instruction today; I just
want to have a look at you. Relax. Have fun. Pretend I’m not even here. Let
me see what I’ve got to work with.” He picked up a CD and inserted it into the
stereo system. A waltz began to play from the speakers.
“May
I have this dance?” Guillermo bowed.
Juliette
nodded. “Of
course.”
Guillermo
placed his right hand on the small of her back and grasped her right hand in
his left. He began to move gracefully to the beat of the music, leading her
effortlessly along the dance floor. When she stood this close, she could smell
his scent, an intoxicating blend of his sweat and cologne. He was handsome, there was no doubt about it.
Careful,
girl!
He
led her confidently through the entire waltz and into the next piece — a bright
Mozart symphony in quarter time. As they moved further away from the stage out
into the middle of the room, Juliette spoke first.
“You
seem to be enjoying yourself.”
“Why
wouldn’t I be? I’m dancing with a beautiful woman.” Guillermo beamed with
satisfaction.
“Hmmmm,”
Juliette smirked.
“You
know, if you could stop glaring at me for 15 seconds that would be wonderful.”
“We’ll
see about that. Where’s my cell phone?”
“It’s
safe,” he grinned.
“If
I find out that you’ve tampered with it, the deal is off,” she snapped.
“Don’t
worry, it’s fine,” he assured her. “I’ll have one of the maids bring it to you
this evening, all right?”
“That
would be most welcome, your highness , ” she replied sarcastically.
“Now,
now. I told you when we were dancing last time. Call me Guillermo.”
She
felt her cheeks blush. “Fine,
Guillermo.”
They
finished the rest of the dances in silence. Juliette again marveled at what a
skilled dancer he was, sliding gracefully between pieces in completely
different styles and tempos. His confidence was intoxicating and Juliette had
to keep reminding herself not to get swept away.
After
45 minutes, Echeverr ía
applauded with childish glee, then leapt off the stage and ran to Juliette
excitedly. “That was wonderful! You two look lovely together. Oh, my dear
Juliette, you are a natural. A godsend! There wasn’t a single bad dance. You
must have had lessons. Please tell me that you’ve had lessons!”
“Well,
yes, actually; quite a few years-”
“I
knew it! Your steps are so elegant and fluid. Oh, well, enough of that. Let
me see,” he inspected his notepad. “Based on what I’ve seen, the Strauss waltz
will be your solo dance, followed by the 2 Mozart pieces, and the Beethoven.
As much as I’d like to make the Beethoven your primary dance, we simply don’t
have the time to do it properly.” He flipped the page.
“Now,
Prince Guillermo, during the waltz, at the start of the second stanza, I’d like
you to-” he stopped short, interrupted by a buzzing noise. He reached in his
pocket and produced a vibrating cell phone. “Oh, shoot.”
“Is
there a problem?” Guillermo wondered.
“I
apologize, sir, but I did promise to get the music selections to the
concertmaster by 4 PM. Would you mind if we cut this short today?”
“Not
at all. Please, do what you have to do.”
“Very
good, sir. I look forward to next time. Your highness,” Echeverría bowed.
“Miss,” another bow.
He
left Juliette and Guillermo alone in the room. They looked at each other
awkwardly for a moment, then began slowly walking towards the door.
“How
are your studies going?” Guillermo asked.
“Fine.
A little overwhelming.”
“I’ll
bet. We’ve got 10 days to pour 10 years worth of material into you.”
They
took a few steps in silence, then Juliette prompted, “You seem busy.”
Guillermo
ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “You have no idea. It’s been a parade
of dignitaries and aristocrats, one after the other. On the surface, they want
to pay their respects but in
want to have a look at you. Relax. Have fun. Pretend I’m not even here. Let
me see what I’ve got to work with.” He picked up a CD and inserted it into the
stereo system. A waltz began to play from the speakers.
“May
I have this dance?” Guillermo bowed.
Juliette
nodded. “Of
course.”
Guillermo
placed his right hand on the small of her back and grasped her right hand in
his left. He began to move gracefully to the beat of the music, leading her
effortlessly along the dance floor. When she stood this close, she could smell
his scent, an intoxicating blend of his sweat and cologne. He was handsome, there was no doubt about it.
Careful,
girl!
He
led her confidently through the entire waltz and into the next piece — a bright
Mozart symphony in quarter time. As they moved further away from the stage out
into the middle of the room, Juliette spoke first.
“You
seem to be enjoying yourself.”
“Why
wouldn’t I be? I’m dancing with a beautiful woman.” Guillermo beamed with
satisfaction.
“Hmmmm,”
Juliette smirked.
“You
know, if you could stop glaring at me for 15 seconds that would be wonderful.”
“We’ll
see about that. Where’s my cell phone?”
“It’s
safe,” he grinned.
“If
I find out that you’ve tampered with it, the deal is off,” she snapped.
“Don’t
worry, it’s fine,” he assured her. “I’ll have one of the maids bring it to you
this evening, all right?”
“That
would be most welcome, your highness , ” she replied sarcastically.
“Now,
now. I told you when we were dancing last time. Call me Guillermo.”
She
felt her cheeks blush. “Fine,
Guillermo.”
They
finished the rest of the dances in silence. Juliette again marveled at what a
skilled dancer he was, sliding gracefully between pieces in completely
different styles and tempos. His confidence was intoxicating and Juliette had
to keep reminding herself not to get swept away.
After
45 minutes, Echeverr ía
applauded with childish glee, then leapt off the stage and ran to Juliette
excitedly. “That was wonderful! You two look lovely together. Oh, my dear
Juliette, you are a natural. A godsend! There wasn’t a single bad dance. You
must have had lessons. Please tell me that you’ve had lessons!”
“Well,
yes, actually; quite a few years-”
“I
knew it! Your steps are so elegant and fluid. Oh, well, enough of that. Let
me see,” he inspected his notepad. “Based on what I’ve seen, the Strauss waltz
will be your solo dance, followed by the 2 Mozart pieces, and the Beethoven.
As much as I’d like to make the Beethoven your primary dance, we simply don’t
have the time to do it properly.” He flipped the page.
“Now,
Prince Guillermo, during the waltz, at the start of the second stanza, I’d like
you to-” he stopped short, interrupted by a buzzing noise. He reached in his
pocket and produced a vibrating cell phone. “Oh, shoot.”
“Is
there a problem?” Guillermo wondered.
“I
apologize, sir, but I did promise to get the music selections to the
concertmaster by 4 PM. Would you mind if we cut this short today?”
“Not
at all. Please, do what you have to do.”
“Very
good, sir. I look forward to next time. Your highness,” Echeverría bowed.
“Miss,” another bow.
He
left Juliette and Guillermo alone in the room. They looked at each other
awkwardly for a moment, then began slowly walking towards the door.
“How
are your studies going?” Guillermo asked.
“Fine.
A little overwhelming.”
“I’ll
bet. We’ve got 10 days to pour 10 years worth of material into you.”
They
took a few steps in silence, then Juliette prompted, “You seem busy.”
Guillermo
ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “You have no idea. It’s been a parade
of dignitaries and aristocrats, one after the other. On the surface, they want
to pay their respects but in
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