Oh, dear, he looked disappointed. If she were viewing this objectively she might have found it flattering that he had been so invested in dancing with her, but at the moment the only thing that occurred to her was distress at having caused him any unpleasantness. She didn't see any other way that she could have handled the situation, however, because she certainly could not have danced with him.

"Let's hope it isn't needed," she joked thinly, feeling rather miserable about the turn things had taken.

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