Sophia allowed Henry to lead her into Aunt Jane's vast and impressive drawing room in silence, stunned by the room's transformation for the dance, which she had missed somehow.

The large, comfortable sofas and the dark, bulky cabinets that were normally scattered around had vanished. A single line of cushioned, high-backed chairs stood along one long wall, opposite the grand piano made of dark, polished wood that occupied its usual spot by the curtained window. A pianist whom Aunt Jane must have hired sat on a high stool in front of the burgundy drapery, playing the first waltz.

Not wasting time, Henry steered her into the centre of the room where their aunt and uncle, setting the example to their other guests, already danced and Sophia, who normally shied away from such occasions where she was required to dance and be on display of those who preferred to sit along the wall, becoming the subject of their whispered conversation, had no other choice but follow the enchanting rhythm of the waltz and let her cousin, who seemed to have become a spotless, masterful dancer, to lead her not quite as sure steps.

Not that she disliked it, Sophia had to admit to herself as she got almost lost in the magical tune produced by the pianist's nimble fingers, in the feel of Henry's strong arms on her waist, his warm brown eyes never leaving hers, making her feel more breathless than the dance...

She had to clear her throat and look away from him to break the spell he had cast upon her so she could speak, her voice barely audible above the sound of the piano filling the world around them. Sophia had already told him why she was here; it was his turn to explain his presence now.

"What are you doing here, Henry? How long are you staying?" she demanded, feeling genuinely curious. She hadn't seen him in years; meeting him now at Aunt Jane's was such a strange coincidence.

He shook his head to break the magic her mesmerising violet eyes had cast upon him and inhaled deeply to be able to focus on finding the words to reply to her questions.

"I am not staying, I am leaving again tomorrow morning. I'm picking up Cousin Ferdinand in Dover in a couple of days and taking him to our Alexandrina in Windsor. They haven't seen each other in months, and he wished to see her once more before she would marry Albert. See, I always thought that Ferdinand would be a better match for her..."

Sophia's eyebrows shot up, and she, quite unconsciously, strengthened her hold on his arms as her lips replied in her Cousin Victoria's defence, while her mind was preoccupied with everything Henry just let slip. "She likes being called Alexandrina just as much as I like being called Penelope."

She didn't like this. Sophia knew as well about Victoria's youthful infatuation with Ferdinand as the young Queen knew about Sophia's childhood love of Henry. But Victoria now loved Albert, she had proposed to him and they would marry in two months... Just what were Henry and Ferdinand thinking they were doing?!

Now frowning, she met Henry's eyes again, demanding explanation.

He shrugged as much as the music allowed, an infuriating smile playing on his lips as he leaned in closer and whispered, "Ferdinand cannot forget that kiss they shared when they were sixteen. He is still pining for her, and he wants to make sure that she really does not love him anymore, and will not regret marrying Albert..."

"... so you help him appear at her doorstep and try to confuse her so close to her wedding?" Sophia finished for him.

"It is only a little game; it is bound to be entertaining..."

Sophia shook her head. This was the very stuff from the novels she loved reading. In her eyes, this was conspiracy against the Queen and her soon to be husband. She had to prevent it; she could not allow Henry and Ferdinand to attend Victoria's Christmas ball without her supervision.

"That is so very immature of you!" she whisper-shouted, hoping to dissuade him.

He laughed softly in response. "I am sure she is so enamoured of Albert that she will not pay Ferdinand any attention. Still, it might be fun. You must come along, Cousin Penelope, promise you will, I will make Victoria send you an invitation the moment I see her."

"She has already done that," Sophia muttered, recalling her cousin's last letter, containing an official invitation to Queen Victoria's Christmas ball that she had received almost a month ago. And she was resolved not to accept it. Well, she had been, until now. She couldn't let Henry and Ferdinand attend that ball unsupervised, they were two irresponsible boys about to, possibly, ruin their cousin's happiness...

"Wonderful! Then you are coming, Penny!" Henry called.

His joyous exclamation attracted the attention of Aunt Jane who now danced with the venerable Lord Hastings in their vicinity-- only when she looked at them to apologise for Henry's improper behaviour did Sophia realise that the music had changed and she had to adapt her steps unless she wanted Henry to drag her along.

"I have nothing to wear..." Sophia despaired, realising that, after all, she will have to renounce attending the ball, not realising that tragic thought actually slipped from her lips until she met Henry's warm brown orbs again. A shadow of sadness, of melancholy, a feeling she hoped wasn't pity passed under his long eyelashes before he collected himself and regaled her with his usual mischievous smile.

"I will be looking forward to seeing you again at Christmas, fair Penelope," he whispered, kissing her hand and holding her close to him a little longer when she tried to use the sudden hush in the music to free herself from his grasp, escape his nearness. He had to break their eye contact to hide the long dormant feelings he had considered dead for so long, which she had stirred to life again with just one look of her impossibly violet eyes. He still loved her.

Sophia only sighed in response as she curtsied to him demurely, her black gown helping her assume the look of the simple governess she had resolved to keep for the foreseeable future. Governesses did not attend Christmas balls in Windsor Castle, just like she wouldn't be. She was just about to tell him so and ask him to abandon his boyish scheme, when he spoke again, following her as she crossed the crowded room towards the door.

"May I walk with you to the stairs, at least?" he asked, his eyes pleading, and she found herself nodding before her mind could catch up. Hopefully, their aunt would not see them leaving the room alone together!

They walked along the long corridor, seeming gloomy after the brightly lit drawing room in silence. Henry only spoke as they reached the staircase leading to the private rooms and bedrooms, where he absolutely couldn't follow her without ruining her reputation. She took a couple of steps up, creating a small distance between them, coming almost face to face with him.

But he would see her again in a little over two weeks, Henry consoled himself, his mind analysing the feelings her unexpected reappearance in his life caused. Should he propose to her now? Maybe he should try to get to know her adult self first and give her time to realise that she might want to marry him instead of becoming someone's governess.

"It is wonderful, and admirable really, that Victoria and Albert are getting married, they are still young," he said, searching her eyes in the moving light of the chandelier for her true opinion on love and marriage. He had resolved long ago that he would wait, and only marry when and if he found a woman he could love.

"They are too young..." Sophia said on a sigh, thinking how rare it was to be sure that you met the right man aged twenty, like Victoria. But, at least in her novels, and apparently rarely in real life, too, it happened. She was happy for the young Queen. "It seems too early to marry at such a young age. But they are in love." She shrugged before she ran up a few more steps, turning to him again. "Do not spoil it for them, Henry, I implore you."