Having spent the dinner laughing and jesting with the various folk he either knew or had met that morning, Eward's energy for making nice was waning. The mask of the jolly and wickedly witty Lord was beginning to fall and though he wanted to dance Eward would have preferred to simply disappear up to his room. However appearances were made to keep up and he could hardly let his droop for a second, lest someone notice and start a whole new round of rumours about how off he seemed, and how was his health?
Walking out of the smoke to the ballroom he took a moment to adjust his eyes. He had never adjusted to cigars or pipes and he was glad to be away from the smokey air, glancing at the detail of the grand room. He smiled at a few guests who greeted him, stepping amongst the crowds to watch the people dance. As his gaze crossed the room he noticed a particularly striking woman in gold. He smiled, preparing to go over when he realised with sudden clarity that it was Katherine.
Heavens. She looked so stunning in that gown it was hard for him to remember exactly how he was supposed to be behaving. On catching her eyes his expression was that of admiration with a hint of a smile, but when he remembered her snappish words from earlier it changed to one of annoyance and superiority which he had displayed to her for years.