James can feel the tension, like the Lieutenant is reinforced with doweling. Like a sail in the wind, stiff and unyielding, far more so than James would have expected. He has seen the young man in a battle, filled with the energy of a man who knows what is required of him and has no fear.

This? Simple movements of the feet? Almost seem to be beyond him.

"Did you not go to dances before you joined the Navy?" Perhaps he shouldn't distract Horatio, but he wants to know. He wants to know what sort of family, even of the middling sort, wouldn't encourage their son to a dance? Even if it was only a small gathering, even if it was the same families over and over, surely that is preferable to never introducing their son to society at all?