My Bratty Wife
Chapter 59 - Fifty Nine

Chapter 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!"

Suzy, her brow furrowed in concentration, gave a determined nod. However, her frustration was evident. One moment she’d be moving ahead of the music, the next she’d be lagging behind, her steps a clumsy imitation of Monsieur Pierre’s smooth glides.

Monsieur Pierre, ever the patient instructor, chuckled good-naturedly. "Ah, ma petite Duchesse," he coaxed, his voice warm and reassuring. "We must allow the music to guide us, not fight it. Imagine you are a willow tree, swaying gently in the breeze."

Suzy bit her lip, a determined glint in her eyes. "Alright," she conceded, forcing a smile. "Willow tree it is."

They continued their practice, Monsieur Pierre offering gentle corrections and encouraging words. Suzy, for all her initial awkwardness, possessed a natural grace and a remarkable willingness to learn. Slowly, the melody of the waltz began to take hold, her movements becoming more fluid and coordinated.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Suzy and Monsieur Pierre, Ryan stood discreetly by the doorway, his gaze fixed on the dance floor. He had been leaning against the doorway for several minutes, his initial intention to simply check on their progress morphing into a strange fascination with the spectacle before him. He hadn’t realized how long he’d been standing there, captivated by Suzy’s clumsy attempts at waltzing.

Monsieur Pierre, with a keen eye for detail, spotted Ryan watching from the shadows. He stopped the music with a flourish and turned towards him, a dazzling smile breaking across his face.

"Ah, Your Grace!" he exclaimed, his French accent thickening with delight. "You have come to witness the progress of your lovely Duchess?"

Ryan, caught off guard, quickly recovered his composure. He feigned a casual air as he entered the room, his gaze flitting from Monsieur Pierre to Suzy, who was now standing stiffly, a touch of annoyance evident on her face.

"Just passing by," he said, his voice betraying none of the emotions swirling within him. "Went to check out things with Davis." Ryan cleared his throat, forcing himself to appear nonchalant. "How is progress, Monsieur Pierre?"

Monsieur Pierre beamed. "Progress is excellent, Votre Excellence!" he declared, a touch dramatically. "The Duchess has a natural grace, of course. Needs a little... refinement, but that is to be expected! With practice, she will waltz like a dream!"

Suzy shot Ryan a pointed look, a silent message that said, "This is your doing, isn’t it?"

Ryan, however, remained impassive. He nodded curtly at Monsieur Pierre. "Good," he said simply. "See that she gets that refinement."

" Of course Your Grace" He assured Ryan.

"Perhaps, Your Grace," he suggested, a playful twinkle in his eyes, "you would like to join us and demonstrate your own waltz skills? Maybe if the Duchess waltz with someone familiar, she’ll be more comfortable."

Suzy’s eyes widened in surprise. She darted a glance at Ryan, her expression a mix of panic and apprehension. A slow shake of her head followed, her lips forming a silent "don’t you dare" plea.

Ryan, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by Monsieur Pierre’s suggestion. He shrugged nonchalantly, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Very well," he agreed, offering a curt nod. "Let’s see what I can remember."

Suzy’s jaw dropped a notch. This waltz lesson, intended to be a private session, was now turning into an unexpected performance. She stole a glance at Ryan, his expression unreadable. What was he up to?

Monsieur Pierre beamed and restarted the music, the lilting melody filling the room once more. Suzy took a tentative step forward, but Ryan, in accordance with the waltz, placed a hand on her waist, his other hand extended outwards.

The dance began, and it was immediately clear that neither of them was a natural on the dance floor. Suzy, tense and inexperienced, kept stumbling over her own feet, her apologies tumbling out like an unstoppable chant.

"Oh, I’m so sorry!" she exclaimed after the third consecutive toe-crushing maneuver, her voice laced with mortification. "I didn’t mean to—"

Ryan, however, remained stoic, his face betraying no hint of discomfort. "It’s alright," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Focus on the music, Duchess."

