A Time to Dance--Part 4

“Lady Leda, you grow more beautiful each time I see you,” Aiden Vesca stated, bowing as he placed a lingering kiss on her hand.

“How kind of you to think so,” she murmured, hoping her smile remained polite. With a small tug, she managed to dislodge her hand from his grip and turned to Aiden’s father. “Mayor Vesca, I hope your journey from Boetia went well.”

The older man bowed. “Indeed, it did, my lady. If you were otherwise unoccupied, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to give Aiden and myself a tour of the palace. I understand that there have been many changes since our last visit here.”

“My pleasure,” she replied. “Please, follow me.”

As Leda led them through the palace, she absently commented on some recent minor changes to this room or that corridor. Several times, Aiden tried to be closer to her, threatening to trip over her skirt. With practiced grace, she always managed to evade the younger man’s maneuvers. However, once Leda caught a glance of Mayor Vesca’s disapproving face. She wondered if it was for Aiden’s ineptness at impressing the heir apparent or her avoidance of the young man.

Finally, with a great sense of relief, Leda concluded the tour. “I will have someone show you to your rooms now, gentleman. I’m sure you will want to freshen up before the banquet and ball tonight.”

“Actually, my lady, I have an appointment with the Prince and Princess,” Mayor Vesca stated. “I do know that Aiden was hoping to see the famous gardens the palace boasts.”

Receiving a pointed look from his father, Aiden immediately bowed. “I would be honored if you would accompany me, my lady.”

Leda nodded. “Certainly. Mayor Vesca, I hope to see you at tonight’s festivities.”

The older man bowed and left his son with the future princess. With a silent sigh, Leda once more pulled her skirt out of harm’s way as Aiden placed himself at her side. ‘Let’s get this over with,’ she thought as she led him to the royal gardens.

* * * * *

“Paul, perhaps it’s time for you to go and rescue Leda,” Rand said, looking out the window.

The younger man immediately lifted his head up, forgetting about the papers he had been sorting through. “Your Highness?”

“I believe Leda has had enough of Aiden Vesca’s company,” Rand stated, still watching the scene below in the garden. “I thought that Brenden Vesca was a smarter man than to try to force his son upon Leda. I wish there was some tactful way to inform all the mayors that Leda will not be forced into marriage, not matter how profitable the resulting alliance.”

“I didn’t realize that it had gotten that bad, sir,” Paul admitted as he joined the monarch at the window. “Leda does seem to be losing her patience with the fumbling Aiden. Should I join them?”

Rand nodded. “If you will, Paul, I would appreciate it.”

“No problem, Your Highness,” Paul said, already leaving the room. ‘My pleasure.’

* * * * *

“Well,” Leda sighed, “I think that is about it.”

She turned around, only to bump into Aiden. With sweat-slicked hands, he grabbed her arms to steady her, preventing her fall. Leda sensed his head reaching down towards her and she pulled herself away from the young man.

“Let me show you to your room,” Leda said, her tone ordering no discussion. Without looking back, she whirled around. In an angry huff, she marched back to the palace.

As she led him down a corridor, she heard Aiden clear his throat. “My lady, I wish to apologize for my behavior. I meant nothing by it.”

Leda paused before slowly turning back around to face him. At his apologetic expression, she softened. She had probably been a little too defensive due to Mayor Vesca’s earlier behavior.

“I’m sorry that I’ve overreacted,” she said.

Aiden walked slowly toward her. “You are too kind, Lady Leda.”

Without warning, he pushed Leda against a pillar and kissed her roughly. For a moment, she was so startled that she didn’t fight back. Then, furious, she moved to push him off of her. He quickly grabbed her wrists and forced her arms to her sides with surprising speed. She tried kicking at him but her legs became tangled in the layers of her skirt.

* * * * *

Paul froze as he entered the corridor. ‘Leda doesn’t need rescuing after all,’ he thought, watching the scene before him.

Leda and Aiden were engaged in a heated kiss. He almost turned away in disgust when he noticed that Leda was fighting in Aiden’s embrace. Seeing red, Paul stormed down the hallway.

“Get off of her!”

Aiden turned in the direction of the angry voice. Without warning, Paul grabbed him by the shoulder and punched him cleanly in the jaw. Aiden stumbled back with a groan, cradling his injured face. Due to the noise, several of the palace guards burst into the corridor.

“Get him out of here,” Paul ordered.

Leda straightened her skirt and stood between the two men. “Escort him to his father, Mayor Vesca.”

As the corridor cleared, Paul studied his friend. “Are you all right?”

“He just caught me off guard,” she stated, continuing to straighten her dress. “I’m fine.”

Wrapping a protective arm around his shoulder, Paul steered her out of the hallway. “Let’s get out of here.”


