The third ball is lavishly decorated like a manicured garden, and Charlotte wishes to share it with Sabine rather than Jocelyn. After an hour without spotting Sabine, Charlotte is cornered into dancing by George Preston, under her aunt Amelia’s watchful eye. George is eager and complimentary, but Charlotte feels no spark; his clammy touch and breathless praise leave her indifferent.

As the dance ends, Charlotte finally sees Sabine, radiant in moss-green with braided copper hair. Charlotte rushes to her, but Sabine’s expression is stern. Sabine leads Charlotte into a private parlor and announces her troubling discovery: Charlotte does not truly know how to dance. Charlotte protests that she does, recalling informal practice with James, Jocelyn, and Anthony at Clement Hall.

Sabine insists Charlotte is only going through motions and offers to show her more. With music muffled through the doors, Sabine takes Charlotte’s hand and teaches her to imagine a wind resisting her, creating tension that both holds her back and draws her toward a “prize.” Sabine maneuvers Charlotte with light but decisive touches, urging her to relax and close her eyes. Charlotte surrenders to the guidance, her senses sharpening to Sabine’s cool hand and scent of soil, sugar, night air, and stone fruit.

They dance without strict steps, following the rhythm and Sabine’s lead, bodies brushing and parting like a girl and her shadow. The energy between them tethers Charlotte, making her crave each rejoining. Between turns, Charlotte asks when Sabine learned, and Sabine answers “another life” and “more than most,” hinting at a long, layered past.

When the song ends beyond the door, Charlotte hesitates to break contact, but then withdraws, wary that it might be a test or game. Sabine, meeting her gaze, remarks that no suitors suit her tastes and suggests that Charlotte will have her pick. Charlotte inwardly recoils at the memory of George’s touch, recognizing she feels nothing with the men and that dancing with them does not feel like this with Sabine.

Charlotte asks why Sabine is helping her. Sabine says she knows court can be dreadful but pleasant in the right company, reaching up to fix a curl near Charlotte’s face instead of caressing her cheek. As new music begins outside, Sabine proposes returning, but Charlotte declines, asking for more practice. Sabine agrees, and they continue dancing in private.