The Happy Life of a Duchess

"It's been a long time. I'm so glad to see you." Mrs. Dressel's voice was as enthusiastic as ever, and there were a lot of laughter there. "How is little Adele doing recently? I heard that you were ill. ?”

"Everything is fine, ma'am." A crisp female voice responded.

"Leopoldina, I am relieved to see that you are so energetic. You are so beautifully dressed today, and many gentlemen will ask you to dance."

"You're being polite." The other party responded quickly, "Please be as polite as your friends, call me Leo, it will be my honor."

The voice over there reached Adele's ears, but her mind had already drifted away.

Although she was a little surprised when she first heard the surname Hugo, she never thought that Hugo would be one of the members of the House of Lords appointed by their king during this period.

Adele estimated in her heart that the other party was the one she imagined, the famous writer Victor Hugo.

Accompanying him was naturally his orthodox wife, and then several children of their family. It was only because of Mrs. Dressel’s words that Adele realized that Victor Hugo had a very famous Her youngest daughter, who is remembered by the world for her mad pursuit of love, is named Adele Hugo.

More important to Victor Hugo, however, was his regretfully deceased eldest daughter, Leopoldina Hugo, who apparently drowned at the age of 19 on their honeymoon with her husband.

Such a death casts an extremely unfortunate shadow on the whole family.

Adele still remembers that later generations made a movie about her youngest daughter, Adele Hugo. The youngest daughter developed the kind of borderline personality that was not noticed, which was partly caused by the family.

Leopoldina was once Hugo's favorite and valued daughter, but when her life was about to start the next stage of happiness, she unfortunately drowned and died during the honeymoon. All unbearable.

Hugo displayed the relics left by his eldest daughter as important exhibits at home for all visiting guests to visit. People continued to praise their love that ended during the honeymoon, and the impact it had on the young daughter It is also huge, coupled with the subsequent family changes, Adele Hugo became more depressed and sensitive.

"It seems that several times, when I came, you were in a daze..."

"No," Adele immediately retorted, "It's obviously your demeanor that fascinates me."

Both of them smiled, and Adele winked at him mischievously, and then they made up the etiquette, smiling and saluting each other.

"Seeing that you are in such a good mood, my mood seems to have improved a lot." Mr. Duval stared at her with smiling eyes, and his words couldn't tell the truth from the fake, just like Adele's words were also somewhat tinged False sincerity, or temptation or casual words.

"Forget it, sir, I can't be fooled by such good words."

Adele smiled and fanned her fans, as if she was not at all moved by his praise.

"Well, maybe I should learn a few more Shakespeare poems?"

"I have to remind you," Adele's watery eyes curved into crescent moons behind the fan, as if full of moonlight, "great playwrights and writers are not necessarily excellent 'winners' above women .”

"You're right." He thought for a while and nodded in response. The two paused slightly, looked at each other, and then looked away.

"Why don't you see Morgana?"

Adele took the initiative to talk after a while.

She is also a little strange, this gentleman did not go to see those gentlemen, but came to say hello to her. Of course, she is resting here alone now, and she did not follow the Duke's father, so that the single It's really not good for the lady to be alone, but it seems strange that the other party came here and didn't talk much.

The most important thing is that their family should have arrived much later than her, and they probably haven't seen many guests. Shouldn't they be socializing at this time?

"Mrs. Castellana took her to meet people."

He said vaguely that he was giving her a reason for him to come and talk to her alone.

Adele pondered for a while, and found that she really couldn't intuitively judge what he was thinking, so she simply accepted the reason he gave, as if she didn't know anything.

Anyway, she was very willing to talk with him on the side. Since the other party created such a condition intentionally or unintentionally, it is no wonder that she just accepted it with a smile.

"Are you being lazy here?"

He smiled and turned to look at her, Adele raised her head, and their eyes met again.

"Aren't you? You must be fair, sir."

Adele looked at him with a smile, as if the other party had realized something.

"It seems that the two of us are lazy 'prom weirdos' together. With all due respect, this is not a good thing for some single young ladies." Duerva retorted pretending to be serious.

"Listen, listen, what you said is very high-sounding," she laughed, and the fan slapped the breeze twice, "I can't let you put this terrible name on me, after all, someone A single gentleman really has no position to say anything about me, does he?"

Adele glanced at him meaningfully, her eyes lingering on the black and gold cut of his neckline for a while.

