JULIETTE/SIANA | EARLY EVENING - COMPLETE
“A pleasure to see you again, Lady Banes.” Truly, as much as she wished to get to know her cousin (and now, without Lady Demiel’s disapproval, it even seemed a distinct possibility), it did seem that they only encountered each other in situations where Juliette was a bit at a loss.
In fact, had she not felt it her duty to attend this ball, she might have called herself indisposed and remained in bed.
Still, she struggled for a veneer of politeness even as she desperately wished not to have to don a mask of pleasantry this evening. “I hope you are well?”
“Squire Coulombe,” said Siana with a nod, pleasantly surprised that the young lady approached her. Not many did tonight, nor normally at these functions anyway, but she welcomed the opportunity to speak with her cousin. She wished that she’d had the chance to when her sister Alys had been announced to be alive (though the familiarity of the elder Coulombe still concerned her), but now, perhaps, was as good a chance as any. “I am, thank you. And yourself?”
“Quite well,” she lied. It was a lie she had told many times, fortunately; though her pallor likely undermined the veracity of her statement, it would not be polite for the issue to be pushed, of course, and though she wished to know her cousin, she did not know her yet. “I hope your family is in good health also?”
She paused before speaking again, though the next topic -- on the short list of those considered appropriate between near-strangers -- came to her almost immediately. “It is good,” she said, “to see you at an increasing number of functions recently.”
“They are,” Siana answered, her gaze going towards where her sister and brother-in-law stood, chatting with friends Siana never knew they had. Her parents did not come tonight, having faith that Siana would attend in their place; truth be told, Siana would have come even if they had shown up, for the Countess was one of the few nobles she did not hold contempt enough for to have her parents’ presence suffice for the nobility.
On that topic, Siana turned back to the squire, her brows raising at the sentiment. “Oh,” she said, “thank you.” After a moment’s hesitation, she explained, simply, “These events have not… conflicted with my patrol schedules recently.”
“That is good to hear,” Juliette said. “From my work with Lord Finch, it seems as though a decrease in patrols follows a decrease in crime.” Criminal activity did not make for ladylike conversation, but guild business did, if barely, and this was both, wasn’t it? “I hope your schedule continues to allow for additional… free time.” Though if she did not spend such at balls, Juliette would not blame her.
Which she could not say, of course.
Just then, a gentleman tapped her on the shoulder, and she very nearly sighed; she was barely managing conversation, and truly, dancing seemed beyond her, but the gentleman did not appear to have noticed (nor, indeed, did he seem to care that she was in the middle of a conversation; Juliette suspected this was due to the person with whom she was conversing).
“Please excuse me,” she said with a wan, apologetic smile. “I... do hope I might see you later.”
“Of course, and I look forward to it.”
Siana granted her cousin a soft smile, and she nodded as the young gentleman escorted her to the dance floor.