The music continued, but the awkwardness persisted. Suzy found herself overthinking every step, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. Frustration bubbled within her, threatening to spill over.

"Ah, ma petite Duchesse," Monsieur Pierre said to Suzy, his voice kind but firm. "In the waltz, the lady does not lead. She allows herself to be guided by her partner."

Suzy felt a blush creep up her cheeks, her cheeks burning with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. "Of course," she mumbled, looking down at her shoes.

The music resumed, a slower tempo this time. Under Monsieur Pierre’s patient guidance, they practiced basic steps – forward, backward, side-to-side. Suzy, focusing on the rhythm and Ryan’s gentle lead, found herself moving in accordance. The awkwardness that had initially plagued them began to melt away.

Monsieur Pierre’s voice, counting "One... two... three..." faded into the background as Ryan and Suzy became lost in the music and their own silent world.

Ryan, leading with a firm but gentle hand, guided Suzy through the steps, his eyes occasionally meeting hers. He studied her face – the peach colored dress complemented her vibrant eyes, the soft stray curls framing her face. There was a calmness to her expression now, a hidden strength that intrigued him.

He found himself drawn to the smattering of freckles across her nose, their faint dusting adding a touch of youthful charm to her face. Then, his gaze lingered on her lips, soft and slightly parted as she concentrated on the steps. An unexpected question bubbled up within him: what was it about this woman that stirred something deep inside him?

The music began to slow, signaling the end of the dance. As the last note faded away, Ryan found himself staring at Suzy, his thoughts a tangled mess.

Suzy, catching his intense gaze, felt a shiver run down her spine. A bewildered frown creased her forehead. "What is it?" she inquired, her voice barely a whisper. "What are you looking at?"

The question snapped Ryan out of his reverie. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to appear nonchalant. "Just checking your progress, Duchess," he replied, his voice a touch too formal.

Monsieur Pierre, oblivious to the tension between them, clapped enthusiastically. "Bravo, Your Grace! Bravo, Duchess!" he exclaimed. "A truly magnificent performance! You both have a natural talent for the waltz."

Suzy managed a polite smile. "Thank you, Monsieur Pierre," she said. "It was... instructional."

Ryan cleared his throat. "Indeed," he said, his voice low and husky. "There’s still much to learn."

He shot a glance towards the door, a flicker of something akin to a decision hardening in his eyes. "Duchess," he began, his voice laced with seriousness. "After you’ve finished freshening up, I’d like you to join me in my study. There’s something I need to discuss."

Before Suzy could question his request, Ryan turned and strode out of the ballroom, leaving her standing alone with Monsieur Pierre, a mixture of emotions swirling within her.

"Excellent work, Your Grace." Monsieur Pierre’s declared as his final bow marked the end of the lesson. With a flourish, he gathered his sheet music and announced, "That concludes our session for today, Duchess. You’ve made remarkable progress!"

Suzy offered him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Monsieur Pierre," she replied. "I appreciate your patience and instruction."

As Monsieur Pierre took his leave with another courteous bow, she let out a relieved sigh.

"Doris!" she called out, her voice echoing through the hallway.

A moment later, Doris appeared, her brow raised in question. "Yes, Milady?" she inquired.

" A bath, please." Suzy replied. "And prepare a fresh dress – I’m needed in Ryan’s study afterwards."

Doris raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "The Duke’s study, Milady?" she inquired. "Is everything alright?"

Suzy shrugged, a hint of apprehension creeping into her voice. "I’m not sure, Doris," she admitted. "But apparently, there’s a matter that needs discussing."

"Very well, Milady," Doris said, her tone curious. "Is there a specific dress you have in mind?"

Suzy pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "No, Doris," she said. "Surprise me with something... elegant but comfortable. I have no idea what this meeting might entail."

Doris nodded knowingly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Consider it done, Milady," she assured Suzy. "I’ll make sure everything is prepared for you."