Georgia was quick to relieve me of my glass and motioned unsubtly that I should hurry. I was so nonplussed by the idea of dancing with him; I was on my feet before I knew what I was doing. William closed his fingers around mine and led me into the throng of couples already swaying to a song. I thought I might be lucky enough to only spare a minute with him if it had been playing a while. The music switched over just as we came to a halt on the dancefloor and started up with a new rhythm.

Damn it.

I was prepared for a decent amount of distance between us. The sort of slow dance usually seen at weddings between awkward new in-laws was what I'd had in mind. William didn't. He pulled me so close that I almost fell onto him. Unfazed by my clumsiness, he stepped purposefully in time with the music, masterfully taking the lead. I was so busy praying to whatever God might be present to let me get through it alive that I barely noticed that he was trying to engage me in conversation.

'Bennett?'

'Huh?'

'Were you listening?'

'Not even slightly,' I said, unabashed at my disinterest in him.

William sighed. I thought he might snap at me, but he held his temper. He asked again, 'Are you having a good evening?'

'It would be better if Wyatt would leave me alone.'

'I noticed that his dancing leaves a lot to be desired.'

'Yeah. I might need an x-ray on my feet tomorrow,' I agreed. 'I can't believe I have to put up with him until the end of the school year. Not that you're interested. Why ask about my evening in the first place?'

'Because we're having a polite conversation.'

'What's that about?' I asked. My voice trembled with nervous laughter. 'You hate me.'

He let out a scant breath through his nose. 'Hate is a strong word. You're not my favourite person in the world, but Charlie seems to like your company.'

'Wow. What a massive sacrifice you're making for your friend by dancing with me. I'll try not to make it too painful for you.'

'I don't mind talking to you if that's a habit you have when you dance with people.'

'Given I don't usually dance with anyone, I couldn't say I have anything like a habit when I do. Usually, I just hope that it'll be over pretty quickly.'

'In that case, I'm going to make you dance the next one with me as well.'

Git.

Lisa and Chrissy were making total spectacles of themselves on the dance floor. They skipped carelessly past us, bumping into me on the way. I fell against William's chest and he brought his arms around me securely. The heat flushed my cheeks so quickly that it left me light-headed. I tried to ease myself away, but he was too busy glaring after the idiots to notice. He muttered something under his breath I didn't quite catch. I suspected that it was best that I'd missed it. It couldn't have been anything polite.

'Think you could let me go?' I asked. 'If Chantelle sees this, she's going to claw my eyes out.'

'Whether she sees it or not, it's not her business.'

'Yeah, but I'd still like to keep my eyes in my face.' I wriggled free. Well, as free as I was going to get while we were still locked in the dance together. We returned to the gentle sway that seemed so popular with people who were using the music as an excuse for some physical contact with the opposite sex. Prom dancing. The kind of dancing you undertook when you knew that chaperones were scrutinising you, but you were aching for the brush of your partner's skin against yours.

Not that I was yearning for William.

I'd have much rather danced with Gideon.

'So... Do you usually walk around the back routes of the school?'

'What?'

'When Charlie and I saw you, you were -'

'Oh, you mean when I was talking to Gideon?'

He visibly bristled.

I couldn't resist adding, 'Sorry, I should call him Mr Wickham, but he asked me to use his first name. I sort of fell into him and we just got chatting. He's a nice guy.'

'I suppose he would seem to be nice if you don't know him that well.'

'Maybe I should get to know him better,' I mused aloud.

His eye twitched at my suggestion. Dancing with him hadn't been a total loss, after all. While I couldn't openly accuse him of anything, it was fun to hint that I knew that something had happened between them. It felt like a victory was being scored on Gideon's behalf. If he wasn't prepared to stand up to someone like William, then this was the least I could do.

William looked away and said, 'I suppose everyone has different tastes when it comes to the company they keep.'

'Are we still talking about Gideon, or are you talking about my other friends?'

'I wouldn't look down on Jenny if that's what you're worried about. She and Charlie seem to have become fast friends already.'

'More than friends,' I muttered.

William caught on and soon his gaze was fixed on Jenny and Charlie. I didn't think he could oppose any attachment they felt to one another. She came from an excellent family. Okay, so she didn't have the same superiority in her that Chantelle did, but I thought that was in her favour. She was a kind girl and any guy would be lucky to have her. Not that she was forward enough to make a move on anyone. I was determined to push them to one another, though. I didn't think she'd find another guy that complimented her so well.

'I hope,' I said, 'that you're not the type of person who judges people too quickly.'

'Obviously not.'

'And you wouldn't think less of anyone for stupid reasons.'

'No, I wouldn't.'

'So, you wouldn't stoop to anything that might be beneath you, just to get back at someone. Right?'

'What's with all the questions?' William asked.

I shrugged. 'I'm just trying to understand you better. Is that a crime?'

'It's not. But I doubt you're getting a good idea of the kind of person I am like that.'

'I'm getting enough. Plus, the music's stopped. That means I'm free, doesn't it?'

'I didn't realise I was making you feel trapped. Thanks for the dance, Bennett.'

I wouldn't return his feelings of gratitude, not when he couldn't even address me by my first name. I couldn't get away from William fast enough. Once I was free and revelling in a moment of solitude, I walked straight into Chantelle. So much for the night being fun. It was turning into something from my nightmares. I wished that I'd stayed in the dorm and had an early night.

'Bennett,' she said with a false smile. 'I heard that you've been talking with Gideon Wickham.'

'Yes, Chantelle. He's basically a teacher. It's hard to avoid at school, you know?'

She didn't take offence to my tone, regrettably. I could have sworn that my annoyance only pleased her. She placed a hand on my shoulder in a consoling fashion. 'I don't like you, Bennett.'

'No! Really?'

'But I will give you some free advice. Don't believe everything Gideon Wickham tells you. I don't know all the details, but I know that there's a bloody good reason he didn't keep his last job. And he's not even rich or anything. His parents worked for William's father. From what I've heard, they weren't so bad, but he's nothing like them.'

'So - basically - I should ignore him because he's poor, and someone employed his parents? He already told me all of that, and I didn't turn my nose up at it. Do you know why? Because I don't care about his bank account.'

She narrowed her eyes and pulled her hand away slowly. 'Fine. Don't take my advice. I was just trying to help.'

'I seriously doubt that.'