Ari ♫ ♪ ♬ (gracenotes) wrote in emillion, |
Ari had had to spend a solid quarter hour in the powder room tidying her hair after her impromptu detour into a closet (the Duke, she was happy to say, had quite spacious closets). She emerged, finally, to find that the party had gone on without her. It seemed Aspel had been whisked off somewhere, too, making a request for a dance (at least, the sort one engaged in on the dancefloor, in the public eye) rather difficult to make. As she re-entered the ballroom, however, she did spot one familiar face, and made her way over with dancing steps. “How nicely you clean up,” she complimented, giving Rhys a warm smile and approving look. “How many lovely ladies have swooned at the sight of your smile this evening?” Rhys couldn’t stop the upward turn of the corners of his lips at the familiar voice floating up beside him. Ari usually had that effect on him, just as her presence seemed to warm the blood of any man, he supposed. Her skill, beauty, and charm were enough to disarm even himself at times. “Why thank you,” he said taking up her hand in his and bringing it up to his lips. They brushed gently against her knuckles. “May I say you look absolutely bewitching tonight.” As for her question, “And I’ll have you know that I am on my best behavior tonight.” He looked really sad about that. “You may always pay me compliments,” she told him; then, with a theatrical gasp, brought her hand to her heart. “You, on your best behavior? How unfortunate for the rest of us!” His antics never failed to entertain, and anyway, she was always of the opinion that being proper was a waste of time and energy, not to mention insufferably dull. “We shall have to do something about that,” she decided, undeterred by the proclamation. “Why such a drastic decision, if I may ask?” “I came with Aud,” he said as if it explained everything. “She made me promise,” he clarified even more. He could’ve pulled a Miles and just came as some sort of noble person, but he didn’t want to have to make too much up tonight. Some of the women already knew him as otherwise, and he’d been dragged into a corner or two with whispers of what could happen later before they flitted back out into the crowd. He wondered how many of them knew about each other. He tried not to frown at them when they said that Lady Alys might be young, etc etc. Well, he didn’t have to go home with her. “Made me.” Ari laughed -- she couldn’t help it. “I think that means Aud has two dates this evening -- I wouldn’t think she had room to ask for good behavior in that case, but you’re being an awfully good sport about this. So,” she asked, “while you are on your best behavior, how do you propose to entertain yourself tonight?” |