Read Online dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon by linda k hopkins - Free Book Online Page B

something in her ear before turning and walking away.
    “That’s Lady Blanche,” Keira said, nodding her head in the woman’s direction. “And on either side of the queen are Lady Joan and Lady Elizabeth. I’ve heard that Lady Joan is getting married, so she will be retiring to the country soon.”
    “What will the queen do when Lady Joan leaves?” Anna asked.
    “She will find someone to take her place. There is no shortage of young women clamoring for the chance to serve the queen and extend their family fortunes.”
    “I think it would be great fun to live at the palace and be part of the royal court.”
    Keira shuddered. “I cannot think of anything worse. I don’t think I would enjoy all the palace intrigues swirling around court. I prefer the simple life.”
    Anna laughed. “Your life has been anything but simple since you met Aaron.”
    “True.” Keira glanced at Aaron. “But living with a dragon is far less dangerous than living at court.”
    A waving hand on the other side of the lawn caught Anna’s eye. It was Kathleen, weaving her way through the crowds to reach Anna’s side.
    “Thank goodness I found you again,” Kathleen said as she neared Anna. “There are hundreds of people here!”
    “Let’s dance,” Anna said, grabbing Kathleen’s arm and pulling her into a line of dancers that was forming across the lawn. Her feet faulted slightly when she recognized the Basse Danse, the court dance she had danced with Jack so many years before, but she pulled herself together in an instant, and following the other dancers, easily executed the steps.
    One dance led to another, sometimes carols, which were danced in circles or long lines between the trees, other times the line dances, where couples danced in pairs. Anna danced with Aaron and Favian, admiring the lightness of foot exhibited by the dragons, and allowed the mathematician who sat next to her at supper to escort her into one of the formations. He was quite a nice young man, Anna thought, as long as he didn’t speak. When no men offered themselves, Anna danced with Kathleen, who remained in the shadows except when Anna pulled her onto the lawn.
    It was close to midnight when Anna went in search of refreshment. She had not seen Kathleen for a while, but as she headed towards the table with jugs of wine and ale, she heard her name being called, and turned to see Kathleen hurrying towards her.
    “My father says it is time for us to go, but I wouldn’t leave until I had a chance to bid you goodbye.”
    “Goodbye, Kathleen,” Anna said with a smile. “It was most fortuitous that you bumped into me this evening.”
    “Oh, yes! I would have been quite miserable, otherwise.” Kathleen paused, dropping her gaze to the ground. “Will you call on me when you come into the city?”
    “Of course I will,” Anna said. Kathleen looked up with a smile of relief.
    “Goodnight.”
    Turning back to the table, Anna poured herself a cup of wine. The crowds had become loud and rowdy, and more than once Anna’d had to fend off the attentions of an overeager dance partner. Beyond the crowds she could see the river, shimmering in the lamp light. As she watched, a slight breeze stirred the water, making the light dance over the uneven surface. It looked peaceful, a far cry from the unruly crowds. Replacing her cup on the table, she headed towards the banks, away from the jostling masses. She was eager to put a little distance between herself and the crowds, but she stopped before she went too far, unwilling to move beyond calling distance. It had grown a little quieter, and the occasional plop marked the entry of a frog into the water, while crickets chirped, their quick, shrill sounds repeating each time they leaped. A weeping willow hung over the water and she headed towards it, watching the faint ripples made by the branches dangling over the water. An owl flew low over the river, then swerved towards some unseen target. She watched for a moment before