Irene's face was red the moment she went out with the Princess and realized there was no avoiding being the center of attention any longer. It wasn't merely the glare she received from the Crown Prince or the amusement from the Earl and Countess that tipped Irene off to all of the attention.
People had quite literally stopped dancing to witness the spectacle. They stopped with their partners and gave way to the two children.
Irene kept her eyes downcast and followed the Princess wherever she wanted to go, which happened to be the center of the floor.
While Irene had danced in such a way in the life she had seen, she had never been the one in the male position. Despite that, she knew what she was supposed to do and would likely surprise the few in the room who knew her secret well.
However, she felt lucky that the friends most likely to tease her, as well as Sir Gunnar, were someplace outside, doing the duties she wished she were a part of at that moment.
