The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 83: Learning The Etiquettes (2)

Chapter 83: Learning The Etiquettes (2)

"Courtesy and smile, listen before speaking, learn to offer compliments and know how to receive a compliment...."

Madeline daintily went through what she had written as she was once again back in the ballroom, but by herself with no assistance since she had risen from bed early.

Even if she wasn’t acquainted with some of the etiquettes despite carrying the title of a Baroness, Madeline felt satisfied in her heart that she was given a chance to learn what Roland and his wife had restricted her from learning at a tender age.

The servants had shown up to the ballroom to add more decorations and fix the plushed chairs where they are meant to be. Regardless of their presence, Madeline was more focused on getting the etiquettes right before moving to the dance steps Inna had instructed her to learn.

At the entrance of the ballroom, a young lad leaned his shoulder against the door as he watched the focused Madeline try to get the dance steps right. Even when her steps were awfully clumsy, he saw the unwavering determination in her eyes to get the steps properly.

Frederick came to stand beside Cassian, offering him his morning cup of warm tea before whispering. "The gift boxes have been moved from your study room to the bedroom, as you’ve requested."

"Do you think she’ll like the dress?" If Cassian wanted to consider the rest of the women, he knew they all fancied something expensive and probably even the latest trend. But when it comes to Madeline, he just finds it difficult to grasp what type of dress a woman of her character would prefer.

"I am no lady but I think she will love it. The dress suits her personality." After saying this with pure confidence, Frederick went further to ask. "But how long do you intend to hide the fact that you can see, the lady will be very pleased once she gets notified that you have gained your sight."

"Let me play the blind husband role for just a day." Quipped Cassian as he took a sip of his warm tea.

It was because of her that he was able to gain his sight a lot quicker than he had expected, that too before the day of the event. After he had his dinner and went back upstairs to freshen up for the night, he had taken off his blindfold as usual, but what he never saw coming was the blinding light that invaded his vision, and yes.....it was painful since his eyes hadn’t been accustomed to light for a few days.

When he finally settled down, the light began to fade and before he knew it, he could see everything clearly in the bathroom.

Cassian wanted to surprise her with two things, the gift and his sight, but then he wanted to play the blind husband role just once before making everything return to normal.

"Lord Cassian, it appears to me that the new lady will need help if she wants to be prepared for tomorrow night’s celebration." Commented Frederick as he also watched how awfully clumsy Madeline was with her steps, and when he heard her groan in frustration, he could tell she was getting ready to give up soon.

"I was thinking..." Frederick cleared his throat and said. "Shouldn’t you assist the lady...I mean you are very skilled with the dance and it will be a lot easier for the lady to learn if she has a partner to dance with her."

"No." He refused before taking another sip from his teacup. "I want to capture this moment so I can use it to tease her when she least expects it." He dangerously plotted in his head with that devilish smirk curving his lips.

"Very well." Frederick adjusted his black bow tie and straightened his shoulder. "If the lady needs a partner then I will happily step forward to help."

"You will do nothing of that sort Frederick." He shot the man with a deadpan stare that immediately sent Frederick retreating to his side.

With that look, Frederick feared the look of a jealous man, most especially if that man was Lord Cassian.

"But if she doesn’t learn, you know how easily words can spread and get twisted in this part of the quarters, I wouldn’t be happy if the new lady ends up making a mistake and I’m sorry to say this but it would be your fault since you are refusing to let anyone help her."

Cassian remained silent after hearing what Frederick had to say, and all of a sudden, he handed Frederick his cup of hot tea.

"Hold this."

Holding the cup for the young lad, Cassian blindfolded his eyes with the black handkerchief he kept in his pocket before striding over to where the lady was busy practicing the dance.

"Maybe I should wait for Inna." Madeline finally stopped practicing after many failed attempts, and then she heard a voice speak behind her.

