As Helen and Joseph left, Aria turned towards Jacob with a smile.
"Care for a dance?" she asked.
Jacob made a horrified face and shook his head. "Oh no!! I'm barely able to move in this thing. I'm afraid I'll trip over my own feet and take you down with me."
Aria chuckled, "That would be quite a spectacle, wouldn't it? So, what do you say we find some quiet spot where neither one of us has to dance?"
Jacob sighed, "I think I'll do that. But that's probably not a option for you." Saying this he nodded in direction of a young man, who had just then approached the two and bowed in a very gentlemanly manner.
"May I have this dance?" he asked.
Aria looked helplessly at Jacob who whispered, "Go on. He seems like a nice guy. Don't break his heart."
Aria rolled her eyes and was about to reply when a voice rung from behind the young man, "Very sorry, but Aria has already promised a dance to me."
The man turned around and Aria peered from behind him. She almost let out a groan to see the person.
Stephen was standing behind the young man with a smug expression on his face.
The man turned to look at Aria with evident confusion on his face.
Aria's heart melted upon seeing his expression and she said, "Actually, that is true. But I would love to dance the next dance with you."
The young man looked like a happy child as he beamed and walked away.
Stephen walked forward and laughed, "You're too kind Aria."
Aria crossed her arms and sighed, "Maybe I am. Now come on, let's go."
During the dance. . . . .
Stephen was a great dancer and Aria had already displayed her skills during the previous dance. So the two danced very much in harmony. Aria was thinking that dancing with Stephen wasn't as bad as she had thought it would be when he spoke, "Is there anything you can't do?"
It took Aria a minute to realise he was talking about her dancing skills and she smiled, "Nothing that humans have done so far."
Stephen sighed with a smile, "I wish I could be as vain as you."
Aria rolled her eyes and was about to retort when Stephen suddenly let go of her waist and hand.
Aria frowned in surprise but the next moment it turned to admiration as she saw Stephen catch hold of a nearby woman who was about to fall.
The woman had apparently tripped over her own dress and would have greatly embarrassed herself had not Stephen caught her.
After making sure the woman was all right, Stephen walked over to Aria and scrunched up his face, "Damn! There goes my chance of dancing with you."
Aria laughed, "If you're thinking your regret will make me consent to another dance you're sadly mistaken."
Stephen pouted and Aria continued, "But keep up the good behaviour and I might someday actually dance with you without you having to blackmail me."
Stephen sighed, "I wonder when that day will come. Anyway, I'm really sorry about spoiling the dance."
Aria shook her head and turned around after saying goodbye to Stephen.