After the rhythm for the waltz finally came to an end, Hermione let out a quiet breath of relief.
It had felt far too long.
Not because she had hated it, quite the opposite, which was honestly part of the problem, but because for a first dance with Ulrich, with him standing that close and leading her so perfectly, every minute had seemed stretched thin and sharp against her nerves.
Still, she had endured it.
More than that, she had managed not to completely disgrace herself in front of him, which already felt like an achievement worth defending with her life if Esther started saying too much. Dealing with someone like Ulrich had always been difficult. It had been difficult from the moment she first met him two years ago. But if she was being honest with herself, she had grown much better at it.
At least a little.
