Re: (Fred)
Fred didn't jump, not exactly, but her body did tense, making her stand a little straighter. Though slouching was more than a little difficult in this dress for so many reasons. She had been watching the dancers and others, trying to figure out what had caused Errol to stumble. Or who. Her attention shifted to Erik, and she gave him a bright smile.
"Oh, I couldn't not come. You had been kind enough to invite me. Oh, thank you by the way. Errol, my friend, the one I brought to see your opera, says thank you, too. I think he liked it very much. He smiled." The way she said it suggested that Errol wasn't given to smiling often, and the fact that she had something to do with the smiling put a smile on Fred's face. She did like helping her friends smile.
"It was beautiful, sad but beautiful. I didn't understand all of it, but I don't think I needed to. Art should transcend language barriers, though knowing a language never hurts." She nodded, still smiling.