The Gardens - 10.20
Marius laughed at the unenthusiastic tone in her voice when she realized who had come to say hello.
"Oui. I apologize I am not someone more to your interest," he replied, still with jest in his voice. He wasn't truly apologetic, but it was always good manners to humor ladies at these things. "And do not call me Mr. Lestrange," he added with a slight shudder. "He is my father, and it seems strange to my ears to hear otherwise."
He took a step back away from her so that he could see into the ballroom more easily. "That is not my... scene... either. I do not like the feeling of the eyes of those mothers on my back. They are wondering what grandchildren would look like, and that is impolite," he said, wishing for all the world he was speaking French. These things sounded so crass, but in French they were sentences that still conveyed beauty of some kind.
"And the only thing worse than the dancing in front of parents is the Library and the country's state of affairs," he added with a laugh. "At least this country anyway."