelings for Max and he has done nothing to inspire distrust in me."

Willa nodded and they walked around the ballroom catching each other up on the night's activities thus far. Aurelia couldn't help but feel bad for Jacob. He had no idea how truly vile Evelina could be. She thought about Max, his candidness, and the passion he inspired in her.

Thinking back to when they were children Evelina would always steal Aurelia's ribbons and jewelry, saying they looked better on her. Who was she to argue? The fire in her heart raged, the sisterly love of friendship had Aurelia blinded for so long.

Her sister found Robert, and he swept her off for a lively cotillion playing. Aurelia continued to search for Max and walked onto the terrace to see her brother and Max engaged in conversation. Both men had furrowed brows and looked quite serious; they were so engrossed in conversation they didn't see Aurelia walking up.

"Gentlemen, I hope I'm not interrupting," She murmured, startling them.

"Aurelia, you should announce your presence next time," Ben barked at Aurelia.

She rolled her eyes, and Max gave Aurelia a sideways look.

"Speak of the devil, and she shall appear," Max grinned.

"Oh, I'm the devil now?" Aurelia said, feigning insult.

"You know you are," Benjamin grumbled.

"Miss Brooks, you are a devilish angel who has put me under her spell," Max quipped. She blushed at his forward words.

Ben shook his head, "you will be the death of me, Aurelia."

Aurelia giggled as Max asked her to dance once again, and Ben begrudgingly agreed. Max led her onto the dance floor in a sultry waltz where partners were pressed together, dangerously close by polite society standards. Aurelia pressed herself up against Max as he pulled her tighter to him. They clung to each other in intricate circles around the other dancers. She felt like they were the only ones dancing. Her eyes stayed locked on Max's.

"Did you dance with Browning to make me jealous?" Max teased.

Aurelia shook my head, "We needed to bury some unresolved issues we had."

Max sighed deeply in relief, "It didn't seem like you were that kind of woman."

She smiled at him and he held Aurelia closer to him.

"I want you and your siblings to come to my estate next week for dinner so we can talk about the future with my mother present," Max whispered to her, a severe look spread across his handsome face.

"We shall be there. I'm guessing that's what you and my brother were discussing before I interrupted?"

Max chuckled, "Yes we were, and can I just say I have never felt the way I do when I'm with you." Tenderness glowed from Max's big blue eyes as he held Aurelia.

"I know how you feel, Max," She sniffled, as Aurelia tried not to let her tears fall, happy tears but all the same.

They continued to dance, song after song, while the rest of the ball took note of how familiar they were with each other, especially those who were at last week's ball. The stares did not matter to Aurelia. All that mattered was that she was in Max's arms again. Aurelia's resolve to stave off any scandal momentarily waned.

As the last song drew to a close, a slow waltz, Aurelia stared into Max's eyes- completely smitten. She didn't care about how much her feet throbbed or how sore she would be in the morning; all Aurelia cared about was Max and being as close to him as allowed for unmarried couples. The butterflies in her stomach were at war with one another. As they flitted to and fro, the chaos caused heat to grow in Aurelia. She never felt this way with a man before.

Max took in Aurelia's reddened cheeks. He caressed one with his hand ever so slightly.

"I feel as if I will go mad if I don't see you again soon," Max declared, his words dripped with honey.

"Do you really feel that way?" Aurelia returned and placed her gloved hand on top of his on her cheek.

A determined look settled upon his face. Max took Aurelia's hand and led her away from the dance floor; she couldn't help but glance around to make sure no eyes followed them. A strange feeling waved over her as Aurelia trailed behind him as they weaved through the hallways of the manor to a quiet, unoccupied sitting room. The scandal of being alone together in a room could bring untold ruin to her or Max's reputation.