Where it would seem Miss Rosalina was quickly trying to divert herself away from these social affairs, poor luck and perhaps poor judgement, and equally poor social calls were trapping her in them; even as her heart was beating heavily in her chest as her mind was in a whirl for the only thing she was thinking about was escape, and at present, it wasn't necessarily escape from them, for but moments earlier, Winifred had been on the rebuff of her fiance, and he hesitated not to put her in her place; and she well, not expecting him to react so harshly in public (though not directly so) was only barely healing from a smarting slap her husband to be had to graciously given to her but moments ago. And it might have only been in that moment, as she glared back defiantly at Avery that he might have been able to detect any sort of real pain inflicted upon her face (for she had done well to hide it, with what little time she had to conceal it with powder) as the poor girl glared back at Avery once more.
And oh! The poor man, to think he was so easily an outlet for her anger as she huffed haughtily at such a suggestion, but before she could even retort, her fiance she was trying to flee from arrived on the scene.
"Well, Lord Carwick, I see it is you who have finally caught my fiance. I have been seeking he rout this past song in hopes for a dance," Drake Gassir said with a cool finesse and cat like grin.
And at her fiance's cool but caddy words, Winifred whirled around from where she stood beside Lord Carwick, and did nothing to hide her outward cringe at her man, and the narwahl took no pity in this as she interjected her own words to this 'problem'.
"It seems you are to wed quite a pistol there, my good sir...?" ANd here Mrs. Ophen waited for his introductions, which Drake Gassir delightfully gave with a half-bent bow and taking of her hand.
"Why, I do not believe we have ever properly met, but I am Drake Gassir, tradesman in his own right." And he gave the most handsome of smiles towards the old woman that even made her and the weasel cat blush. "Might I have the pleasure of your acquaintance this eve?"
The narwahl, though flattered, was only partially impressed, fanned herself off with a laugh.
"Lady Averina Delia Ophen," she said with a flutter of her eyes, and despite Winifred knowing there was no competition there (though even if there was, she'd hardly care) found herself gritting her teeth even more as she gripped onto the lace both she and Avery were now clinging to in this awkward moment, just watched as the two others exchanged social proprieties; and even the weasel cat got in beneath his charms, and as he laughed it off and tried to return his attentions back to his fiance, extending out an arm for her to take as he requested at the behest of her, a dance, she notably flinched back and found herself suddenly clinging onto Avery's arm.
"Oh, but where would proprieties be? Lord Carwick had offered to assist me in helping with my tattered garb, for before you had joined us, my fiance," she said with some bite, "Mrs. Ophen heel had the unfortunate consequence to tear into my train, and for the world of me, I'd hate to shame myself with tattered lace on the dance floor. So perhaps you could oblige these women with the next song while I fix myself on your behalf, so that we can dance more properly. After all, think of all the commotion there might be if a man of your stature were to dance with a tattered angel."
Though Drake knew well the game she played, he laughed along with her to save face, and did not hide his scrutiny as his dark eyes took in Lord Carwick with quickness, but sharpness as well.
"Yes, but really, my dear, would you trouble a Lord over such an untrifling matter?" he spoke back to her, with almost the same richness and bite as he batted his dark lashes at the pair, almost laughing off the idea. And at his retort, Winifred sucked in a sharp breath and found herself unbeknowingly pressing up more closely towards Lord Carwick, who, only from his perspective, he might have seen her flinch and perhaps, note the anger and fear, as she stood there, not knowing whether she should laugh along and let her damn fiance win her back, or if she should continue on with this game, which could very well end with both of them being quite embarrassed; especially if it ended quite as badly as their scrap from earlier....
And they were not the only ones enduring quite an odd set of circumstances, for Lord Davishire was growing even redder at Lady Treyburn's jests, having found himself quickly buried in a circumstance for which he was unfamiliar, and his breath grew haughty as the pair continued to dance.
"I hardly see the reason to dash out all such propriety," came his retort sharply as he sighed within the dance, but kept himself somehow composed, perhaps it was due to him being intrigued by such a girl- after all, no one would have such the gall to treat him in such a manner, had he never shown such 'weakness' as he was doing now with Lady 'Illi' Treyburn.
"After all, there is a reason and a place for it, but perhaps not for it all." And again he found himself sighing needfully in order to save face in such a circumstance, for once again, he was quieted by her antics, a sort of reaction a man like he was not used to.
And as Davina took in what Jana said, her brows raised up even higher on her forehead as she observed the other's reactions and took it only to mean the poor angel clearly had it's heart set on Illi Treyburn, which, thankfully for her, meant she had no real worries for Illi and Davishire in that moment as she nodded to oblige.
"I think wine would do quite well for now," she told him with a bow, and waited for 'him' to lead the way. It was definitely... an 'interesting' piece of information, but nothing she herself, could use in her other wise predatory like view on the nobles she could still choose to sample from before selecting a mate. After all, picking a husband, and the right one, was such a tireless chore that, for Lady Davina, was taking quite a number of years to achieve....
And as the dance ended, Lady Valia found herself still quite stunned as Trevian's voice remained as an echo as he smiled and left her to be. Keeping a hand to her chest, she thought over his words carefully before her pink eyes went to seek him out quietly in the receding crowd....
And it was here the Grand Duke thought it necessary to be seen at his wife's side; after all, at such an event, the pair were presumed to make face for most of the evening, so when he approached his wife through the sea of dancing guests, he hadn't been quite prepared that she'd be ready to introduce him to a new acquaintance, and though he knew somewhat of the Treyburn reputation, found himself staring, just half off-guard at the man before nodding his head subtly at the introduction and offering out his own hand in 'hello'.
"It is good to make your acquaintance. I have heard good things about your father." Though naturally, anyone supporting of the military would be at least half seen in the good graces of the Grand Duke himself... even if he himself, were no longer alive and known quirks aside, the Grand Duke did not seemed phased.
