They walked on. The deeper they moved into the fair, the louder the music became. A small crowd had gathered around an open area where dancers spun in wide circles across the snow-cleared ground. Their bright skirts and coats flared with each turn while the fiddlers played faster.
"Watch," Vespera said enthusiastically.
One of the dancers extended a hand toward a passerby, pulling him laughing into the circle. It felt almost natural, and that feeling brought a smile to her lips.
Soon another joined, and another, and Lucrezia chuckled softly at the sight. Her heart warmed to the authenticity the crowd possessed, and at that moment, she might've forgotten her innermost worries.
"Would you dance?" Vespera asked suddenly.
Lucrezia stared at her in disbelief. Noticing the seriousness in her eyes, she shook her head immediately. "I would embarrass myself terribly,"
