Re: Ball: Clementine, Irene & Declan
He didn't mind being relieved of the champagne. He thought that it would do better with Clementine, sparkly things had always suited her. Besides, his mood was clearly well elevated this evening, there was a belly fully of pharmaceuticals to thank for that. His knee wasn't stiff tonight or bothersome. He was never this friendly otherwise. Hadn't allowed himself to enjoy the casual flirtations of conversation since the days of his youth. Maybe it was the party's atmosphere that brought the nostalgia out of him.
"You're relentless," he told his sister, although the tone was fond. "So your motives are becoming clearer by the moment."
That amused, brightened expression met with Irene again, as he explained. "Clementine has been trying to trick me into taking her dancing for awhile now." A sideways look cast to the conspirator. "And now here we are." But as for what sort of dancing they did in this age, Declan was no historian. Although, in the cotillion balls that Clementine mentioned, there had been plenty of waltzing and foxtrotting with chins held high and hands placed just so, salad fork on the left, and other rules hammered in so deeply that they'd simply become a part of him when he resumed his place in more delicately textured societies.
"Are you a good teacher?" A shrewd look to their hostess. "You can try, but I can't promise it will stick. Has Clementine told you how averse I am to all things fun?"