It is a somewhat unfamiliar pattern, with a black background, probably the pattern on real gold. It is quite beautiful, but she is not familiar with this flower.

"Well, now we just have a handle on each other?"

Duval spread his hands, seemingly innocent, but his words were much softer.

"Yes, yes, I think we can reconcile."

Adele nodded, expressing her joy at his "surrender".

"Uh, but let's think about it..." He pondered for a while, and Adele watched with great leisure to see what else he could come up with.

"As a gentleman who intends to invite the beautiful lady in front of you to dance the first dance together, it seems very unwise to offend this noble lady before the opening...?"

Hearing this, the smile on the corner of Adele's lips grew stronger.

This gentleman really moved her heart, and he was willing to take the initiative to hand over the conversation to her, as if he was actively asking her to "punish" him——

He obviously started the topic, but after she refuted it, she politely agreed to a tie.

However, he gave her another very gentle reason in a very gentlemanly manner, allowing her to happily be in the "upper" position.

This is so happy, the kind that is so beautiful that it is bubbling all over.

"Yes, yes," Adele suppressed a smile, and nodded solemnly, as if she was talking about herself, "she will be unhappy."

"Hey, this is really worrying." Mr. Duval's eyes were full of smiles, but his face seemed to be very serious.

"Although I believe that such a kind lady would not do such a thing, I can't help but worry in my heart whether the other party will deliberately show me a little color when I invite her to dance because she is angry. 'Look what?'

"My God, this really worries me—"

"Sir, it sounds like you are doubting the character of a good lady?"

Adele leaned back slightly, fanning herself like this, and looked at him with a smile.

"Oh no, of course not." He shook his head, the smile on his lips almost couldn't be suppressed.

"It's just that a gentleman like me is far from being as noble and outstanding as that lady, and my heart is far from being so pure-this really makes me feel inferior."

"My God, listen to me, my sir."

Adele's eyes widened exaggeratedly.

"Who else is better than you?"

"Words like 'inferiority' don't suit you, really."

"If you want me to say, there is no more outstanding gentleman than you in the audience. Everyone knows that you are a celebrity in the Parisian social circle. Your young boy is not half as outstanding as you... Oh, please Forgive my bluntness."

Amidst the smiles in his eyes, Adele obediently praised him, and she was not stingy in her praise.

"I swear to God, that young lady won't mind your slight offense before, and she won't embarrass you in public when you are invited to dance... Not only that, but I can assure you that when the time comes, she I will put my hand in yours happily."

Adele put away the opened fan, tapped the folding fan slightly on the palm of the other hand, and then turned the wrist of the hand holding the folding fan slightly, pointing directly at the gentleman.

"So, handsome gentleman, when do you plan to invite his lovely lady to dance?"

Duval then laughed, and then he restrained his expression, pretended to be thinking on purpose, and answered slowly.

"The first time the invitation dance music sounded."

He looked into her eyes.

Adele paused slightly, but the corners of her lips curled up a little bit. She stared at him, and only looked away after a while.

"Okay, then I'll wait, I hope you won't be taken a step ahead."

"I see."

He complied.

Adele murmured in her heart, hoping that this gentleman really "got it" as he said.

Otherwise, she really wasn't sure if she could refuse with a suitable reason if someone else came to invite her first.

Of course, not everyone is qualified to dance on the dance floor for the first dance on such a big occasion.

A person of Adele's status will naturally have a place near the center dance floor, and a high-status lady like her or other sought-after gentlemen will definitely be fully arranged.

However, because of the importance of the first dance, the two sides often pass a message in advance.

Just like Mr. Duke asked her if she had any arrangements for her dance partner before, Adele replied at that time that she already had an appointment for her first dance.

If other smart gentlemen come to ask her, she also declines the first dance, but it doesn't matter for the rest, if gentlemen want to invite her, just come over depending on the situation, as long as the identity is not too different or there is a Contradictory, she will basically agree.

Because the ball is very big and there are many participants, there will be no shortage of dance partners, but Mrs. Lude also told her that it is enough to dance with the same person once in this kind of public dance, so that every show is different A dance partner, or maybe not enough to jump over.

Logically speaking, at Mr. Duval's age and his children are so old, he no longer needs to stay on the dance floor all the time, because it is not an occasion where the number of women far exceeds that of men, so he can not even dance a game, etiquette There won't be any problem with it either.

