Read Online Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare - Free Book Online Page B

don’t,” she faltered, having no idea what she was saying, “quite know how to waltz.”
    â€œThen I shall teach you,” James said, and a moment later they had whirled out onto the dance floor.
    â€œThank goodness you were free,” James said with frank cheerfulness as they moved among the other couples, searching for a space. “I was afraid I’d have to ask Catherine to dance, and all she talks about is how scandalous Matthew is.”
    â€œGlad to be of service,” said Cordelia, a bit breathless. “But I truly can’t waltz.”
    â€œOh, neither can I.” He grinned and spun to face her. She was so close to him, and they were touching , his hand on her forearm. “At least not well. Shall we agree to try not to mash each other’s toes?”
    â€œI can try,” Cordelia said, then gave a small squeak as he drew her into his arms. The room swam for a moment. This was James, her James, and he was holding her, his hand on her shoulder blade. He took her other hand and placed it firmly on his arm.
    And then they were off, and she was doing her best to follow. She had learned that much at least: how to be led in a dance, how to respond to your partner’s hinted movements. James danced well—nothing surprising there, given how graceful he was—and he made it easy to follow him.
    â€œNot bad,” James said. He blew at the lock of hair dangling over his forehead, but that only made it fall farther into his eyes. He grinned ruefully as Cordelia forced herself through sheer exercise of will not to reach up and push it back. “Still, always embarrassing when your parents dance better than you do.”
    â€œHumph,” Cordelia said. “Speak for yourself.” She caught sight of Lucie dancing with Matthew a few feet away. Lucie was laughing. “Maybe Catherine is in love with Matthew,” she suggested. “Maybe he holds a dark fascination for her.”
    â€œThat would be exciting. And I assure you, nothing excitinghas happened to the London Enclave in a very long time.”
    Dancing with James was its own reward, of course, but it occurred to Cordelia that it might also be useful. “I was just thinking how very many people there are in the Enclave, and how little I know of them. I know you and Lucie, of course.…”
    â€œShall I give you a bit of the tour of the rest of them?” he asked, as they executed a complicated turn. “Perhaps a few pointers on who everyone is will make you feel more at home?”
    She smiled. “It would, thank you.”
    â€œOver there,” he said, and indicated Ariadne and Charles, dancing together. Her wine-colored dress glowed under the lights. “Charles you know, and with him is Ariadne Bridgestock, his fiancée.”
    â€œI didn’t know they were engaged!”
    James’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “You know Charles is nearly assured of the position of Consul when his mother steps down after her third term. Ariadne’s father is the Inquisitor, a very advantageous political alliance for Charles… though I’m sure he loves her as well.”
    James didn’t sound as if he entirely believed that, though to Cordelia’s eyes, Charles was gazing down at his fiancée quite adoringly. She hoped James hadn’t become cynical. The James she remembered was anything but cynical.
    â€œAnd that must be Anna,” she said. It could not have been anyone else than the cousin Lucie had described in her letters: beautiful, fearless, always dressed in the finest clothes Jermyn Street had to offer. She stood laughing as she spoke with her father, Gabriel, near the door to the withdrawing room.
    â€œAnna indeed,” said James. “And there is her brother, Christopher, dancing with Rosamund Wentworth.”
    Cordelia moved her gaze to a slim boy in glasses she recognized from photographs. Christopher, she knew, was one of