If Dorian was offended on Mabelle's behalf at the bear comment, he preferred to laugh along to keep the mood light, both aware of Michel's lack of tact even in the company of ladies and Mabelle's lack of sensitivity to even more direct insults. "And what a good eye for detail, I think he'd be a promising student," he complimented, monitoring their exchange but missing much of the underlying tension. The one thing that Dorian was able to notice, however, was that Mabelle was staring at the man with an intensity that she usually saved for paintings alone.
"I believe there is a lot you could learn from spending time with a bear," she didn't even bother sweetening the comment with a smile. "But I much rather have the honour of mauling you," Mabelle added truthfully, and Dorian took this as much outward consent to the proposed lessons as needed. She was already showing a great deal more interest in speaking to Michel than she had any of the others he tried introducing to her.
Allowing Michel to take her hand without any resistance, doubting he'd try anything in front of so many people anyway, she wiggled the stubs of her severed fingers at him teasingly without any change in her expression. "It's rather boring," she began in response, "I lost them in a bread baking accident. I was the only survivor."
It wasn't a convincing story, nor was it meant to be, changing the entire scenario anytime anybody had asked. Dorian knew better than to ask anymore, having heard at least a dozen from her by now. This time, however, Mabelle felt less inclined toward honesty when Michel clearly knew the truth.
Pressing her nails into the underside of Michel's wrist with a gentle curl of her fingertips, she sharply and swiftly scraped them against his skin as she pulled her hand away.