But since he had already promised Adele's first dance, and said that just now, he would not let her go.

The two happily "connoted" each other, hinting and confirming for a while that the first song will definitely be danced together.

"Is that the youngest daughter of Mr. Hugo's family?"

"Which one?" Mr. Duval followed her gaze.

Adele didn't know that he had already greeted him, and asked about the first dance that he cared about. Why didn't he leave? Instead, he stayed by her side and didn't say much, although she liked this kind of wonderful Harmonious and tacit silence, but does it really have no effect on his social interaction?

"It's Congressman Hugo?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, then quickly relaxed, and turned to look at her with a smile, as if he was waiting for her to confirm.

Adele looked at him with a half-smile, raised her eyebrows slightly at him, and he nodded knowingly.

"Yes, that's the youngest daughter of their family." He suddenly realized, "Oh, by the way, this lady is also called Adele, Adele Hugo."

"It's fate, isn't it good?" Adele opened the folding fan again, covering her mouth as she spoke. The smile in her eyes was full of determination. It seemed that she hadn't misunderstood the person.

"Do you want to get acquainted?" He turned to look at her. "Do you need me to introduce you?"

As a popular government official and politician, he is familiar with most of the members of those parliaments, especially those members of the House of Lords in Paris.

Not only that, but most of them are more polite to him. Although they have the right to vote, most of the time, that's what they do at best, not compared to him who holds real power.

"Uh...Actually, I'm more interested in their young lady."

Adele is keen to meet characters who for her once existed only in novels and history books, many of whom have of course been brought to the screen.

But just as she was curious about Marguerite and Armand, this did not prevent her from having some inherent natural impressions of them, including that this kind of bonus would be added to a certain extent on these "living creatures" before her. people".

She thought that for the vast majority of people, they would not refuse the opportunity to meet these characters.

Others will not understand her mood like "treasure hunting", but of course it is impossible to tell others about this secret pleasure.

"It's not difficult."

Mr. Duval answered, which was true.

"Mr. Duval..."

Another gentleman who didn't know who it was came over, and Adele followed and saluted.

"This is Baron Bruno."

"This is the lady of the Duke's family, Miss Adele."

Duval introduced the two parties, and after getting to know each other, he found an excuse to leave and took away the unfamiliar gentleman who seemed to be an official.

Adele doesn't care, she doesn't really care about how many officials she knows, and this is indeed not a network she can get involved in now.

She was almost too lazy, Adele put down the champagne glass, and then continued to recognize people.

Mrs. Castellana and Mrs. Dressel, as well as her cousin Marianne Henley, introduced many people to her, and she carefully remembered them one by one.

Finally, I got to know the famous Mr. Hugo and his family.

"This is the young lady of Duke Juradi's family, Miss Adele." Mrs. Dressel introduced to several people with a smile.

"These two are Miss Hugo's family. The older one is Leopoldina Hugo, and the younger one is only in her teens. She is our other Miss Adele Hugo."

"Hello, Ms. Adele." The two young ladies on the opposite side saluted her tacitly, and Adele quickly returned the salute.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Leopoldina, Miss Adele." After speaking, she couldn't help laughing, she had a strange feeling of calling herself, and the little girl on the other side followed suit. Let out a smile.

The two young ladies of Hugo's family are also very good in appearance.

The younger one can't fully see the style, but the older one is about the same age as Adele, and she is not engaged yet, but I heard that she already has a favorite object.

Talking about marriage, it takes about a year to prepare, it is not far away, but before the official engagement, everything can be changed, even if it is engaged, there may be changes, after all, she is still very popular in the matchmaking market now young lady.

"Please call me Leo, may I call you by your name?"

"Of course, please don't mind."

Adele smiled and said yes, and teased the little girl Adele Hugo. She was a little reluctant to talk to her two elder sisters here, and just wanted to go to the side. Don't run around, as soon as the dance starts, someone will invite her to dance.

Of course, the little girl who is only 11 years old this year does not need to dance immediately. After all, dancing is actually a part of the relationship between men and women, and men and women who can dance the first dance are also particular——

This is a lead dance, except for the host who hosts the dance, only people with higher status can participate.

Among these people, young or single men and women are usually required, and there are also newlyweds who have just married and joined the social circle with a new attitude to be able to lead the dance.

