At the boy's expression change, Edward looked at him curiously until the obvious was revealed. He felt himself pale in color, his expression fading from the warmth of formality to the understanding of grief. He flattened his lips, his eyes never leaving Riley's as he said,
"I'm sorry to hear that, Riley." He said with a slight nod, but then more warmly he corrected, "I mean, Master Riley." His lips afforded him a rare but genuine smile, letting him know he understood. And he understood far too well. "I suppose we have a bit in common. You see, my wife too, is no longer with us either." And the pain from his grief was clear on his face, but still, he kept himself reserved and smiled to the child before nodding again. "But perhaps if you think a dance might make your mother feel better, I'd be happy to oblige."
And someone else was thinking about dancing.
And champagne.
ANd wine.
And anything inbetween. Valia Coleridge, once Valia Chandos, also, she was sister to the Grand Duchess, was making a bit of a spectacle of herself (albeit, semi-in private). As usual, she and her husband had been arguing, and she, took to drink and huffed off to who own devices at the ball. She couldn't let her husband ruin all of her fun! So what if she enjoyed a soldier or two looking at her cleavage, or even striking up a moment just for a harmless flirt? She always adored being beneath men's administrations, and well.. having a husband meant it was a tough pill to swallow that she'd have to stick to the affections of just one.
She was still young, after all, and at her age she wasn't at all happy she had a child (which she ignored) and the frilliness of responsibilities.
No, no, she'd rather remain young and ignorant forever, and she was already nicely drunk on her fourth drink by the time she passed a narwhal and mongoose-rat.. thing. Turning to observe, she noted them fawning over a young gentleman in the center- and she, as she passed, scoffed at most obviously, sparing only one pink eyed gaze their way before she, in her elegant and (a bit too low cut) Goddess of beauty costume (which of course, consisted of layersa nd layers of pink..) strolled on by without a care in the world as she continued to sip at her drink.
Haha! That fool! It was hilarious to see others being tormented worse than her! And as Valia walked away, the narwhal and weasel-cat gasped.
"That's Lady Valia," one of them whispered. "You've heard about that one, I'm sure."
"Yes, never a good thing either." This was the cat lady responding with a sneer.
"Yes, and to think, she thinks she's so well off in this world, with her sister as the Grand Duchess and all.. but gossip will be gossip, and many could slander her for being so wretched to her poor husband!"
"I heard, despite them having a baby, their relationship is on the outs."
"Oh, my! A separation you think?"
"Maybe."
"Oh my. How scandalous!" And the woman pinched Oscar's arm. "Do be wise and find a woman who is not like that for yourself! And save yourself from all that gossip and grief!"