Chapter 24

“I will teach you how to dance,” he said. Naomi barely registered his comment before he swung her around and showed her where to place her hands. The music started, and it was different from the first piece. Naomi realized it was like a waltz, and the dancing positions were similar to a waltz as well. Tavik’s arm went around her while his other raised her hand aloft. Naomi’s other hand rested on his shoulder. He began to guide her with gentle pressure. She moved a little woodenly and struggled to relax to make the dancing easier. She felt like she was in the spotlight. Everyone kept their distance as if to better watch them. Naomi knew she wasn’t putting on a good show. Not very ladylike at all.

“Dear Calax, Lord Tavik gotten a common pig wench.” Naomi’s back stiffened in response to the overheard comment. She peeked up at Tavik to see if he had heard the comment, but he showed no indication that he had. Naomi tried harder to learn the dance steps, but her nerves and seething resentment of the anonymous insult made her move jerkily.

“The way to vex them is to enjoy yourself,” he murmured.

So he had heard the comment. Naomi set her jaw, and she nodded imperceptibly. She renewed her effort to relax and soon had the moves of the dance learned and was able to follow Tavik without trouble.

“You look very lovely tonight,” he said, breaking the silence between them again.

She gave him a polite smile in acknowledgement of his compliment. “I think Yula wishes to vex Mrs. Boon by doing her job well,” she replied.

Tavik chuckled lightly and stopped. He tilted his head down to her, and Naomi got the feeling that the light moment passed before it could be fully enjoyed. She stared into the dark holes for his eyes. “About this afternoon…” Tavik said, but he trailed off.

Naomi raised an eyebrow as she waited for Tavik to finish his statement. She had a sinking feeling that she was not going to like what he had to say. She had berated herself for what had transpired during lunch, but she did not exactly want to hear Tavik had done the same.

“I apologize for breaking our agreement,” he finally finished.

Naomi blinked at Tavik a moment in surprise. That was right. She had made him swear not to expect any bedroom fun from her, and he had basically taken advantage of her while she was tied up and blindfolded, never mind the fact that she had been a cheering participant.

Naomi dropped her head as the blush crept over her cheeks and as she tried to think of how to respond to his apology. If she forgave him, he could construe it as an invitation to try to get hot and heavy with her again, and in confusion, she realized that she was not entirely upset by that idea. What to do, she wondered. She worried her bottom lip as she scrambled for a way to reply, but the music stopped before she could formulate a diplomatic response. Tavik did not prod her for an answer, and for the moment, Naomi assumed that her silence was answer enough. She followed Tavik, but instead of going back to the seats, Tavik took them to the doors. It looked like he was ready for them to leave. Naomi was glad.

They walked from the hall up the stairs back to their rooms. He held her bedroom door open for her. She went inside and faced him. He bowed his head and closed the door with him still in the hall. Naomi slumped once the door was closed. As she turned to bed, she shrugged out of her finery and removed her jewelry.

Tavik’s silence had unnerved her, but she couldn’t blame him for it. She had not even managed a thank you for the apology and merely a shy nod for farewell. Next to her, Tavik had been the chatty one. Naomi fell into bed happy that the day was finally over. She tried not to dwell on the fact that she had no clue what the next day would bring.

That night, Naomi dreamt the unicorn met her in the great hall. Music began for them to dance. The unicorn bowed low, and she curtsied back, but as they began to move, Naomi remembered that she did not know how to dance and faltered. The unicorn pranced in step to the music, but Naomi could only stand awkwardly unsure of where to move. The unicorn danced away.

Yula woke Naomi the next morning. Naomi felt bleary eyed and grumpy. She became grumpier when she reminded herself there was no possibility of coffee with breakfast. How was she to survive her adventure without the assistance of caffeine? To further torture herself, she ticked off in her mind other amenities that she did not have: indoor plumbing, telephones, the internet, television, and worst of all no chocolate. Naomi felt she was doomed, and her crabbiness grew.

Yula reminded Naomi gently that she had her first riding lesson that morning. Naomi added another item to her list: automobiles. Dressed warmly in a plain gown and shoes, Naomi went down to the stables with Yula to begin her riding lesson. Geoff, the stable master was waiting with one of the draft horses.

The stable master had a red face from the sun and an easy grin. Naomi could only muster a grimaced smile to give back to him.

“This, milady, is Stomper. Don’t let his size worry you. He’s the biggest softie there is. I thought we would start on him if that’s all right with the lady.”

Naomi lifted her hand to the horse’s muzzle in greeting. Stomper sniffed her hand and blew warm breathes of air into it. “Here, give him this. He’ll warm to you real quick.” He handed her a carrot, which Naomi dutifully offered. Stomper took the carrot happily from her hand, and as he munched it contentedly, Naomi grew bolder and petted the horse’s neck. She began to warm to the horse.

With Geoff’s assistance, she mounted. “Now, just relax and get your bearings. Go with the horse.”

Naomi sat on the back of Stomper as Geoff led the horse around the courtyard. They did several wide circles of the courtyard, and she hadn’t broken anything. She considered her first lesson a stirring success.

“You’re getting the hang of it, milady.”

“Oh yes, if you’re around to lead him, riding is an absolute breeze.”

“You’ll be holding the reins soon enough, don’t worry. I can see you’ll be a fine horsewoman.”

“That’s not what my husband tells me. He despaired that not even you would have enough patience for me.”

Geoff chuckled. “I don’t know anything about that, milady. You’re doing fine.”

Naomi smiled but knew she still had a lot to learn before she would be able to manage a horse on her own.

“You know, a unicorn will never let you ride him. That will be a sip of wine and a piece of cheese, please.”

Naomi fell off her horse.

Continue to Chapter 25.