Usually older people will not lead the dance unless necessary. For example, the old archdeacon and the old gentleman who held the ball today will not go off to lead the first dance, and his son will naturally replace him.

Seeing that the ball was about to start, and the music had also changed, Adele and Miss Leo Hugo stopped walking around and talked on the sidelines, waiting for the appointed man to come and invite them to dance.

"...Are you going to play later?" Adele turned her head and asked.

"Of course," she smiled, "but I've already been let off the pigeons once, so this time..."

Leo's tone was a bit helpless, but his attitude was relaxed, and he didn't seem to be troubled by it.

"Anyway, the gentleman will come over, I'm not in a hurry."

"Sounds like there's a story here?"

"Story?" She turned her head and thought for a while, "Let's count it?"

"I thought you..." Adele showed a little surprised expression, but the other party understood, and was even more surprised than she was.

"No, no, I'm not." Mademoiselle Leopoldina immediately retorted.

"Actually, I'm still single. Although there was indeed an officer who made me a little bit excited, unfortunately, I have no chance with him."

"..."

Leo's relaxed and relaxed attitude gave Adele an excellent impression.

She was used to seeing women crying for a little bit of love, but when she suddenly met a young lady with such a straightforward attitude, she couldn't help showing a little smile along with her.

"Tell them to fuck off."

She covered her swearing mouth with a fan.

"of course."

Miss Leo winked at her.

I've checked my eyes, I'm a good match.

Adele then chatted with her, and became more and more sure that Miss Leo was an interesting lady to get along with.

Unlike her younger sister Adele, who seems to be somewhat introverted, Miss Leo is a more cheerful lady than she imagined. She will show some less "lady" but very sincere and natural qualities, and will not Shows excessive tension and vulnerability.

"What do you read?"

"For example..." Adele smiled, "Your father's."

"Oh my God, this is our honor." Miss Leo smiled happily, "I also admire my father very much, he is a truly outstanding person."

"Of course." Adele affirmed without a doubt.

"You are slightly different from what I imagined, I can't imagine..."

"Oh, don't worry, I don't eat people." Adele joked, and the two laughed happily together.

"Yes, I am relieved now." She laughed, and then explained, "You know, you are a noble princess, and we... well, I always feel that it is a little different... But you are very approachable and very friendly. Kindness is very gentle, and it is the best thing to get along with."

"But if it's the kind of melancholy and soft girl, to be honest, I will feel uneasy again, always worrying that the other party will cry..." Leo took out a handkerchief, covering himself with some speechless words. If you control the volume, you won't be able to eavesdrop.

"I'm really glad that although I've been sick before...but now I'm not such a delicate type. It feels really good to feel better, and I feel relaxed." Adele said very gratefully, "I'm so glad I didn't miss a good friend like you."

"Of course, true friends will never be missed, just like love." She smiled triumphantly.

Adele has to admit that between people, it is really very eye-catching.

Just like so many gentlemen before, she met so many people, and it's not like they were handsome, rich, or high-status, but looking around, they were not as good as Mr. Duval who happened to glance at the dance floor. Come amazing.

I thought she was from the same way, and even overturned Miss Sophie Barry, who gave her a bad impression because of the rumors at the beginning. After all, she was not from the same way.

After getting along, I realized that although the other party is not the "disorderly" girl in the rumors, she is not a fellow with whom she can get along well.

Another example is Margaret. Although she is a lowly social butterfly who has gone the wrong way, the feeling of communicating is even better than some noble ladies.

To be honest, for example, let her get along with Miss Ada Desi, or get along with someone who is smiling on her face but secretly calculating her, she would rather get along with courtesan Margaret, at least the other party does not He would turn around and stab her twice, betraying her, and the other party was pure-minded and kind-hearted, and didn't want to harm her and the Duke's mansion.

In terms of status, there may be a gap, but if you really want to say, there are many people who are really "unworthy".

Adele was in a good mood, and she was still smiling until the music of the invitation dance sounded and Mr. Duval walked up to her.

"Hey, it's Mr. Duval?" Miss Leo was a little surprised, but she was covered with a handkerchief, and only Adele heard it.

"Go and dance." She urged Adele, until she saw a certain gentleman walking towards Leo, Adele was slightly relieved.

She doesn't want the friend she just met to sit on the bench, and even wants to introduce her to Morgana. Morgana is also pure-minded. Simple people should get along with simple people. That kind of thinking is quite deep. You can't mix in, otherwise it will be embarrassing.

