Chapter 14 - Taking The Role Of The Woman
Samuel wasn't sure what exactly he had been expecting when Zane suggested he attend Lena's classes with her, he just knew that he wasn't expecting it to be ballroom dancing. Lena smirked at him, seeing the look of surprise on his face as they entered the room. Although not as large as the dinning room or the sunroom that they had left was, this room was still large enough in size to ensure that there was plenty of space to move and allow for more than two or three people to be practicing dancing at once.
"As my father likes to point out, you may not be accustomed to this style of living but even as the successor of syndicate such as the Red Scorpions, there are many things I am still expected to learn. I am expected to be able to know how to handle a gun yet have proper etiquette at the same time." Lena told him as she slide out of her Jacket and changed her boots into what appeared to be dance shoes. At the far end of the room an older looking man was sitting in a chair with his legs crossed as he kept his focus in their direction.
"Knowing Ballroom dancing has to be part of that?" Samuel asked as Lena motioned for him to follow her further into the room.
"Of course. Not only am I female but considering the level of success my family had over the years, we are rather well off which puts us at a pretty high place in the standards of society. On the legally professional side, I am going to expected to attend many social events which require all the proper conditioning." She replied while he followed behind her slowly while processing what she said.
Once again, he was feeling as though he was going to getting ready to step into a world of things that he had not anticipated being a part of. He was about ready to ask her another question when their conversation was cut off by the older man speaking up.
"Princess, impeccable as always I see. Are we ready to pick up where we left off last week? You were really starting to get the steps down." He offered Lena small smile while the other just grimaced at him in return. The man had a bit of accent at the back of his voice that Samuel couldn't quite place.
"It's not like I have much of a choice in this matter now do I Santi? There are a lot of other things that I would rather be doing now, but yet here I found myself being stuck for another week." Was the reply she gave. The man laughed in response to what she had said.
"I thought that you had told me last week that you were enjoying this far more than what you had to learn last month."
"Enjoying it more does not equate that I enjoy it more compared to other things that I am being trained to do. I would much rather find myself at the shooting range than learning how to spin around the room for no other reason than to the societal expectations of others." The princess replied with a huff.
"Right you are, but this is part of the expectations you must fulfil if you want to be able continue doing all those other things you enjoy so much. By this time next year, I will be out of your hair. Now before we start, I am curious to know who this companion you have brought with you today? Is he perhaps a dance partner that was requested by your father to come along so you would have someone else aside from me to practice with?" Samuel immediately snapped his head over to Lena who's attention was now fixed on him. The uncomfortable feeling he had felt around her before was returning as he saw the look in her eyes on the trace of a smirk on the corner of her lips.
"Perhaps that is why my father asked me to bring him along today." Lena replied with a shrug. "He's the one that is contestant for being my possible future husband."
"I see. Well it is a pleasure to meet you young Sir and I thank you for taking the time to join us today. Do you intend to join in today's practice?" Samuel got ready to reply and say that he was just here to watch but before he had the chance, Lena cut him off to answer in his place.
"I think he will be joining us today. Afterall, this is stuff I am certain that my father would expect him to start learning once the appropriate steps have been taken in preparation for the wedding. You won't mind joining me today, right?"
"I don't have the proper shoes I think and I would much rather watch you first to understand-"
"Sammy-Boy, I am asking it as a question out of politeness. But since you seem to be struggling to read between the lines, then I am telling you that you will be joining me during today's practice." Lena cut him off as she moved to stand next to him and grabbing his hand. He could tell by the way she was gripping it that it would be better for him to not protest again. "As for the shoes, you can wear the spare pair that Santi always brings with him. Your feet look to be about the same size." Santi didn't wait for her to finish speaking before going over to where he had set down all of his stuff to the side of the room. He went through his back until he found the box that held the spare set of shoes that she was talking about.
"These should do for now, if you are around later this week when I come back, I will bring my measuring tape with me and get you fitted for a proper custom-made pair of shoes." Santi assured Samuel as he kneeled in order to help the other swap his shoes. Samuel bit his tongue to stop himself from protesting any further despite the uncomfortable position he found himself in.
Lena seemed to approve of the shoes as she gave a slight nod of her head after seeing how he was able to walk in them. They were slightly too big for him, but not enough that it would cause him problems while they danced.
Samuel could feel that this situation was not going to end very well for him, he barely knew anything about dancing a waltz except for the general positioning of the dancers. Based upon Lena's attitude, he was certain that she would be quick to snip and criticize him if he couldn't keep up with her.
"Follow my lead." Was all she told him after she moved them so that they were positioned to be more in the middle of the room. Santi had stepped away and to the side so that he could observe while making sure to not be in the way, he also made sure to put on some music in order to set the tempo for their movements.
Samuel thought that he was getting into the right position as he got ready to place his arm around Lena's waist but he stopped with a hiss when she suddenly stopped on his foot.
"That's not the right position." All Samuel could do was look at her confused.
"I thought that was where my arm was supposed to go." Was all he could reply back as the princess stared at him with a hard look.
"I told you I am leading which means I am in the role of the man. You're taking the woman's role since you lack experience to lead the dance." She replied as she hooked her arm around his waist and forced his hand on her shoulder. "Keep it there and link your other hand with mine." She instructed not seeming to care about the fact that Samuel's face was heating up.
"But, I am not the woman though. Even if I don't know, I should still be allowed to lead the song as the man." He argued causing Lena to sigh as she gave him a wry smile.
"Little Chickadee, you still have a lot to learn. As of right now, what I say goes. If I say I am leading the dance, then that means I am leading the dance and you follow along like the good little bird you are, unless you want to deal with the consequences of challenging my position." He didn't miss the way the little queen's eyes narrowed after she had said the last part almost as though she was daring him to challenge her.
"Fine, but once I learn how to do the steps correctly, I am taking the role back." Samuel conceded with a bit of irritation.
"See, that isn't so hard now is it." He didn't appreciate the sarcastic way that the other praised him but refrained from saying anything that would prevent them from starting the dance.