Greengrass had no time to answer, so she supposed her line of questioning would have to wait. The quick glance she spared his way confirmed that something was indeed on his mind, something he hadn’t thought of before. But Ida was no legilimens, so it simply had to wait.

Soon the show started anyway, teeing up with soft tinkling bells that sounded like snowfall on a mysterious winter night. Ida felt her heartbeat pick up a clip with excitement, and took another drink. The leading ballerina had graced the stage, wearing the most gorgeous costume of tulle that accentuated the length of her lean limbs. Her movements were perfectly timed to the music, and as soft and swift as a ribbon fluttering in the wind. Ida gasped, audibly, when she teetered precariously on one toe and raised her other leg up behind her in an effortless arch. How does she do that?

Ida glanced over to Mister Greengrass to ask as much, but he wasn’t looking at her. Funny enough he seemed to be blushing slightly – perhaps he was distracted again, she thought – though this time the consideration was less amusing and more irritating. How dare he think any lustful thoughts about the ballerina! The dancer was utterly pristine, in fact, this setting felt all too vulgar for such a flawless being. She ought to be dancing for kings and queens. No, she ought to be the queen!

Over the course of the piece, which really couldn’t have been more than ten minutes, Ida thoughtlessly finished about two-thirds of her drink. She was, in the end, a bit distracted. And she felt a bit slow and stilted, jumbled together thoughts of what on earth had I meant to ask Mister Greengrass about and what is the divine dancer’s name. With a pang of despair the dance was over, and Ida stood abruptly to clap alongside other members of the audience (though none, surely, appreciated it as much as her!).

Soon the lights flickered back to bright. The ballerina absconded– Ida had hoped she might see her, they were fairly close to the front. Perhaps they could find her? Perhaps she could introduce herself? To what end, of course, Ida didn’t know– the results didn’t seem to matter. Finally, the young woman turned to address her companion (who frankly, through all her daydreaming she’d forgotten was there).

“Wasn’t that wonderful?” Ida sighed with uncharacteristic exuberance. “Oh my goodness. I need to see the entire show now. Or any show with her, really. They’ll be back on in the next hour, won’t they?”

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