Calent and Kathryn's relationship sometimes felt like a house of cards, ready to crumble should the right corner be caught by the wind. Calent sometimes had to be reminded of his wife's interest, while Kathryn sometimes had to be reminded that liquor, although seemingly effective, could not solve everything. Each had his or her own duties to which to attend, as they always had, but now their hours of leisure were spent together...and Kathryn missed him dearly when they were apart. They were healing and getting to know one another better than, perhaps, they had known one another to begin with.
And so it was a very different couple who presented themselves at the ball. What had once been a frigid silence between them had bloomed, once again, into romance. All the signs were there -- the furtive looks, the smiles, the innocent caresses...and, although it had never been public knowledge that the pair were experiencing difficulties in their marriage, new rumors would take the place of the old after tonight.
Kathryn was enjoying herself -- as much as one could at such things. She smiled beautifully and laughed charmingly; she complimented earnestly and listened carefully. This was her role, and it was where she thrived.
Even so, even she had to take a break from the small-talk for a bit. She bowed her head slightly as she passed a guard, then stepped into the sanctuary of a small, private room a bit away from the bustle of the party. The music from the dance floor made its way in, but precious little else. Her eyes moved longingly over the bottle of liquor left here, but she had promised Calent that she would drink sparingly...and for appearances, only. Instead, she helped herself to a glass of ice water and turned away from the liquor. After all, things weren't so bad yet that she needed alcohol to cope... Strange, though, how it had become her first instinct to pick up the bottle...
