The evening had slowly been reaching it’s peak in a series of smaller peaks. Like a mountain range where the next mountain was higher than the last until finally you have reached the highest. This was that moment.

Esabells heart raced as she curtsied to her dance partner, parting ways as he asked another young lady to dance with him, allowing her the opportunity to move onto a new subject. Her eyes skimmed across the bundles of courtiers, looking for a likely next partner as the night waned on. Slowly turning down each prospect as her fan fluttered about her neck, trying to force air up under her mask. Both were pieces of excellent workmanship, the pink silk and cloth of gold most excellently embroidered, even under her scrupulous eye, with diamonds and seed pearls. True it had been the Kings choice that had matched her gown and these accessories so meticulously with their sea of gems, pearls and golden embroidery, the pink silk of each most perfectly matched. It was a fantastic outfit and she was most pleased with it, proud to wear his choice of apparel.

Her eyes stopped suddenly, resting on a slightly older lord. He appeared to be in his mid twenties in age, dark hair and tauntingly firm structure. A smile flitted across her lips, only partially shielded by the magnificent butterfly wing mask. Skirting across a few tables Esabell approached the lord, gently inviting herself into his company with a simple curtsy, her eyes casting down as though with a gentle blush before she returned to a standing position.

“If I might interrupt, my lord. I couldn’t help but notice you from across the dance floor.” She smiled kindly, the wine from earlier in the evening letting her tongue loosen more than she might ordinarily, exposing her more outgoing and less lady like side.

Vincent had stood alone int he corner, watching everyone dance. As he watched women move throughout the crowd looking for men, and vice versa, he saw a woman approach him, her gowned elegant, and her mask well made to match. she was either very rich, good prosperities, or the king's concubine.

Bad prosperities.

As she curtsied in front of hi, he performed a bow in front of her, before pulling his mask up off his mouth, but still with his eyes covered, only with him rugged texture exposed to the world, as he lowered his head again, and kissed the back of her hand. Replacing the mask back into the original position, his cool blue eyes gazing at her through the mask.

'You may have only just seen me from the other side of the room, where as I've been watching you all night long, with a keen...'interest'.' Vincent replied seductively. He knew if the woman was among the King's 'possessions', then it was gonna be his head, but if he was gonna go down, he was gonna go down swinging.

The tone of voice was a shock. While most courtiers had been cautious upon introduction this man had been most mischievous. The seduction he placed into the word interest insulted her while, at the same time, striking a thread of interest as to what gave him the confidence to speak so. She watched him for only a moment, taking in his appearance more carefully in an attempt to make a deduction before speaking.

“I suppose that interest wouldn’t have been the most innocent in nature by you tone.” She tried to put light-heartedness into her tone but couldn’t completely suppress the offense she had felt. Her opinion changed quickly though as she found some words to better express herself. “ Might I ask what gives you the courage to speak so openly? While the wine is sweet I doubt it is so good that one might feel so incredibly open with anyone who approaches them.” This time there was no offense in her tone, only simply inquisitiveness. The confidence of the man was arresting to her, it was something she could not turn away form until she had learned more about him.

Vincent could tell his previous statement that she was not best pleased with him, when she replied, her tone could be senced as offended, not that he would care, he knew as long as he kept his mask on and didn't push it too much, he could get away with murder, and by the looks of it, she wanted to find out more.

'My lady, as long as I have my mask on, you shall never know who I am, and as long as you keep on yours, I shall never know of you. so the chances of us finding one another are very slim, and so I wish to enjoy this brief encounter to the fullest of my capability.' Vincent replied still looking down at her.

The mans words were sufficient to her, her understanding of his line of though expressed by a nod. She had never considered the fact that by hiding ones identity all sorts of freedom came, to her it was a game to try and find your partners identity that added a thrilling touch revel to it all.

“True, our hidden identities do give us a great degree of freedom.” She agreed, searching wildly for something to talk about. “If you wish to enjoy our encounter than perhaps we should make something memorable of it?” She offered, leaving the choice of action open to the masked lord.

Vincent smiled as he looked down at her agreeing with him. When she said to make it memerable, a few thoughts passed through Vincent's mind, but none that he would say aloud. With a smerk hidden under his mask, he took the ladies hand and slowly walked her out into the dance floor.

'Now, let us see how well you can move.'