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hurt. She had been hurt. She was suffering now from the actions of her family. And yet she kept it hidden. Just as his own mother and father balanced their fears, she suffered the same. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to pry out of her, instead he asked, “Would you like to dance?”
    She blinked and then chuckled. “I beg your pardon?”
    “Come on, you,” he said as she brushed off the dirt and stood up. He held one hand out to her. “Come on, it will be fun. And you will enjoy every moment of your very first dancing lesson.”
    She rolled her eyes, set her apron upon the ground and clasped his hand. “So, now you are an instructor as well as an outrider?”
    He tugged her up and quickly captured her waist with his other hand. “I have many talents you do not know about.”
    “I cannot believe I am allowing you to do this,” she muttered.
    He smiled, his hazel eyes twinkling down at her. “You will love this.”
    “I believe I shall dread it.”
    “Ah!” he gasped, a mock wounded look going across his features. “How could you say such a thing? I am in high demand at all the balls.”
    “Are you really?” She grinned and raised an eyebrow. “This proves my theory of how royalty behaves, if it is you who is high demand and not the prince. I do not think I would like to go after all.”
    He pulled her in tighter and winked. “No getting out of it. You must come and suffer with me.”
    “Just remember if I destroy your feet, it is your own fault.”
    “I have been duly warned.” He laughed. “Now, shall we begin?”
    Ella bit her lip to stifle a giggle. “Yes, please.”
    “Good. Now on the count of three, I will begin to move. I will still be counting aloud, but all you need to do is look in my eyes—stay focused there and trust me. I will do the rest.”
    “Really? Is that really how you dance? The woman just follows the man?”
    “Yes, basically. And as long as you have a very good dancing partner.” He cleared his throat and waggled his brows. “As you do, this will be a piece of cake for you—almost like floating on air.”
    She did giggle that time. “Well, then, I believe this might not be so bad after all.”
    “Ella, my dear, you will soon learn being with me is the easiest thing in the world.”
    “Hmm…” She tilted her head. “And I thought beating you was the easiest thing in the world.”
    John chuckled. “Minx. Now, let us begin.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    ELLA HELD HER PLAIN dress out with one hand as John took a step forward with his right foot, pushing slightly against her waist. She stepped back with her left and then over to the right as he again guided her by pushing gently on her waist. She stumbled a couple of times, but he was correct, after a very slow start and somewhat awkward rhythm, they were able to begin to truly dance.
    “Do not look down, keep your eyes on me,” he said.
    She giggled and stared right into his captivating green-brown eyes with long blondish eyelashes as they stepped and spun. He really was quite handsome. He always had been. Even as a boy when he was angry with her for winning, he was still handsome. After a few minutes, she asked, “Why is it men seem to have the prettiest eyelashes? ‘Tis not fair.”
    Grinning, John replied as he increased his speed a bit, “So that is what you were thinking about just now? How long my lashes were? And here I was quite positive you were enamored with the way I dance.”
    Mirth trickled out in a long series of chuckles that made her lose her footing. “Pardon me!” she exclaimed as she tread upon his boots. “I am impressed with your dancing—or rather your ability to teach me to dance—however, I am more amazed with your eyelashes.
    “Of course you would be!”
    “You may take it as a compliment.”
    “How so?”
    The thoughts swirled within her mind. Because you are wonderful. Because your eyes are beautiful and I cannot look away. Her smile dropped. “Because it means a girl is