Read With Stars Underfoot (Adventures in the Liaden Universe®) for Free Online Page A

like Daav when you do that," she said, reaching around him for the cider bottle.
      "There's punch, if you'd rather," Pat Rin murmured, and Miri laughed as she poured cider into a cup.
      "Think I don't know better'n Audrey's punch?" she asked.
      "The wine, then," Pat Rin countered. "It's quite pleasant."
      She sent a sparkling glance up into his face. "Oughta be, considering it came out of our cellar." She sipped. "That's good," she sighed, and gestured vaguely with the cup. "Only way we could get Shan to come was to promise there'd be something drinkable on the table."
      "Doubtless," Pat Rin said dryly, and she laughed again.
      "Cut a fine figure out on the floor," she commented, her eyes on the languid dancers. "Bet you could dance all night, if there was need."
      It was his turn to laugh, softly. "I hope that I do not shame my host or my lady," he murmured. "But I have long since given over dancing until dawn."
      "Not quite 'til dawn, I'm guessing," Miri said, as the music swept into a crescendo, the 'chora's voice suddenly and achingly clear. She knocked back the last of her cider and put the cup on the table.
      Pat Rin glanced at his cup, finished the last swallow and thought about pouring another before he went in search of Andy Mack, and—
      "Over here!" Miri called, and put her hand on his arm.
      Pat Rin went still. "What?" he snapped.
      "Easy. It ain't nothin' more than this special dance Audrey's has it in her head we all gotta do together. Family thing."
      "I have already danced—"
      "One more!" Villy cried, arriving in a swirl of exuberance. "You have to, sir! You're the Boss!"
      "Ah." He considered the boy's flushed face. "How if I appoint Boss Calhoon to stand up in my place?"
      "Won't work," Miri said. "Penn gets the least bit warm and his glasses fog up on him."
      "Besides not being family?" he asked, but she only grinned, and nodded toward the floor, where stood surely all the members of Clan Korval present at the party, saving herself, Val Con, and Lady Kareen, who was at the edge of the rug, between Clonak ter'Meulen and Andy Mack, her face so perfectly bland that Pat Rin shivered.
      "Miri..." He began, but she was gone, walking toward the group assembled in a loose circle at the center of the floor.
      "Come on, sir!" Villy tugged his hand. "They're waiting for you!"
      It was on the edge of his tongue to snap that they might wait for him until the snow melted. However, good manners overcame bad grace, and he allowed himself to be led out onto the floor. Hoots and whistles came from some of the spectators on the rug, and Lady Kareen's face grew blander still.
      At the edge of the circle, Villy relinquished his hand, bowed his liquid, meaningless bow, and skipped back toward the refreshment table.
      Pat Rin gave a sigh—and another as Natesa came forward to put her hand on his arm.
      "A round dance, my love," she murmured, as she eased him into the circle. "Audrey has asked us most especially to honor her."
      If one's host desired it, there was nothing more to be said. And certainly he was able for one more dance. Still... He looked into Natesa's eyes.
      "Do I know this dance, I wonder?" he murmured.
      She smiled. "I believe you will find that you do," she answered, and guided him to a gap in the circle between Nova and Priscilla. Having seen him situated, she moved away, slipping into place between Luken and Daav, and smiling at him across the circle.
      The drummer beat out a rapid tattoo, sticks flashing, and struck the cymbal a ringing blow, the sound quickly muffled by a cunning hand on the rim.
      The room stilled admirably as Ms. Audrey walked out onto the floor, head high, back straight, as proud and as easy as any delm might