Heart of the Sea

CHAPTER THREE

The music started again, and the prince took Aeras’s hand again and led her to the floor. Mr. Pierce and her sister followed them with their eyes. And Aeras saw that even without the prince, Mr. Pierce stayed with her sister though she was disappointed that they hadn’t dance. The two gave off an aura around them that no one could pop. Not even Aeras. But- what she was not sure was, if that aura was good or bad.

“So, you’re a cousin of the prince,” Thalassa said to start a conversation between them because the silence had been unbearably awkward since her sister and the prince left their side.

But the man with her barely nodded in answer, and the conversation ended just like that. Thalassa had made a move to leave when Mr. Pierce asked her a question.

“May I inquire why a lady of your background has a fine knowledge of the deadly arts?”

She turned to face Mr. Pierce and regarded him with a soft expression that betrayed nothing of what answer shall come. “Mr. Sinclair, you and I both have two eyes, two ears, a mouth, and a nose. We both have two arms, two legs, and a body. In shorter terms, we are created equal. So why, pray tell, should I not have any knowledge of the arts mostly seen on men?”

Pierce’s astonishment of her answer was more than obvious. But he vanished the expression out of his eyes. “As you have said, the deadly arts are mostly seen on men.”

She smiled at him. “Yes. Mr. Sinclair. Mostly. But not always. Because a woman, no matter the position in life, can also do things a man can. Sometimes we choose not to, or the men don’t allow us to. Good thing my father approves of me knowing them.”

Before Pierce could answer the dance ended, and they were again joined by Aeras and the prince. But as soon as her sister returned to her side, Thalassa made an excuse to leave the party before anyone could have noticed the tension that had formed between her and Pierce.

“Please excuse me. I shall go talk to my sister.” The men bowed to acknowledge her, and she turned to leave and followed Thalassa.

“What had transpired between you and Ms. Thalassa that inspired her to leave like she did?” Nicholas asked his cousin with bewilderment written in his face.

“I merely inquired her about her knowledge of the deadly arts. And tried to confirm a few of the rumors surrounding the youngest Haskell,”

“And what have you gained?” the prince inquired as he followed Aeras’s searching figure.

So, Pierce told his cousin what Ms. Thalassa had answered him and how she had answered. And how that this encounter only made his curiosity and interest rose.

“And do you think Ms. Thalassa is indeed capable of the accusation bestowed on her?” the prince asked, now also curious to what his cousin thinks of the lady. For he saw, despite the tension between them, that the two simply blended with each other.

Pierce was staring in front of him. At Thalassa Haskell precisely and Nicholas followed his cousin’s gaze. The younger Haskell was in front of the buffet table and was in the motion of getting herself a glass of water. Nicholas thought his cousin have not heard his question. But when he was about to repeat it, Pierce turned to look at him.

“No,” was all he answered.

Thalassa took a glass of water with shaking hands and she willed herself to be calm. There was something about Mr. Sinclair that alarmed her. Something that made her feel he could see through her like she was a clear glass of water. And the thought does not sit well with her. Especially since she had so many things she wants no one to know. But other than those things she refused to show, she was like an open book for Aeras.

“Thalassa,” Aeras called to gain her attention. “Please, dear sister, promise me you shall dance.”

Thalassa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The action made her shaking stop and when she was sure she was composed, she turned to face her sister with a soft smile. “As you wish, Aeras. If that’s what makes you happy. I shall dance when someone asks me, too.”

And no sooner than the words left her mouth, a man came to approached her and bowed in greetings. He was a man worthy to be praise. But- Thalassa, unwillingly, thought the man in front of them was no match for Mr. Sinclair’s grace despite his haughtiness with which he carried himself. Thalassa shook the unwanted thought out of her mind and focused on the man that was introducing himself in front of them.

“Ms. Haskell, I am Mr. Collins. Would you give me the honor of dancing with me?” he put his hand between him and Thalassa as he bowed in invitation. She stared at his outstretched hand apprehensively. Aeras smiled at the man and pushed her sister towards him. With a nod, Thalassa gave her hand to the man who led her towards the floor.

“I can promise only one dance, Mr. Collins,” she stated with a smile.

“Of course, Ms. Haskell. I am sure a fetching young lady like you would have men lined up for a dance.”

Thalassa laugh lowly and decided not to answer. Only if the man knew. No one had asked her except him. And she wasn’t even shocked. She had not exactly radiated the joyfulness and openness of her sister. And she was fine that way. Out of the two of them, Aeras was really the people-person. She could make people do her bidding with just mere words. That was how powerful her sister was. Thankfully, Aeras wielded that trait carefully.

The song ended without Thalassa really remembering any part of the dance or if the man with her tried to make a conversation. She curtsied to Mr. Collins but as she turned to leave, the man took her hand again. She tried to gently remove his hand on her, but he hadn’t let go.

“Mr. Collins. The dance is finished.” she tried to say calmly.

“Yes, Ms. Thalassa. But I see you don’t have a partner for the next one so I shall be yours.” the man had a pompous smile on his face that tested Thalassa’s patience but thankfully, she held onto the little that was left.

“No, that’s quite all right, Mr. Collins.”

“I insist.” the man held on tighter.

“Can I have the next dance?” another man asked from behind her. And in desperation to leave the man in front of her, she accepted even before she saw who it was. Mr. Collins let go of her hand and left. So, she turned around to see who her next partner was. And she would have called Mr. Collins back if it weren’t for her word, for the man who asked her for her next dance was none other than Mr. Sinclair.