At the start of the
song Zimzi had clapped her hands together, saying as she then laid the slender fingers of one hand on his arm that it just wouldn't do to sit still. The music was too lively; feet moved of themselves in the quick rhythm of the tune.
Benat and the others at the table soon pulled it back a way and moved their chairs to the edge of the little space just cleared. As the fiddle played and Falco's pipe wove with it, Zimzi picked up her skirt until the hem was at her knees and capered to the center of the dance space. She turned and curtsied to Derufin, who grinned and shook his head as he joined her. From his pocket he took a clean kerchief and holding one end gave her the other. Tethered lightly, they pranced easy and briskly side by side, forward and back, her twirling and passing beneath the bridge of his kerchief and arm . . . until they were out of breath and laughing as they stumbled into one another. Wheeling madly in each others' arms until they fell with a whoop and a grin into one of the empty chairs; she landing squarely on his lap. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and her eyes gave a promise.
And then she was up again, pulling him to his feet, and motioning for the others to join in if they would. 'You missed the wedding by a day, but now there is no need to miss the dancing!' she enjoined them.
Let envy, let pride, let hate and ambition,
still crowd to, and beat, at the breast of the great.
To such wretched passions we give no admission,
but leave them alone to the wise ones of state.
We boast of no wealth, but contentment and health,
in mirth and in friendship, our moments employ . . .
She beamed at the band when the tune had finished, and gave a merry wave of her hand to Falco, mouthing, 'Well done and thank-you!' With a satisfied sigh, Zimzi resumed her seat and took the cup of cider Derufin offered her.
Her cheeks were red as ripe Shire apples, he thought, as he watched her bring the mug to her lips. 'What a lucky, lucky man I am,' he murmured to himself, his dark eyes drinking her in.