Luneshale Pass [aaf] the weight of history

in the manner of one Royal gently linking arms with another did they two then proceed through the crowd that parted for them. he, gentlemanly, keeping his arms to a space that could invite no scandal—even as she could feel the teasing drum of hungry fingers. tiny fires spread where they made contact, innocent though it was! 
distracting! she was nearly breathless in her rejoinder to him, but kept her composure somehow. the eyes, at least, were grounding—even when she felt as though she might very well begin to float! but what he revealed truly was a shock, at least for the skill that he had demonstrated. I can see that it only benefited you—I now imagine you as the best dancer of all, among them! you understand the duality of it all. you do not seek to overwhelm or undermine, so multi-faceted, these words! and her gaze turned toward him, to see if she had the right of it—of him. 
and then he was complimenting her in turn, and Toula found herself smiling. her cheeks felt flushed, and her heart fluttered. it? she gently asked, wanting to be sure she knew his meaning! wanting him to say more!