Ismenia knew she had made a mistake as soon as she nearly collided with the Emissary's daughter from Ayorthia. She should have been more careful and she knew better but it didn't prevent her from feeling slightly annoyed at the other woman for landing in her path. It was fortunate that Ismenia had enough self-control that all that showed on her face was a slight wince at the near miss.
"My apologies," Ismenia offered, dipping a polite nod of a curtsy as a show of ritual respect, though she dipped incrementally, knowing the woman didn't stand above her at Court. She took the opportunity to note first the gown she wore and then, as she rose, her face as she offered Eleanore a polite and appropriately apologetic smile. "I should be more careful. I don't know that we've been formally introduced. I'm Lady Ismenia Pole of Coventry," she offered, having seen the other woman when she was presented to the queen but not since.
To all appearances, Ismenia's gesture was a friendly one but as things tended to be with her, there were motives behind it. First of all, a newcomer at court was a wild card and Ismenia hated unpredictability. Second of all, the woman was pretty in her exotic way, which meant she was competition. There was nothing worse than competition that one knew nothing about.