Julitta wrinkled her nose. She did not have quite the delicacy of bone structure that marked Melina, Leesa, all these Higher Hundred girls, but Nolan liked her quirky brows and wide mouth. “I guess this is why our mothers tell us not to date outside our caste.”

“Ah, no harm in the dating,” Nolan said. “The real heartache’s in the marrying. I like Melina. She’ll be good to you.”

“While she’s around,” Julitta answered in a low voice, so low that Nolan thought perhaps he had not heard her right. But he did not want to investigate; already this conversation was leading him into matters a little more personal than he liked to explore.

“So! Are you still willing to dance with me?” he said, his voice just a shade too hearty.

“Oh, yes, please! I thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”

He was not used to blueskin girls who were so retiring and self-deprecatory. It made him the slightest bit uncomfortable. “No, of course not. I warn you, though, I’m not a very good dancer unless I’m dancing with Leesa. So be patient with me.”

She gave him that small, grateful smile again, and put out her arms for his embrace. “I’m sure you’re wonderful,” she said, and allowed him to lead her onto the floor.

In fact, they made a passable pair, probably because they were both trying so hard not to take a misstep. Her face was furrowed in concentration, so Nolan quickly gave up any attempts at conversation, but that was fine, too. He was not good at small talk with strange women, though this one demanded less of him than almost any partner he’d had.

When the music ended, she gave him a dimpling smile that lent her a momentary radiance. “That was fun!” she exclaimed. “Thank you so much!”

He laughed and could not help but feel flattered. “Well, I enjoyed it, too,” he said. “Would you like another?”

“Oh, yes,” she breathed, and made him laugh again. Really, this was almost too easy; none of Leesa’s friends had ever relished any dance with him this much.

“Well, then,” he said, and took her back in his arms.

They danced the next three numbers together, Nolan enjoying himself more and more as the evening progressed. Julitta’s naïveté was surprisingly refreshing, and she made no effort to disguise any of her reactions. If she liked the music, she said so. If she thought someone nearby had said something rude, she looked up expressively at Nolan and allowed herself to smile. She thought the food was exquisite. She pointed out the dresses that she liked best (including Leesa’s). She even admired the topiary, though she had some doubts about the blue roses.

“But I’m sure they’re very fashionable,” she added hastily. “I just don’t think my mother would like them in her house.”