"Miss Adele, may I have the honor of asking you to dance?"

Mr. Duval's etiquette is in place and his posture is pleasant, which is enough to give her face.

"Of course I'd love to."

Adele smiled and took her hand.

The two looked at each other and smiled, and he led them to the dance floor side by side.

One of them has a high status and the other has a lot of power, so they are naturally in the middle of the prosperity, and even the other couples consciously give way to them.

"Huh." Adele let out a little doubt.

Unexpectedly, someone would lead her directly to the center of the dance floor. Next to her was the host's son, and on the other side seemed to be the son of a duke who was the first heir of the Orleans dynasty.

Looking back, it was Miss Sophie Barley and another Earl, who were behind them.

"don’t worry."

Such words seemed to be written in Mr. Duval's eyes.

Adele was only slightly surprised.

She didn't expect that as a newcomer in the social circle, she would be able to reach this position, but after thinking about it carefully, there seemed to be nothing surprising.

The dance floor is actually one of the entertainments for young "blind date" men and women.

After screening by multiple conditions, there are not many people who can go to the center...

No, after thinking about it, Adele still felt a little weird.

Morgana, Armand, Mr. Castellana, Mr. Dressel, Miss Hugo, Miss Barry, Miss Desi, Baroness Bernard...

None of these people were able to get to this position, and as a result, he was "let" to this position directly with her.

For a moment, she didn't know whether to be surprised by the coincidence and humility, or to sigh in her heart, how much influence the male companion in front of her had—

Before, she didn't have such an intuitive feeling for his prosperity, but now, she seemed to have touched a little doorway.

You know, this kind of snatching of the C position on the dance floor is no different from some celebrities walking on the red carpet in the future. Although everyone is smiling on the surface, this is actually the most "class" place.

Almost everyone in the upper class of Paris gathers here. Even if they are both nobles, there will be some invisible circles and invisible class status divisions among them.

But he just brought her to the center with a smile——

"Unexpectedly..."

It was only then that Adele gradually realized that it seemed that she had found herself a great dance partner.

She swore that she had danced with Mr. Duval only on the spur of the moment.

What was the situation?

Oh, it was the other party who took the initiative to apologize and gave her a chance to make conditions for the first time.

He doesn't seem to be stingy about bowing his head in front of her, and he can always use various reasons to cheer her up. Even she herself is a little unclear whether he has other intentions...

Then, she just danced for herself with a gentleman who admired and even moved her heart.

Yes, she was thinking about it at the time, she felt that she shouldn't miss such an opportunity, such an outstanding man, but in the end he agreed, just like agreeing to an ordinary prom invitation.

Because when they met for the first time, the other party also danced his first dance with her, so she didn't think much about it, isn't it the first dance?

After all, these days, there have been so many dances, and she has danced with many gentlemen. She really didn't think too much about the dance floor culture. It's just that before coming to today's public dance, she was told by a strict governess wife After a while, she remembered more.

And then, here's the situation in front of you.

Feeling the different eyes of the people around her, but without questioning the positions of the two of them, she finally realized deeply that she chose an extremely powerful male dance partner to dance this first important dance— —

So much so that his duke father showed a look of surprise, his eyes that were squeezed so hard to see were widened, and she was almost amused by his expression.

She was sure that if she had used the male dance partner arranged for her by the Duke's father, it would be impossible for her to stand in the center position she is now.

However, with the status of the princess, she might not fall far behind, but the strict division in this circle made it impossible for her to move forward easily.

Except for the first dance, the others are not so fastidious.

The first dance has the meaning of leading the dance, and it is also under the attention of everyone.

In addition to the special convenience that newlyweds can enjoy to a certain extent, others must be judged by their status and class status.

Adele was about to downplay this matter and get used to this "invisible" rule before, but now at a grand occasion with so many people in a public dance, she finally realized it deeply again.

Make an inappropriate analogy.

It was like Cinderella wearing the most beautiful dress and crystal slippers arranged by the fairy godmother, and attracted the prince by virtue of her appearance and elegance. The prince brought her directly to the center of the dance floor, making this girl who was bullied by her stepmother and sister The little pity in the version of the duke's daughter or the merchant's daughter has become the much-anticipated dance partner who can be chosen by the prince with special significance.

