Audrey stood watching the dancers, entranced. she thought everyone looked beautiful in their costumes and it was all so exotic and mysterious.


She felt her own costume was far to extravangant for someone like herself but her Grandmother had insisted she wheresomething that would "get her noticed by men" something that Audrey was wary about.


It was meant to be a sort of peacock costume. The dress was a smimmery blue with slashed sleeves that revealed deep green and there was gold embroidery with purpl beads. Her hair was piled on top of her head and gold and green beads had been laced into it anf over her face she wore a painted gold maske framed with peacock feathers. She had felt beautiful climbing into the carriage with her brother but now she just felt self-concious, like at any moment someone would realise she was just dull old Audrey Leventhorpe and she would be asked to leave.



Audrey had not yet experienced something like this. She had been told that it was polite and good fun to not recognise anyone but Audrey wouldn't have known who any of these people were anyway. She had wanted to stay close to her brother but he had obviously promised the first few dances to a girl and he had slipped into the throng that was on the dance floor. She had scanned the crowd for him but there were so many people in similar coloured costumes that it was all in vain. Audrey swallowed and tried not to look like she was panicking.


For goodness' sake! she scolded herself How old are you anyway? Stop behaving like a baby and enjoy yourself!

Alden had swept off the dance floor only moments ago, a polite smile plastered to his face. He inwardly cringed at the conversation that he had been subjected to. A fluttering girl who was clearly unskilled at lying. She had pretended not to know he was the duke, but she had slipped up, calling him "duke brighton" twice, before giggling and correcting herself. Alden cringed again. He had danced with her out of politeness, but he regretted it. Some may find the conversation fun and light, but Alden saw it as frivolous and it had annoyed him to hear her laugh constantly in his ear.


Not that he had anything against laughter. Just her laughter had been like steel being broken. The screech had nearly made him deaf for gods sake! As a servant passed by, holding a tray of wine, Alden snagged himself a glass, before taking a swig. He was careful not to spill a drop onto his outfit. He wore pure white, with gold thread heavily embroidered, and bits of quartz encrusted within the outfit itself. He looked - frankly - like royalty, and probably could've passed for king, had everyone not been dressed in a similar fashion. His mask was similar to his outfit, with gold embroidery around the eye holes, and quartz at the corners of where the eyes were.


As he sipped at his wine, his eyes took in the entire ballroom, and instantly his body relaxed. This was exactly his element. He knew what he was doing, he knew how to work people, he knew everything possible about court. It was with these thoughts in mind that his eyes fell upon a young woman dressed in blush, and green and gold. Was she meant to be a bird of some sort? A peacock perhaps? He moved through the crowd with necessary ease, setting his glass on a passing tray, and approaching the young woman. He bowed.

"My lady, may I request this dance?"

Audrey blinked, startled out of her own little world. She turned to the stranger and curtseyed.


"Of course my Lord" she answered with a smile, glad that she would no longer have to stand on her own looking foolish.


The music was still playing and they made their way to the dance floor. Audrey wasn't an outstanding dancer by she wasn't terrible and she thought she would quite enjoy it.

The young woman in front of him seemed grateful that she had been asked to dance, and Alden felt grateful he had chosen her. She seemed like a nice girl, one who wouldn't feel a need to fill the silence with chatter about stupid things. Contrary to popular belief, Alden didn't think that silence needed to be filled. He thought about the people he held within a high regard. They were the people he could simply sit with, and do different things, and still be completely in tune with each other. Something he looked for in a friend was that they were able to hold his attention even within their silence.


This girl seemed to fit right into that mold, she was able to keep his attention, even though she seemed shy and didn't say much. He didn't find the silence to be stiffening, but after a few moments of dance, Alden's natural instincts kicked in and his mouth opened out of sheer habit. He normally wasn't a talky fellow, a quiet soul by birth, but something urged him to talk. He wasn't even sure what he was going to say when his mouth opened, he wasn't sure if he was going to look like a complete idiot, but in those moments, he didn't care. He didn't. "The lights, the dancers, it reminds me of a travelling carnival in my childhood."


Oh he sounded like a reminiscent fool, he did. He silently berated himself. Hopefully she would open up and not make his statement sound stupid.

ooc: so so so so sorry about the wait. <_>

Audrey too was glad that her dance partner did not immediately fill the silence as she often grew flustered when required to make light conversation and much of the time struggled for something to say.


The man set her at ease and she had the distinct impression that she had already met him once before but she was not sure where and decided not to bring it up in case she was mistaken.


"Yes, I see what you mean" she smiled at his observation and looked wistfully up "It reminded me of something out of the fairy stories my Mother used to tell us. It is nice to be reminded of things like that. It makes me feel safe". And also a little bit sad, she added in her head.


ooc: Nah it's fine :D