It's barking hilarious, watching Alek.

He's backed up against the far wall of the ballroom, a semicircle of girls mooning over him pathetically, swinging their dance cards conspicuously on their wrists for Alek to see.

And Alek is doing his best to ignore them. Even so, his ears get violently red whenever a girl makes what Deryn imagines is a not-so-subtle hint. At least, that what's she's guessing. She's on the other side of the ballroom, talking with Dr. Barlow and some other boffins from the Society.

"Your friend Mr. von Honhenberg looks rather uncomfortable, Mr. Sharp," says the Doctor, looking at the growing pack of girls through the corner of her eye.

"Aye ma'am. I was just thinking I should go help him out," smiled Deryn.

"By all means, get him waltzing with one of them. It would be very poor manners for you young men to refuse at least one dance."

Deryn frowns, but excuses herself, exaggerating her limp as she walks away.

She reaches the horde of girls, and clears her throat, but no one seemed to hear her. A tall girl at the front of the pack has just dropped some sort of hint.

Alek is saved from replying (his ears have gone red again) by an ill-concealed snort from Deryn. All of the girls instantly turn around.

"Mr. Sharp!" cries Alek with relief. Poor boy. He thinks she's here to rescue him, as usual.

He practically elbows his way to where Deryn is standing, and they walk off to the other side of the ballroom, leaving the girls behind, before speaking.

"You've saved me once again," he says, smiling now.

"Not for long. Dr. Barlow wants us to dance."

The smile instantly turns into a frown.

"She honestly expects us… But we're, I mean, we're…" His ears aren't red from embarrassment anymore, but something like indignation.

"Well, what better way to throw people off than by waltzing?" she says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"But I don't want to dance with any of those girls," he says out loud. His eyes, however, say something much more. Deryn almost feels guilty teasing him.

"I thought it was bad manners to not dance at a ball in high society."

"Well, yes, but… Do you even know how to waltz?"

"Oh, I'm not dancing!"

"But you said Dr. Barlow wants us both to dance."

"I can't dance, not with my knee in such a state," she says wickedly, motioning at her exaggerated limp. "You, on the other hand, have two perfectly good knees, and ten times as many admirers."

Alek is so cute when he's befuddled and embarrassed . Please review!

All characters (c) Scott Westerfeld.