Chapter Eleven: May I Have This Dance?

----------------------------Author's Note------------------------

Hey Everyone just wanna say the Discord is mostly done. Want to make sure things are the way I want them and I should be dropping the link in the next chapter so keep a eye out for it. Hope to see you guys in it!

Edit: So just learned this will be featured in potential starlets category on July 2nd. Thank you guys so much!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Alex made the deal with Henry, he walked back to Raven and Sophia, who Raven was staring daggers at.

"What was that about, Alex?" Raven asked

"It's nothing to worry about; we just had something we needed to discuss." Alex answered her.

Raven didn't believe a word he said, but let it go for now.

After a few minutes of talking and eating some of the food offered to the guests, the instrumentalists who were playing the violin and piano changed up their songs. They had been playing calm and fancy music all night, but suddenly they were playing music that you would slow dance to.

Couples started walking onto the ballroom floor and dancing to the rhythm of the music.

Alex saw Edward peeking around the corner and staring at him and thought, "Ah, that's what you want; well, I might as well do it."

Alex walked over to the girls and held his hand out, saying, "May I have this dance?"

Sophia reached her hand out in response and followed Alex onto the ballroom floor. Many of the nobles took notice of this, and as usual, the gossip started.

"Oh my, is he dancing with the second daughter of the Goldburn family?"

"That he is; I wonder if they knew each other before the ceremony."

"Maybe they are now bethrothed."

"It wouldn't be surprising."

"They would be so beautiful together."

However, more than one person had a more uncomfortable expression.

Raven was staring at the two walking towards the floor with anger in her face. "Why did he ask her first? He doesn't even know her, so why would he...." Raven was thinking inside her head.

She put her hand on her chest and said, "Why...does my chest feel so tight?"

Veronica, who was nearby Raven, was also thinking "Dense Young Master."

Anna and Eve were watching Alex and Sophia and were talking.

"I bet he put Alex up to this." Anna said.

"Does Master Blackwood intend to marry Alex to that young girl?" Eve asked.

Anna sighed "More than likely, that bastard."

Alex and Sophia were now standing across from each other on the ballroom floor, with many eyes on him. Sophia was looking like she was starting to get anxious, so Alex had a plan to calm her down.

"Hey, trust me and relax. Just focus on the music and me; everything will be fine, I promise." Alex told Sophia.

Sophia nodded her head and made solid eye contact with Alex. She stared at his beautiful purple eyes and got lost in them.

"So pretty." she thought to herself.

Alex put one hand in Sophia's hand and his other hand on her waist. As he did so, Sophia put her hand on his shoulder.

"Uhm, I never was very good at dancing." Sophia said while blushing from embarrassment.

Alex smiled at her and said, "Just follow my lead."

Alex led her carefully through the dance; after awhile, she got used to the rhythm and started dancing perfectly in sync with him. The two were dancing beautifully at the center of the dancing crowd.

"Oh, my goddess, they look perfect." a noblewoman said, looking on.

"They aren't even looking at anything but each other," another noblewoman said.

"That's because they are drawn together. Look, their focus is only on themselves," a nobleman said.

Henry was looking at his daughter, who was lost in Alex's eyes.

"That's my girl!" he said as he took a sip from his wine glass. Henry smiled, knowing Alex was as interested in Sophia as she was in him.

After about five minutes, the dance ended as Alex and Sophia separated. Alex went back to his family, while Sophia said she needed some air and went to the patio. Alex saw Raven refusing to look at him. She looked very angry and confused, so Alex had to come up with an idea.

Alex sat down next to Raven and said, "Would you like to dance with me?"

"No." she said as plainly as Veronica's monotone responses.

"Why are you mad?" Alex asked her. "I don't understand what I did to upset you."

"Don't worry about it." Raven responded, still not looking at Alex.

"Fine then, I guess I'll dance with Veronica." He said this as he was getting up.

However, Raven grabbed his wrist and said, "Fine, one dance."

Alex smiled and led her to the ballroom floor; however, the instrumentalists had changed songs, so he went over to them and asked if they could slow things down a bit. They agreed and started playing a slow song.

Raven still had a conflicted look on her face; however, that was quickly replaced with a blush as Alex grabbed her waist and hand, the same way he did to Sophia. Raven, who knew more about dancing than Sophia, responded by putting her hand on his shoulder, and both started to move in perfect sync with each other, once again drawing the eyes of the crowd.

"Are the Blackwood siblings dancing with each other?"

"It seems so."

"Their black hair and purple eyes will always make them the center of attention."

"Wonder who will be the lucky man to marry his sister?"

Alex wanted to punch the guy who said that. "Sure as hell, won't be you." He thought to himself.

The two danced together, with Raven's face going from angry to pure happiness. Her smile was beautiful, and it was a sight Alex never wanted to leave his mind.

Once their dance ended, Alex danced with a few other young noble girls, along with Veronica and Eve. He had asked his mother, but she wasn't one for dancing. He pleaded, but she didn't budge.

At the end of the ceremony, the local nobles went home, while those who had a long carriage ride back to their homes took up rooms at the castle in order to leave in the morning.

Before Alex went back to his house, Sophia had caught up to him.

Her face was still blushing as she thanked him for the dance, however, before she left.

*Smooch*

She had kissed Alex on the cheek and ran off to her father. Alex touched his cheek and smiled as he walked back.

"What a cute girl." he thought to himself.

However, someone saw her kiss his cheek and was not happy at all.

"She not only took his first dance tonight but also kissed him on the cheek? Who does she think she is?" Raven thought to herself, returning to her angry face.

"Why does seeing her act so close to Alex make my chest feel tighter and tighter?"

Raven walked back to her house behind Alex, with Veronica accompanying her.

When everyone got back home, Alex started to head for bed. He was tired after a long day of dancing and acting respectful. However, before he could get to his room, he was pushed into another room.

Raven had shoved Alex into her room and pushed him onto the bed.

"Wait, hold up, what the hell is happening?" Alex thought to himself.

Raven looked at Alex and said, "As punishment for making me mad tonight, you will be sleeping here for the night."

"What?" Alex asked, "I still don't understand what I did!"

"Don't worry about it; the point is to get comfortable while I go change into my sleepwear. I'll have Veronica grab yours, and you can change after me."

After that, Raven went into her bathroom, and all Alex could think was, "I'm too tired to argue."

Raven had changed into basic pajamas while Veronica grabbed Alex's shirt he could sleep in and the expensive pants he wears. After all, who doesn't want to be comfy while sleeping?

The two lay down on the bed; Alex had his back turned to Raven as she did the same. Alex passed out almost immediately; however, Raven was anxious and thought to herself.

"Why did I do this?"