Kaliantha did not wait for Ulrich to recover from the sudden change.
She stepped forward with greater speed, drawing him into a sharper pattern than the musicians had been playing a moment before. Her skirts swept around her ankles as she turned beneath his arm, and the jeweled ornaments woven into her hair trembled along.
Ulrich adjusted without hesitation.
His hand remained at her waist. His fingers held hers securely as he followed the new rhythm she had set, matching her pace before any guest in the ballroom could notice that the Queen had seized the lead.
The musicians nearly lost the measure.
One of the violinists glanced toward the master of ceremonies in alarm, but the man only made a frantic motion with both hands. Follow them. Keep playing.
The melody rose to meet Kaliantha's steps.
At the other side of the floor, Albert missed a turn.
