(OOC: I think that's everybody, except for teh Loosh (who is on hiatus)! I feel like
Gandalf counting dwarves. For those of you who know me, you know I do not use that phrase lightly!)
Cherie blushed lightly at the string of compliments, looking down at her feet and fidgeting. "Um, thanks." She wasn't accustomed to either attention
or compliments -- in part, because she could never keep any of her clothes clean for very long... It soon became apparent as to why as she missed a step and went careening down the stairs. Fortunately, Redly was at the base of the steps to catch her!
"Careful, now," Redly advised, fervently hoping there wouldn't be many stairs at the ball. Setting the youngest Treyburn back on her feet -- on the floor -- he glanced around at the assembled parties, doing a silent headcount. Dahlia would be looking after Illi -- he had never seen the girl so excited! -- and that meant they were only missing two -- Braxton and their surprise guest.
'Keep an eye on her,' he mouthed to Janette with a gesture to Cherie. Janette certainly would -- and, hopefully, she'd also keep Cherie from retreating to a corner to be by herself.
"You
cannot misbehave," he answered his sister sternly, looking all too much like a parent. "This is Braxton's first public appearance as Lord Treyburn and Cherie's first public appearance as a young lady."
Cherie spoke up, then, adding brightly, "Well, if it's boring..."
"Not even if it's boring," Redly answered flatly. "Give Brax a break here."
Illi's entrance, then, momentarily distracted the crowd. Letting the girls fawn over one another, he smiled in response to Dahlia. "Well, you're the one who'll be stuck with them tonight. You are going, aren't you?" He was vaguely concerned she might try to back out at the last minute...
Hearing that she wasn't brought Redly's usual grin back, and he nodded. "Good. Before you go, though, I have to warn you someone else is tagging along."
And now was as good a time to give them the heads up before their mother came back down... He cleared his voice for attention, having to try several times before everyone, at last, quieted down.
"There's one more reason you have to behave tonight." This was addressed towards Janette and Cherie, who, he knew, wouldn't purposefully misbehave -- it was just her way to be contrary. "Jana's going to joining you, and you all know what it would mean if she were discovered."
"Really??" Cherie asked brightly, excited, as usual, to see the outlaw. They had only met a handful of times...and it was always a secret from their parents, from the law -- from everyone but each other.
(OOC: *nudges the scene forward some* Paradox, I'm assuming Redly would have informed Brax about this previously, as he'll be the one in charge of the whole thing!)