The first time Sweeney Todd took her up in his arms and swung around in a small dance of joy, Mrs. Nellie Lovett was both ecstatic and worried.
The feeling of Mr. Todd's arm around her shoulder couldn't be beat. She would have died of happiness right there if she weren't also so caught up in the waltz. He cared for her! Even if it was just a smidgen, an insignificant sign of affection, it certainly meant the world to her. For the moment, it completely satisfied her need for contact with the man, even if it wasn't exactly what she had in mind. A shiver wracked her body just thinking about it. However…
Her thoughts darkened. Benjamin Barker and his lovely wife used to dance all the time. Every moment of their life was a blissful tango. Without a moments warning, Benjamin would sweep Lucy up into his arms and they would spin around the parlor, like they were the only two in the world. Nellie would spy on them enviously, wishing her husband loved her like that, bless his soul. The absolute rapture in their eyes at the simple bustle of dancing made her jealous almost to the point of hatred, though it was impossible to fully hate the lovely innocent blonde named Lucy Barker. She often found herself crying in her parlor, wishing it were her who was wrapped up in those steady arms.
No need for jealousy now, she thought smugly. Lucy was dead (figuratively speaking, not that Mr. Todd knew that), and he was all hers. So, she smiled joyfully and played their game, drowning in the simple sensation of turning in place wrapped within the man's arms. Nellie wondered idly if Ben – Sweeney even realized what he was doing as he swooped down upon her and dipped her. Probably not, she reflected sullenly. No, he would never consciously do this with her, not even with his wife gone. His body was simply going through the motions, remembering the thousand times before with Lucy. All the turns and twists and playful antics. He probably didn't even see the adoration in her eyes, the longing.
But that, thought Mrs. Lovett, was enough for her.