Carol Marinelli - The Price Of His Redemption

‘At least I knew that I was.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Libby winced. ‘That was thoughtless.’

‘What is it with the English and guilt?’ he asked. ‘It doesn’t bother me a bit, and there’s no reason for guilt about your father—it’s not your fault his business is about to go under.’

Libby shot him a look.

‘How?’ she asked. How did he know?

‘Does he usually chase up every non-attendee with such vigour?’

‘No.’

‘Clearly this party is very important to him.’

‘It is.’

‘Guilt and manipulation are terrible bedfellows,’ Daniil said. ‘My parents must know that your father is desperate, so they used him to get to me. In turn, he knows that he’s getting nowhere, so he guilts you into coming to see me, hoping I would not be able to say no to your lovely blue eyes.’ He wagged his finger at her. ‘Tut-tut, Libby.’ Then he gave her a thin smile. ‘So are you close to your parents?’

‘For the most part,’ Libby said. ‘I think all families have their issues that drive each other crazy but if you love...’ She hesitated as she remembered that Daniil was estranged from his parents. ‘Do you care about them at all?’

‘No.’ He shook his head but offered no elaboration.

‘Were you ever close to them?’

‘I never let myself get close to anyone.’

She frowned, but said nothing at first. It wasn’t for her to correct him, it wasn’t for her to say he was wrong. She had stepped into his world uninvited and she didn’t make his rules or get to tell him how he should be.

‘Why?’ Libby asked, and from the blush spreading on her neck both knew she wasn’t just discussing his lack of relationship with his parents.

‘Because it leads to expectations that it might last and, in my opinion, nothing lasts. Libby...’ Daniil was incredibly direct. ‘You do understand that whatever happens tonight won’t change my mind about attending my parents’ party?’

‘Yes.’

He didn’t believe her for a moment. ‘You’re sure?’ he checked.

She nodded.

‘Because,’ he warned, ‘that would be very foolish of you.’

‘I know,’ she said, ‘and I hope that you understand that your expensive champagne won’t buy a night in bed with me.’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes.’ Daniil nodded. ‘But my charm might.’

Libby laughed.

He was bad but it felt so good.

‘What about you?’ he asked. ‘You know about my two-week record, what’s your record in a relationship?’

Libby thought for a moment. ‘Eighteen months,’ she said. ‘Though the last six don’t really count.’

‘Why?’

‘We were seriously limping along by then.’ She thought back to that time—the constant knot in her stomach at the juggling of too many balls. It had been a relief when the relationship ball had finally fallen and she could fully immerse herself in dance. ‘Apparently I was too focused on my career.’

‘Instead of him?’ Daniil checked, and Libby nodded. ‘That’s his issue.’

‘Perhaps,’ she sighed. ‘I keep telling myself that.’

‘Then, it’s time to start believing it.’

The waiter came and Libby ordered the French onion soup as her main and Daniil asked for two steaks and a green salad.

When they were alone she looked back at him. ‘Two?’

‘I have a big appetite,’ he said, and then admitted that he was curious about her order. ‘I’m surprised that you didn’t ask for them to leave off the cheese and bread. Isn’t that what most ballet dancers do?’

‘Ha.’ Libby gave a wry smile. ‘Unfortunately the only time I’m not hungry is when I’m anxious or stressed. The moment I’m happy I’m constantly starving. How did you know I was a dancer?’

‘You were trying very hard to keep your legs parallel and not walk like a duck when you came into my office.’

Oh. Her thighs were definitely parallel now—in fact, they were squeezed tightly together just from the delicious brush of his knees.

‘Professional?’ Daniil asked.

‘Ex.’ For the first time he saw that happy smile waver. ‘Well, I guess I shall be again soon but in a different way—I’m looking at two rentals tomorrow so that I can start my own dance school. You know the saying, those that can’t, teach.’

‘That doesn’t sound like something you would say to somebody else,’ Daniil observed.

‘No,’ Libby admitted.

‘So why do you say it about yourself?’

‘I’m guess I’m not where I’d hoped to be.’

‘Which is?’

For the first time conversation faltered.

Libby took a large slug of champagne before speaking. ‘My biggest part never happened...’ She saw his small frown. ‘I was understudy once. You know when they say, “Break a leg”? Well, I meant it. But, of course, she didn’t.’

‘You never meant it.’

‘No,’ she admitted. ‘I’d have loved her to get at least one migraine, though.’

Daniil smiled and now so did she.

‘Look, I’ve accepted that the small roles I get aren’t going to lead to anything bigger. I love ballet, seriously I do, but it’s not everything. It’s almost everything but if you want to go far then that’s what it has to be. I’ve also had a couple of injuries that I haven’t come back from...’

‘Such as?’

‘You never want to see my feet,’ she said.

‘Oh, but I do.’

Said feet’s toes were curling at another press of his knee, so much so she was almost tempted to flick off her shoe and place it in his lap.

Help!

‘Anyway, the last fracture I had demanded rest and you just can’t. You have to push through but I realised that I can’t keep doing it any more. I know I’m not going to go far, at least not anywhere that’s going to pay more than my rent, so I’ve been studying to teach. I’m actually excited about it now. I’ve had my depression.’

‘You thought that your life was over?’

‘Oh, yes,’ she readily agreed, because for months she had not been able to imagine leaving her dream behind, but now, well, she was happy with what she’d achieved and excited for all that was to come.

Almost.

There was an ache there—that she would never be a part of a big production again, never audition—but she avoided touching it for now.

‘And so tomorrow you look at places to open your own dance school?’

‘I do.’

‘Good luck, then.’ He raised his glass and they chinked them.

The soup was sublime, the crust perfect, and she poked a hole to get to the lovely brown broth beneath.

‘Tell me about the places you are looking at tomorrow,’ he said.

‘Well, there’s one not very far from where you work and it has the rent to prove it. Then there’s one in the East End, which I can afford and it already has mirrors...’

‘So it was once a dance studio?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why did it close down?’

Her spoon paused midway to her mouth. ‘Don’t spoil my appetite.’

‘No, these are the questions that you need to ask. Trust me, I know these things.’

She gave him a tight smile. ‘I don’t think teeny-tiny dance studios are your area of expertise...’

‘Business is business.’

‘Perhaps, but it’s very personal to me.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with being personal,’ he said. His knees did not dust hers now, they were there touching hers and pressing in a little and, yes, they were officially flirting, and if he could be nosey then so could she. ‘How did you get your scar?’

He gave a tiny shake of his head as a response.

Just that.

No evasiveness, no excuses, just a tiny shake of his head that told her not to go there.

It intrigued her, though.