He watched the young witch move through the room, pausing to speak here and dance there. Now and then her shining black eyes found him before darting away. They moved closer, stalking her through the ball gowns and frock coats like a tiger slipping through tall grass.
The music changed, and the dancers obediently separated into groups of eight, one couple at each corner. They ended up one group over from his new prey— was it his imagination, or had she begun to move away as she saw him come closer?—but that was easily remedied. The dancers stepped and turned to the music, and the man let them carry him and the girl toward each other. He watched until she was just behind him, and then he spun.
"May I cut in?" he asked flatly, not waiting for an answer as he pulled her into his arms. Her partner stammered something and then backed away. The man didn't bother to watch him go.
I could see the tension between them.
