“He was the best. Father would have said he was a bad influence, but I don’t think so. I’d like to think that all that I am today is because of him. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.” Elissa smiled, a fond look in her eyes as met his gaze. “I still think highly of him.” Elissa suddenly stood with a grin. “C’mon. I’ll teach you to dance my way and then you can teach me to dance your way.” She held her hand out to him. “I’m barefoot so if I step on your toes it won’t hurt and I’ve had worse happen to my feet, so it won’t hurt if you step on them. C’mon.” She gave a jerk of her head, hoping that he’d dance with her. “You don’t have to know how to dance. Just let the music lead you. It won’t let you down.” The small drink she’d had of her father’s scotch had help to calm her and lift her spirits. Anymore would have been too much as she was already feeling a little lightheaded. But it didn’t matter so long as she saw Joseph smile. He really was a handsome rogue. “Dance with me and I’ll give you the dagger, but you have to promise to give it back. It’s the only gift my friend ever gave me. It is all I have had to remember him by all these years. I can’t have it taken from me forever.” She hoped maybe this bribe would be enough to get him to dance with her.