Ella smiled a little more, seeing a bit of the old Stephen breaking through the surface. She though she might have seen a bit of color rush through his cheeks when they met gazes, but it may also have been a trick of the dim lighting. Yes...that was what she had seen. It had to be.

She was in high spirits when they entered the hall that she did not notice at first that the crowd had parted upon them entering. Then Ella's brown eyes blinked and they turned to see the parted crowd and Edward approaching them, a perfect and dazzling smile worn on his face. And directed right at her.

Confusion filled her when Edward stopped before them, and it took her a moment to realize that he said his "partner" he was talking about her. And then he was looking at her, and she was taken aback by just how handsome Edward was. It was intimidating and enthrall inc to have all of his attention on her, and when he asked for a dance she was speechless.

"I'm sorry Edward, but Stephen asked for a dance first. Perhaps after." That was what she wanted to say, what she should have said, but Edward didn't give her a chance. He took her hand, the one that wasn't holding Stephen's arm, and before she knew what was happening Ella felt herself being pulled forward. Stephen's arm was wrenched from her grasp as Edward spirited her away to the dance floor, and Ella's head turned to get one last glimpse of Stephen. Her mouth was parted in an unspoken protest, her expression surprised and her eyes filled with regret.

Seeing Stephen there left alone seemed to break her heart for an inexplicable reason.

Then she was in Edward's arms and he began to dance, Ella instinctively falling into step with him. They swept across the floor with perfect grace, and she was somehow certain that they were now the center of attention. Her head turned, catching a glimpse of her godmother watching them, but Edward swept her away before she could clearly see the queen's expression. Ella's head turned again and she tried to find Stephen in the crowd, but that was an impossible task.

Edward spoke, complimenting her beauty, and Ella looked up at the eldest prince as he gazed at her in a way he had never looked at her before. The words and his gaze made her cheeks go warm as she blushed. "Thank you," was all she was able to get out.

His next words caught her by surprise, and she looked up at him with a small but genuine smile across her lips. "I distinctly remember you throwing some of that mud at me, Edward." She joined in on his laughter, she couldn't help it really. He had an infectious laugh. She couldn't remember the last time Edward had made her laugh. Or that last time he had paid this much attention to her.

Edward twirled her around and around the dance floor, the skirt of her red gown swirling around them and Ella thought that some strands of her brown hair must have surely come loose. She leaned into him and clutched his hand and shoulder a bit more tightly. "Sorry," she breathed, looking up at him with slight embarrassment. "I got a little bit dizzy. You are very good at this. Dancing, I mean."