"And how exactly must I do so? By leaping onto the dance floor the second they open it up to non-debutantes?" I fired back at her, satisfied with the pink heat that rose into her cheeks. "That was unacceptable, Elizabeth," Rosanna said, still wringing her hands, "I think you should no longer be permitted to dance tonight," "Why?" I demanded, "Am I really that terrible a dancer?" "You danced with the prince! And you spoke to him!" Emily hissed, assuming her place next to Rosanna as the prince bowed to Penelope Roxton, selecting her for his next dance. "How was I supposed to know I'd be in the prince's formation?" I demanded, crossing my arms with a huff. "You are a lady in waiting, not a debutante. Your place is as an ornament, not as competition," Rosanna said smoothly, the words brittle and cold. I clenched my teeth, turning my eyes toward the chandelier. "I highly doubt that I'd be considered as competition by any of these ladies," I managed through my teeth. Rosanna's scowl deepened as I cursed my luck; I'd managed my first dance at court so successfully that I'd stepped on toes that weren't even my partner's. "I think we would be best aided by some refreshments," Rosanna said finally, after we had watched two more dances, the prince selecting a new partner each time. Ella remained one of only two debutantes who hadn't danced with him yet. "I certainly agree," I said, relieved to finally be able to move from my sentry post beside the dance floor. Rosanna led the way towards the refreshment tables at the side of the room. She spooned us each a glass of punch before leading us to stand by the wall. As I sipped, I glanced up at the royal family. The younger prince and princess had long since adjourned, too young to participate this season. The king and queen had joined in for the courante, but had resumed their places afterwards, various attendants now seated around them, talking in low murmurs. The queen's eyes rarely left her son as she spoke with some of her ladies in waiting, eyeing each of his partners in turn. "Will there be enough dances for Ella to dance with the prince?" Emily asked archly, her question meant as a barb to me. "Of course! There are only seven debutantes after all," Rosanna said, the corners of her mouth drooping as Andrew bowed to Ashley Mayfair once again. I squirmed, praying that he would finally ask my cousin to dance, for surely if I was the only one of the group to have spoken with the prince that night it wouldn't bode well for my remaining a lady in waiting. Our punch finished, we moved as a trio to stand between the marble columns that lined the room. Once again, we watched as Ella danced with yet another partner, her smile still in place despite the looks she kept shooting the prince's way. When the dance ended, her partner very chivalrously offered to fetch her some punch, at which point Rosanna led the charge towards them. We hovered a polite distance away, until she curtseyed to her parter and he bowed, moving away from her. "You danced marvellously, Ella!" Rosanna clapped as my cousin sipped her punch. "It is quite exerting," was her only reply. I fought hard not to roll my eyes. Ella had always been the darling child of the family, the delicate young thing too pretty to damage. It vexed me to the core that she would be satisfied being so fragile, feigning exhaustion from simple dancing. "Dorian Fletcher asked you for the first dance as well!" Emily enthused, finally coaxing a small smile from Ella. "But alas, not the prince," she said, looking down in to her punch. I wanted to shake the melancholy look from her face and was of half a mind to spin her around and shove her back out towards the dance floor. Rosanna and Emily tittered comforts to her as my eyes wandered anew, only to settle on the alarming sight of the prince headed our way. He was looking at me, that same amused determination in his eyes as he wove through the crowd toward us. Panicked, I turned to Ella, attempting to look extremely interested in her overdramatized sadness. To my horror, he pulled up behind her, pausing to clear his throat. Emily's eyes grew as she noticed him, dropping into a deep curtsey. Startled, Ella turned around before dropping her own curtsey. I took advantage of the reverence to hide my face, hoping he would think to address Ella first. "I was hoping to present myself," Prince Andrew said, as the other three rose from their curtseys. Rosanna gave me a not-so-subtle nudge with her foot when I didn't rise. "Of course, your Highness," Ella smiled, dimpling prettily as she extended her hand to his, "Ella Canterbury," "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ella," he said, bending his head to kiss the back of her gloved hand. As he straightened, I didn't miss the look he shot me. "Shall we dance?" he asked her, offering his elbow. Ella accepted it instantly, something flowery fluttering from her lips as he led her towards the dance floor. I sagged with relief against the marble column. "Well that was certainly something," Rosanna said, flipping open her fan to bat it vigorously, "He is so impossibly handsome," I snorted before I could stop myself, winning me withering looks from both ladies.