Part IV “Lady Leda, you grow more beautiful each time I see you,” Aiden Vesca stated, bowing as he placed a lingering kiss on her hand. “How kind of you to think so,” she murmured, hoping her smile remained polite. With a small tug, she managed to dislodge her hand from his grip and turned to Aiden’s father. “Mayor Vesca, I hope your journey from Boetia went well.” The older man bowed. “Indeed, it did, my lady. If you were otherwise unoccupied, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to give Aiden and myself a tour of the palace. I understand that there have been many changes since our last visit here.” “My pleasure,” she replied. “Please, follow me.” As Leda led them through the palace, she absently commented on some recent minor changes to this room or that corridor. Several times, Aiden tried to be closer to her, threatening to trip over her skirt. With practiced grace, she always managed to evade the younger man’s maneuvers. However, once Leda caught a glance of Mayor Vesca’s disapproving face. She wondered if it was for Aiden’s ineptness at impressing the heir apparent or her avoidance of the young man. Finally, with a great sense of relief, Leda concluded the tour. “I will have someone show you to your rooms now, gentleman. I’m sure you will want to freshen up before the banquet and ball tonight.” “Actually, my lady, I have an appointment with the Prince and Princess,” Mayor Vesca stated. “I do know that Aiden was hoping to see the famous gardens the palace boasts.” Receiving a pointed look from his father, Aiden immediately bowed. “I would be honored if you would accompany me, my lady.” Leda nodded. “Certainly. Mayor Vesca, I hope to see you at tonight’s festivities.” The older man bowed and left his son with the future princess. With a silent sigh, Leda once more pulled her skirt out of harm’s way as Aiden placed himself at her side. ‘Let’s get this over with,’ she thought as she led him to the royal gardens. * * * * * “Paul, perhaps it’s time for you to go and rescue Leda,” Rand said, looking out the window. The younger man immediately lifted his head up, forgetting about the papers he had been sorting through. “Your Highness?” “I believe Leda has had enough of Aiden Vesca’s company,” Rand stated, still watching the scene below in the garden. “I thought that Brenden Vesca was a smarter man than to try to force his son upon Leda. I wish there was some tactful way to inform all the mayors that Leda will not be forced into marriage, not matter how profitable the resulting alliance.” “I didn’t realize that it had gotten that bad, sir,” Paul admitted as he joined the monarch at the window. “Leda does seem to be losing her patience with the fumbling Aiden. Should I join them?” Rand nodded. “If you will, Paul, I would appreciate it.” “No problem, Your Highness,” Paul said, already leaving the room. ‘My pleasure.’ * * * * * “Well,” Leda sighed, “I think that is about it.” She turned around, only to bump into Aiden. With sweat-slicked hands, he grabbed her arms to steady her, preventing her fall. Leda sensed his head reaching down towards her and she pulled herself away from the young man. “Let me show you to your room,” Leda said, her tone ordering no discussion. Without looking back, she whirled around. In an angry huff, she marched back to the palace. As she led him down a corridor, she heard Aiden clear his throat. “My lady, I wish to apologize for my behavior. I meant nothing by it.” Leda paused before slowly turning back around to face him. At his apologetic expression, she softened. She had probably been a little too defensive due to Mayor Vesca’s earlier behavior. “I’m sorry that I’ve overreacted,” she said. Aiden walked slowly toward her. “You are too kind, Lady Leda.” Without warning, he pushed Leda against a pillar and kissed her roughly. For a moment, she was so startled that she didn’t fight back. Then, furious, she moved to push him off of her. He quickly grabbed her wrists and forced her arms to her sides with surprising speed. She tried kicking at him but her legs became tangled in the layers of her skirt. * * * * * Paul froze as he entered the corridor. ‘Leda doesn’t need rescuing after all,’ he thought, watching the scene before him. Leda and Aiden were engaged in a heated kiss. He almost turned away in disgust when he noticed that Leda was fighting in Aiden’s embrace. Seeing red, Paul stormed down the hallway. “Get off of her!” Aiden turned in the direction of the angry voice. Without warning, Paul grabbed him by the shoulder and punched him cleanly in the jaw. Aiden stumbled back with a groan, cradling his injured face. Due to the noise, several of the palace guards burst into the corridor. “Get him out of here,” Paul ordered. Leda straightened her skirt and stood between the two men. “Escort him to his father, Mayor Vesca.” As the corridor cleared, Paul studied his friend. “Are you all right?” “He just caught me off guard,” she stated, continuing to straighten her dress. “I’m fine.” Wrapping a protective arm around his shoulder, Paul steered her out of the hallway. “Let’s get out of here.”


Part V Chronicles