“I am sure no lady at court would be caught with a wet hem, or bare feet.”Īlex took both my hands into his own and spun me around, laughing. The hem of my emerald gown was soaked, and my feet still had sand on them. “I see you have already tested the waters.” He peered down at my bare feet as he fell into step beside me. “Come, it is the perfect day for getting your feet wet.” I took hold of his arm and pulled him toward the path. I am ready for the sea air and to step into the waves.” “Duller than the dullest book in your father’s library. Sure enough, he groaned as he reached down to retrieve a package he had dropped when greeting me. “How was your season at court?” I asked with a broad smile, knowing what his reaction would be. Something had changed between us in the year we had been apart. “You… you have grown.” His smile had disappeared, and he grew serious. “Amelia.” Keeping hold on my hands, he stepped back to survey me. His nineteen years showed in his bearing. His smile had not changed, but his handsome face had lost all his boyish looks since last summer. Wasn’t this the same Alex I had known for years? No, not exactly. My heart fluttered, but I couldn’t understand why. My breath caught as I stepped back to look at him. “I have missed you, Ella.” His rich baritone saying my middle name was pleasant in my ear as he hugged me.
He had greeted me this way every summer since… I couldn’t remember a time when I did not know Alex.Īlex continued to spin me, and I pretended to be angry, pounding my fist against his shoulder without any force behind the blows. When we met, he lifted me off my feet like always and spun me around. The waist-high fence that surrounded the manor didn’t even slow him down he flung himself over it in a fluid motion. The next moment, he was racing toward me. For a moment he stood still, as if he didn’t recognize me. He pivoted in my direction when I called. His hands rested on his hips as he watched servants carry in his trunks. I saw him! Alex stood with his broad back turned to me. Shielding my eyes from the sun, I gazed toward the house, where Cynthia worked. As I approached our neighbor’s manor, I slowed my steps. Soon my bare feet were slapping against grass instead of sand.
#Waltz into the waves by sarah holman full
Taking fists full of my skirt, I started racing back toward the house. I shrieked with joy and pulled away from my father. “He arrived minutes ago and came right over to see you.” He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a squeeze before nodding. They also danced that way on long summer days, when we worked together to build castles in the sand or hunted for crabs. The same way they danced in the winter when he and I would work on gifts for each other, making a game out of who could keep the gift a secret the longest. “Is he truly here?” I threw my arms around my father’s neck. My father was still laughing when I reached him.
“He is here?” I lifted my skirts and ran as fast as I could in the sand. “I was thinking you might prefer Alex’s company this day.” I could almost see my father’s eyes dancing. She feared the waves almost as much as I loved them. She, however, did not understand my love for the ocean. Cynthia was a good friend and understood the deep attachment I had to my father. She had taken me under her wing when my mother had died shortly after my birth. Cynthia was my senior by a full ten years. Being a rather odd girl, I didn’t have many friends. “Who? Cynthia perhaps?” Even the name of my dear friend, who was a servant on the neighboring estate, brought a smile to my face. “I thought you might rather persuade another to join you!” He yelled. I could hear his laugh even though he was far away. This water is lovely!” The seawater swirled about my ankles, and the sand squished between my toes. I hoped he was not coming to take me home. He stood atop the sand dunes, waving to me. Never forget that you are princesses and your princes will find you Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. No part of this publication may be reproduced in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the permission of the publisher and the copyright holder. Waltz into the Waves Copyright © 2015 by Sarah HolmanĪll rights reserved.
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