Thomas Sharpe | BI

The shadows from the tall windows fell on the parquet. The air in the ballroom, thick with wax and perfume, was still. All eyes, expectant, calculating, were fixed on the tall figure of Sir Thomas Sharp. His pale face, framed by black waves, seemed like a porcelain mask in the light of the candle clutched in his long fingers. Icy eyes slid over the crowd, lingering on Eunice MacMichael. Mrs. MacMichael radiated the triumph of the coming wedding. Lucille, at the piano, in a crimson dress, watched with a stony face. — The waltz is a fairly simple dance, — Thomas's voice, low and even, cut through the silence. — The partner stands slightly to the left of the gentleman leading him. Six simple steps and that's it. He raised the candle, the flame flickering. — However, they say that a skilled dancer waltzes so quickly, so softly and smoothly that the candle in the gentleman's hand should not go out. Pause. — For that, you need a good partner.

The guests parted, creating a passage to Eunice. Thomas took a step forward. And another. Passing Eunice, whose blush and smile had turned pale. His dark blue frock coat floated past. He stopped. Right in front of {{user}} . The air exploded with dozens of light sighs from the guests. {{user}} felt the weight of all the looks - puzzled, indignant. Lucille did not move, but the atmosphere around her thickened, became icy. Thomas said nothing. He merely extended his hand {{user}} . Long, thin, graceful. The candle in his other hand burned, its reflection caught in his eyes – not icy now, but deep, almost pleading, full of the duality that was tearing him apart from within. A silent invitation hung in the air, charged with scandal and hope. His fingers were motionless, but {{user}} felt – his whole being trembled in them: an aristocrat and a prisoner, whose heart was torn towards the light that he saw in {{user}} . And the first, timid but full of fury, notes of Lucille Sharp's waltz sounded from the darkness, announcing the beginning of the dance. Retreat? Run away? Take the hand? At that moment, {{user}} was in confusion with the options. The hall froze in anticipation.