Annabeth looked out of a window at a perfect December evening: the sky was clear and bright and illuminated by a silver-gold full moon and bluish-white stars. These celestial bodies lit the way for the carriages arriving at Skye Castle. It was just frosty enough that Annabeth's breath clouded the glass panes and the breath of guests walking to the front door hung around their heads like wreaths of smoke.
Three-hundred beeswax candles, tall enough to burn for eight hours, lit up the ballroom. Their mirrors and gilt-work shone and glittered and made the room seem even brighter. His Grace and the Duchess greeted the guests as they filed in, bowing and curtsying. All these grand and well-dressed people looked like figures from a fairytale; attendees at a ball where a princess dances with her prince.
So much depended on this ball. Annabeth was restless from excitement one moment and paralyzed with nerves the next. What if her gown wasn't smart enough? What if her dancing were clumsy? What if no one asked her to stand up with them? What if this ball was everything she'd ever dreamed it would be? All these conflicting feelings left Annabeth dizzy and muddled.
"Miss Chase, " Lord Skye approached her and bowed. He wore a new suit sent down by his London tailor: a high-collared red tailcoat and cream-colored waistcoat and breeches.
"Would you care to be my partner for the Grand March?"

"I'd be delighted, My Lord, " she replied. She took his hand and they joined the line of dancers.
The Grand March was simply a promenade around the ballroom which offered an opportunity for everyone to show off their clothes and spot potential dance partners.

A/N Grand March

https://youtu.be/YIfTbMMaJE4

Lord Skye's gaze was on Piper, who was with Mr. Malcolm Pace, the young village curate.
"She's wearing her ring again, you know, " Annabeth said to Lord Skye. The ring glittered against the white kid's skin of Piper's glove. "You should ask her for the next dance."
He breathed a sigh of relief.
"I will."
The next dance was Auretti's, Dutch Skipper. Mr. Vitellius, Dona Reyna's rejected beau, asked Annabeth to partner with him. Annabeth did not particularly want to but she had no other options. If she said no, she would have to sit that dance out.
He looked awkward leaping and prancing through the movements of the dance. His palms felt clammy through his gloves when Annabeth had to touch hands with him.

A/N Auretti's Dutch Skipper

https://youtu.be/G33N0yoJ6xk

"Poor man," the Duchess said, who was laden with so many jewels that she could scarcely move. "You would think his dancing days were over?"
"I think it's best to quit while one's behind," Dona Reyna replied.
Annabeth's eyes searched the crowd for Lieutenant Jackson. He was partnered with Miss Titan and looked exquisite in his dark blue tailcoat and white breaches.

Miss Titan was a vision in a sea-green satin gown and a scarlet turban. Little crimson sandals peeked out from under her skirt as she moved.

She chattered on about something inconsequential when the dance brought them together and he seemed uninterested. 
Annabeth blushed when he looked in her direction.

Two dances left Annabeth in need of refreshment. Vitellius was kind enough to bring her some biscuits and a glass of punch à la romaine.

He then tried to engage another young lady for the next dance, appropriately called The Comical Fellow. Annabeth's heart went out to him. She hoped some spinster or widow would be kind to him.
As she sipped her punch, Annabeth looked to what Lieutenant Jackson was up to. He and Dona Reyna stood clapping as the four people next to them pranced in a circle.

A/N The Comical Fellow

https://youtu.be/OQfLHAeSM-c

Dona Reyna looked like a Roman empress. Her purple silk embroidered with golden thread was one of the most lavish gowns seen that evening.

A bronze turban encircled her mass of dark hair and an amethyst choker glittered at her throat.

When she lifted the hem of her skirt, Annabeth saw that she wore a pair of pink sandals.

Dona Reyna had trim, elegant ankles which the sandals showed off to best advantage.
Annabeth discreetly checked to see how her own ankles measured up. She wished she could wear the same rich purple as Dona Reyna's gown but her fair coloring was unsuited to strong colors. The light blue of her own gown was so insipid and childish.

Lieutenant Jackson asked Piper to stand up with him for the Cotillion.

Cotillion

https://youtu.be/AvItgHeD2EU

"I'm glad you and Lord Skye have reconciled, " Annabeth overheard him say.  "I imagine this time next year I'll be addressing you as Madame la Marquise."
"Jason did a foolish thing, " Piper replied. "But he atoned for it. You know, he sent a surgeon to attend Captain Castellan and paid for it with his own money."
"Luckily that scoundrel, Castellan, has left town and freed us all from his pernicious influence."
If only you knew, Sir, Annabeth thought. She wondered if Lady Thalia had left already. 
Annabeth danced the Cotillion with Mr. Di Angelo, who said something about certain articles of his clothing going missing from the wash that afternoon. She was more concerned about the fact that her turban and feathers had come awry and she was starting to feel faint.

All this dancing had left her flushed and fluttery, sensations increased by the drinking of punch à la romaine.