Chapter 209 The Winter Solstice (2/2)

Anna pouted, ”He doesn't mind”.

She turned to Rassa for his approval. Rassa leaned down and kissed her cheek, ”Thank you for your mothering, mother”.

the tray went past again and Rassa picked up another. Anna's eyes narrowed.

”What? I'm still having another”.

Anna sighed, nibbling on her own bun as she turned back to watch the children dancing in their rings around the Ribbon Pole in between the two bonfires.

Rassa turned to watch as well, and noticed Jane standing on the other side with a few of her friends. Rassa met her gaze, holding it for a moment. He contemplated calling out to her, but then she turned away.

It wasn't as if he'd meant to ignore her over the past month. He'd been so busy enjoying the time with his parents that he hadn't thought about Jane as much as he probably should have.

The music for the children's dance finished and the village clapped and cheered for the young ones. The Baron stepped forward, grinning from ear to ear, ”And now, the highlight of the evening...may we have our participants for the Ribbon Dance move into place?”

The crowd shifted ever so slightly to view the Ribbon Pole. A few young men and women stepped forward, including Jane and her friends. Rassa watched, contemplating what to do. So she didn't see herself as attached to him? Well, she had said that there wasn't any pressure on him to reciprocate. But still...

Rassa felt the small morsel of food left in his hand snatched away, and he turned to protest, only to have his mother push him forward.

”Go on, have fun!”

Rassa opened his mouth to protest, but meeting Jane's eyes, he realised that he didn't really want to. Rassa stepped forward, waiting as a ribbon was tied to his wrist. He recognised a few of the others, but he found his eyes kept straying back to Jane on the opposite side of the circle.

”Very well everyone, let the dance begin!”

The music flowed through the air and Rassa found himself instinctively moving into the first steps of the dance.