The Dance We Remember (Love and Other Dreams #4)

Chapter 14

Maxime

The door is forcefully pushed open, and Madame Durand strides into the dance hall. Her lips are tightly pressed together, surrounded by fine lines from the pressure.

"Monsieur Rousseau." She nods at me, then turns to Aurora. "Mademoiselle Olivetta."

Aurora lifts her chin slightly, as if preparing for a battle. It’s fascinating how composed she appears, while I struggle to keep my heartbeat under control.

The headmistress hadn't informed me of the purpose of this meeting. She only asked me to wait with Aurora in the dance hall after the training session. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good, not with the determined look on her face.

"Don't be shy, come closer," the headmistress motions for us to approach, leaving me with no choice but to step toward her and Aurora.

Being close to her didn't bother me at all. She was just a student like any other , I repeat to myself, trying to convince myself of that, just as I had during the training session.

The past hour has been tough, but I know that the more intensely I work on ignoring whatever is between us, the sooner everything will fall into place.

"Well"—Madame Durand interlaces her fingers into a triangle—"thanks to the heroic efforts of our Monsieur Rousseau here," she says, giving me a stern look, "we find ourselves in a peculiar situation."

For a moment, I glance at Aurora, who is observing the headmistress with a focused expression.

"Without a dance partner, Mademoiselle Olivetta, you won't get far here." Her fingers untangle, and she adjusts her jacket.

So that's what it's about. Internally, I breathe a sigh of relief, as I hadn't allowed any concerns about someone seeing us in the park yesterday to surface.

Aurora nods but remains silent.

Is she nervous? If so, she's doing an excellent job of concealing it.

"However, the fact remains that we don't have one for you." Once again, the headmistress shoots me a venomous glance. "You can thank Monsieur Rousseau for that."

"But how am I supposed to...?" Aurora begins to speak but then falls silent, clasping her hands behind her back. Only from my vantage point can I see her picking at her fingernails. "How do we solve this problem?"

Madame Durand snorts in frustration and then scrutinizes me with her icy-blue eyes. "You caused the problem, so you will solve it."

I am to find a dance partner for Aurora? That's unusual, but if that's what she wants... "Of course, I'll activate my contacts. Maybe a colleague could exceptionally participate in the training." I mentally go through potential candidates. None of my acquaintances are currently seeking a new partner, but if they recognize Aurora's talent, that might change. The chances are slim. "Laurent could be a good fit, or perhaps Marcus..."

Impatiently, the headmistress raises her hand. "I don't care how you do it. Just get it done."

In my peripheral vision, I notice Aurora turning toward me. "How long will it take?" she asks in a professional tone.

Don't look, Maxime.

Too late.

I gaze into her beautiful face, recognizing her courage and that indomitable strength that makes her so special. Not for the first time, the pull between us threatens to overwhelm me.

Now she raises an eyebrow as if trying to convey something to me.

What could that be?

"Surely, Monsieur Rousseau will do everything in his power to find you a partner as quickly as possible, won't you?" The headmistress's venomous words reach my ears. "Won't you, Maxime?" she adds with forceful emphasis.

"Of course," I reply on impulse even though I hadn't been paying attention, tearing my gaze away from Aurora's sight.

"I hope so." A crease forms between the headmistress's eyebrows. "Until then, you will train with Aurora, understood?"

What? I am to...?

Out of the question.

In individual training, we'll be alone together. Touching each other. Feeling each other.

Oh God. This can't happen.

I shake my head vehemently. "You insisted yourself that I focus my full attention on the coaching job," I remind the headmistress. "Having a dance partner would be a distraction." Those were her own words when she hired me. Why shouldn't they still hold true?

"That has changed. You will dance. In all the sessions, of course," she responds coldly. Her expression silently adds, That's what you ge t.

She wants to punish me. I should have expected it, but it still catches me off guard.

How am I supposed to dance with Aurora—for maybe even weeks—without...?

No. Don't even think about it.

"Understood," I say firmly, feeling Aurora's gaze drilling into my side.

Don't look.

Don't. Look.

A malicious grin forms on Madame Durand's face.

"Well then, that's settled." She quickly turns around and strides toward the door. Once there, she glances back at me. "And there will be no further problems. Do we understand each other?"

I struggle against the tightness in my throat, but it doesn't help. At least I manage to nod.

"Absolutely not," Aurora says firmly.

The headmistress's reaction is to raise an eyebrow before disappearing through the door.

I should leave too. Right now.

"Maxime." Suddenly, I feel Aurora's hand on my forearm. "Can we talk?"

"Better not," I manage to utter, but at the same time, I can't pull away from her or even leave the room.

"Are you serious?" Her tone carries disappointment and disbelief.

I avoid looking at her. "We've already discussed everything." It hurts to be this harsh, but it's the only way. "First training session tomorrow at two o'clock." Even as I speak the words, I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen.

The pressure of her hand weakens, and then she lets go completely. Coldness spreads within me. "Oui," she says and walks past me to the outside while I stand rooted to the spot in the dance hall, reciting my mantra.

She's a student like any other.

In my mind, I repeat the sentence, vowing not to stop until I believe it myself.