Vaughn really wasn't prepared for this, such casual conversation caught between strangers and family. She hadn't had a clue what she was going to say to Ella if they were alone, and now she was even more clueless. She took the glass of wine, looking into it curiously. The pale shimmer of her reflection was so new to Vaughn, and she glanced up in obvious perplexity when Ella addressed her.
"Valmont?" Having no earthly idea what that referred to, she took a quick sip of wine to stall. Recovering with a distressed push of pale hair away from her face.
"Well, I remember reading that charming people -- in your case, someone who believes himself charming -- live up to the very edge of their charm, and behave as outrageously as the world lets them." Her grayscale eyes fed on Ed in a contemplative moment.