"A female partner won’t do as good as a male partner would. There is a secret reason why it is meant for the opposite genders." Came Cassian’s thoughts after hearing Maddie suggest that she was going to wait for Inna.

"You sound troubled, need help?" He asked, and Madeline was still startled by his unexpected presence to give a response.

"N_no...yes." she admitted before letting her shoulders drop with a despondent sigh. "Inna says I have to make a good impression tomorrow night, and I’ve been practicing how to waltz but the steps are a bit difficult to learn."

"A bit?" He inquired, trying his best not to chuckle and give away any suspicions that he had been watching her for a really long time.

"Give me your hand."

"No, I shouldn’t stress you with this." Madeline refused after considering his condition. "You won’t be able to tell if I make a mistake, and what if I step on you? No no, I’ll ask...."

And before she knew it, he had grabbed her hand and pulled her close, silencing the gibberish woman.

"Your hand was all I asked for." He said, and Madeline pinned her lips since she was aware he was telling her not to rant anymore.

"Music." He announced, and to Madeline’s surprise, she could hear a slow rhythmic music coming from somewhere, and it piqued her interest at once.

"Where is_"

"You’re welcome." He showed a faint smile at how surprised she sounded, and Madeline was dying to know how he would teach her with his eyes blindfolded.

Madeline could feel the rate of her heartbeat increase at the thought of having to dance with Cassian. She barely felt this nervous when she was dancing all by herself, and just thinking about how she was going to make silly mistakes increased her anxiousness.

"Just keep yourself relaxed, you know the basic steps, am I right?" He asked, and she responded with a nod of her head.

"Yes."

"Good, all you need to do is follow my lead, are we clear?"

"Yes."

Taking her left arm, he gently placed it on his upper arm near his shoulder, and he could feel her pulse quickening.

"Try and relax, or do you need me to take off my blindfold so you can be a lot more.....distracted?"

"I’m... I’m fine." Madeline didn’t want to take the risk of looking into those eyes again.

Hearing her protest, Cassian continued as he slipped his other hand around her slim waist, then he interlaced both their free hands mid-air, causing Madeline to take a deep breath as she tried to get herself mentally and physically prepared.

"Follow my lead."

"Always."

Smirking at her response, his grip on her hand remained firm as they waltzed to the soft music that was played in the ballroom.

At the first few tries, Madeline was clumsy with her movements which was normal since she was only starting to learn, but as Cassian continued to guide her with the appropriate steps and where to place her feet, Madeline surprisingly found herself moving along with him.

When she made slight mistakes, the young lad would change his stance to make it easier for Madeline to follow, and as the dancing progressed, Madeline could feel her body starting to get acquainted with the steps, and their movements flowed freely with the soft music when the young lad suddenly twirled her around while she stood on her toes.

Inna and Adeline stepped into the ballroom as they tried to picture how they would train Madeline to learn the dance. "If she has gone through the basics, then all we need to do is---" Inna paused after spotting Frederick smiling to himself at the entrance.

"Frederick?"

Hearing his name, he turned to look at Inna with delightful eyes. "Lady Inna, I think you should see this." Moving away from the entrance, Inna quietly stepped in to find Madeline already waltzing on the dance floor with Cassian, and her expression gave away her dumbstruck profile.

"Am I stuck in a dream? Or is this miracle displaying before my eyes?" Asked Inna, and Frederick nodded as he also felt jelly on the inside watching them.

"I can’t remember the last time I saw the young Lord dance like this, and I must say that it feels incredibly good to catch a glimpse of his former self again."

"Lady Madeline is also doing really well!!" Applauded Adeline, and Inna couldn’t hold back a smile. "Yes, Cassian is good when it comes to teaching, but getting him to teach what he knows is the problem."

"Why is the ballroom gathered like a show is going on?" Asked Elaine who was strolling past the hallway, but had stopped when she saw half of the servants and the butler and the rest crowded at the entrance.

Everyone scattered at the voice of Elaine, and that drew her attention as she approached the door.