"As you wish," Andrew smiled, "But I'll still be charging you interest on unpaid dances," I smiled, the fluttering threatening to rise into my throat as I stared into his eyes. I looked away to regain some composure as we waltzed past Emily and Rosanna, both watching me like a hawk. I swallowed, but told myself I'd face them later. I wouldn't worry away the few moments I'd spend with the prince. "Perhaps I could convince my cousin to pay my debt for me," I taunted, "I daresay she'd spring at the opportunity," Andrew made a face that prompted me to giggle. "I thought you fancied her! You just finished telling me how you flirted with her!" I laughed. "Your cousin is a charming young lady," he started, only for my quirked eyebrow to give him pause. "Go on, I'd like to hear how that sentence ends," I said. Andrew shot me that lopsided grin as he shook his head. "Ella's fine, she's just a bit...dull," he said. I laughed in earnest this time. "If you were expecting someone exciting, then I'm afraid you've chosen the wrong debutante," I said, grinning. "To be honest, I was expecting someone more like you," Andrew said. I sighed, shaking my head. "Then I'm terribly sorry to disappoint you, but I'm fairly certain that not a single debutante will measure up to my questionable standard," I laughed, "If one can even call it a standard!" "I had been hoping that your cousin would help ease the monotony of batted eyelashes and simpering giggles, but alas it was not to be," he sighed dramatically. "Then I suggest you stop wasting your time dancing with ladies in waiting and start spending more time with your debutantes!" I joked, "You'll be forced to choose one of them, so you might as well see whose particular brand of bland you can stand," "That was an impeccable rhyme," Andrew chuckled, "And while that is excellent advice, I'm not entirely certain that my future wife is among this Season's debutantes," Andrew's words had shocked me into silence, wiping the grin from my face. "Don't let anyone hear you say that aloud," I said, frowning. He tilted his head noncommitally, unwilling to meet my eyes. "It's happened before, for a prince to take more than one Season to choose his bride," he said. I was still frowning, worried that our conversation had turned to a subject that was clearly making him so uncomfortable. "Here you are with the finest, prettiest young ladies in the country to choose from and you're threatening to become a bachelor king," I said, attempting a joke to lighten the mood. The music would ending soon and I didn't want to leave him on such a note. "I'm not saying they're not pretty enough, I'm just saying that perhaps I don't know exactly what I want yet," he admitted. "Surely you have some idea about what you need in a wife," I said. His eyes found mine again as the music crescendoed and finished. "I'd thought I did, but now I'm not so certain anymore," he said. I sighed and held his gaze, curtseying while he bowed. I was acutely aware of the debutantes and ladies in waiting that were not-so-subtly gathering around us. "Don't prove your brother right, I know you're not a ninny prince who's unable to make a decision," I said, attempting a smile once again. Andrew's face softened as he fixed me with that special grin. "Well there's one decision I have made," Andrew said, reaching out to bring my gloved hand to his lips, "And it's that your cousin will not be allowed to settle your dance debt. Have a nice night," "And you," I said, as Camilla Parkhurst sidled her way up next to me. Just like that, Andrew's sideways grin turned into a polite smile as he bowed to Camilla, offering her a dance. I curtseyed as he led her away to line up for the next courante, turning away to head for the ladies' resting room. My mind was swirling with our conversation and I had to sit down and digest it before it got carried away by the rest of the evening. Luck was not with me, however, as Emily and Rosanna appeared at my sides. Emily stopped me at the edge of the dance floor, a hateful glint in her eye. "I see you're up to your old tricks," she said sourly, "Which is a spiteful way to repay Ella for permitting you to attend," "I fail to see how dancing with the prince was spiteful!" I shot back. "She expressly forbade you from speaking to him again," Rosanna said, frowning, "And besides, you're a lady-in-waiting and have no business dancing with a prince!" "I couldn't very well say no when he asked, now could I? And I don't see how you can complain," I said, fighting the urge to roll my eyes, "He clearly danced with both Jane and Maisie before he asked me and now he's dancing with Camilla! It seems that he's being courteous and-" I cut myself off with a little squeak as a pair of hands clapped themselves over my eyes. I grabbed at the wrists, recognizing the set of horse-shaped cuffs I'd given as a Christmas gift last year. "Xavier!" I exclaimed, peeling his hands from my eyes to turn and face my laughing brother.