All the people who participated in the ball, all kinds of princes, nobles, gentlemen and ladies, had to surround them, watching Cinderella and the prince dance with jealousy or admiration.

They can only smile, then praise, then smile.

Adele noticed from the corner of her eye that Miss Sophie Barry was looking at them, and she still maintained a decent social smile similar to everyone else, but Adele was inexplicably aware that the other party's mood seemed to be different. Not as happy as she seemed.

She seemed to understand something—

Miss Sophie Barry, who is so self-respecting and even quite proud, has a lot of thoughts on Mr. Duval, and is a lady who always wants to be in the center of the dance floor. Now she sees a girl who is really new to her. The new lady "snatched" her position, the feeling in her heart...

Adele seemed to understand a little bit. If this was the case, then the other party's intention to "pull her off the horse" was extremely simple and extremely malicious.

Think about Count Garcia’s ball, and then think about the balls she attended before. Whenever Miss Sophie Barry, the “No. It was the host who held the ball who invited her to dance, or she and various distinguished men came to the center.

But this time, at the opening of an extremely grand ball, she lost this "dignity".

If she really regards this as very, very important, and even needs to rely on this to affirm her own value and increase her bargaining chip, then what is there to doubt?

Adele herself didn't care that much about this.

That's why she was a little surprised that Duval brought her to this position.

She had always danced with the princess's natural origin before, so she didn't think much about it.

She knew that she would not be the last, and with this identity as her confidence, she didn't necessarily have to fight for the only first one, but perhaps for Miss Sophie Barry, whose sister's marriage had been affected, she It is unwilling or even unable to leave this central position.

Miss Sophie Barley's "No. [-] Beauty" is largely inherited from the reputation of "Most Popular".

Of course, it is not the most popular among women, but the "popularity" that is most popular among gentlemen who are not courtesans among nobles.

She needs these elements to constitute the biggest bargaining chip in her marriage.

Every time she takes the most central position, it will add a little bit to her marital value, and she will become more "high-value". It belongs to her own value, not what the family gave her.

Most of the time, for young women, their popularity in the marriage market, especially noble ladies, their value is determined by their fathers, brothers, etc. It is the family that determines their popularity and their own range of choices.

But if they can have some reputation of their own, it will also add color to themselves, such as beauty, such as ability, such as kindness, such as purity, such as caring, such as this kind of popularity, will become their bonus items.

"You seem to be in a good mood." Duval spoke to her in a low voice. The dance music is not over yet, but the positions, especially those in the center, have actually been decided.

"Have you enjoyed chatting with Miss Hugo?"

"It was a pleasure chatting with you, too."

Adele smiled and looked up, smiling slyly.

Duval then laughed lightly:

"My pleasure."

The music switched, the overture sounded, Duval moved first, and Adele followed him.

Both of them are familiar with this dance, so naturally it is impossible to make a mistake. What is more special is that although they have not danced a few dances in total, their tacit understanding is very good.

Compared with the high level of those who practiced on the dance floor all the year round, the two can also achieve an extraordinary tacit understanding and dance to the rhythm of the music.

"Look, they're all looking at us."

Adele said to him happily, even if they were not as happy as they looked, they still had to maintain a decent smile.

"Do you like such occasions?"

Mr. Duval asked back.

Adele thought about it, but gave a different answer.

"If the dance partner is not you, this kind of happiness should be discounted."

She winked at him mischievously, and said frankly:

"But I don't deny that I like to be the one who attracts the attention and is looked up to."

"Does that make you think I'm vain?"

"Of course not." Duval retorted in surprise. "On the contrary, I think it suits you."

"You deserve such an honor, I have no doubt about it."

"Because I'm a princess?"

"Because you are the best."

Adele then laughed.

Duval just watched her with a smile. He looked very decent from the beginning to the end, and there was nothing presumptuous in his manner.

"I have some accidents..."

After a while, she spoke again.

"What do you mean?" Duval asked patiently.

"All." Adele said vaguely, "Unbelievable."

She found that it was also the first dance, because it was in the center, so their "authority" to interact and communicate was limited. The first piece of the lead dance was often not relaxed enough for everyone to dance and talk casually, and This is indeed more important.

Another point is that she found that many people seemed to be watching them.

The other couples in the central area should not have as much attention as Duval and her.

She couldn't figure out whether it was Mr. Duval.