章 59: Chapter Fifty Nine

A sharp clap echoed through the expansive ballroom, the sound punctuated by a voice with a pronounced French accent.  "One!" the voice boomed, followed by a series of rhythmic counts.  "One… two… three…"

Suzy, clad in a peach colored dress, twirled awkwardly in the center of the room.  Her partner, a tall, slender man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a charming smile, demonstrated the basic waltz steps with effortless grace.  Monsieur Pierre, as he introduced himself, moved with the fluid confidence of an experienced dancer, his voice a steady guide as he patiently corrected Suzy's missteps.

"Ah, magnifique!" Monsieur Pierre exclaimed, his voice dripping with exaggerated enthusiasm, as Suzy managed a passable waltz turn.  "But remember, Your Grace, slow and steady!  The waltz is a dance of elegance, not a race!"