He had alot of feelings over the years- what had happened between them. How much it hurt him- Though he never once blamed Mary. It wasn't her fault for it. If he knew then...He doesn't think he would have cared. He would have kept that secret from Dominic- honestly, He hadn't thought his brother was so cruel until that moment. He had looked up to him- He thought he was amazing.

How only one thing could ruin that for him? "muse, it's ok- I would have wanted everything with you," He blurted out. He was trying. His eyes see the tears, and it took everything in him not to kiss them. His walls had crumbled.

She kept on going- She kept saying sorry, and it made his chest ache for her.  He shook his head because he didn't want to hear any of this. He didn't want to hear her keep saying sorry- she had no reason to at all. He drops her hand only so he can carefully cup her face. any sorta of self-control he had was over when he heard her call him poet. How long since he was called that? too long.

He pressed a soft kiss to the few tears that had fallen along her cheek...His nose gently brushed against her nose. " Stop, Muse- you don't need to say sorry." his voice was so so, so soft. If anyone had seen Frederic, they wouldn't have realized it was the same O'Conner. He knew why she acted the way she did- He never once blamed Mary, even if he wanted to.

Even if he wanted to hate her for not trusting him- for having no dowyer...for how she treated him- how she didn't even ask him if it was true. If he was part of what ruined her family, even worse with his family's paper....

"I should be sorry. I should have stood up to my brother- I shouldn't have been such a coward and let you think that for all these years," He tells her quickly. He begged and hoped she would forgive him.

She remembered. The nights after that damned paper was published Mary’s sole comfort was the memories of what they had shared. She remembered passing a notebook between them when they were children. She remembered learning to dance together and being terrible at it even then, but spinning each other around and laughing till they fell down, her stomach hurting from how much they had been chuckling. She remembered dancing in hidden areas near ballrooms, in the corner where eyes couldn’t watch them. The memories made the tears worse, they turned her guilt into a blade that slowly pushed into the space between her ribs, Yes, they made her tears worse, but more often than not thinking back helped her sleep at night.

Now here they were. So much had come to pass between them, so much guilt and despair and heartbreak had come between them and yet he was looking at her with a gaze that held the weight of their separation, yet reminded her of how he used to look at her. He had called her muse, and, oh no… she had called him poet. Oh no- Another apology was about to slip from her lips but before she could gather her words, he said it again. And again… as if her heart was already not faltering enough, he did something even more maddening.

Truth be told, she didn’t fully believe him, for she knew that if she had told him about her families struggles from the start, none of it would have happened. She couldn’t argue with him, though, for when she was about to, to Mary’s shock, he kissed her cheek, her tears, his nose brushing hers, and all Mary could do was stare at him.

“ I should have told you. ” She whispered, moving closer still, her other hand reaching to touch his cheek. “ If I had told you, none of the hurt we would have been feeling right like have happened.” Perhaps that was wishful thinking, but Mary genuinely believed it with her whole heart. She was about to open her mouth to say more, but Freddie continuing silenced her.

Then he started apologizing ( words that felt more painful than anything the paper ruining her had done- Freddie was one of the bravest people she knew ) and Mary couldn't stop herself-

The deeper Edgar wandered into one of the wings at the Barnett House, the quieter the ball became behind him. Music and laughter faded beneath heavy velvet curtains, replaced by candlelight and the low murmur of whispered confessions spilling from the Ruby Confessional ahead. Edgar slowed near the entrance, eyeing the crimson-draped chamber with growing hesitation. Perhaps this had been a terrible idea.

It had sounded amusing earlier in the evening - whisper your sins to a masked stranger and leave feeling lighter for it - but now that he stood before the doorway, he found himself entirely unsure he wished to say any of the things weighing on his mind aloud. Before he could decide whether to enter or flee entirely, the curtains shifted. Miss Mary Barnett stepped out from the chamber.

Edgar straightened slightly, surprise softening quickly into something gentler. The memory of her broken engagement to Frederic still sat heavily with him. He had thought them good together. Worse, the entire thing had been handled cruelly and publicly by Dominic, and Mary had deserved far better than that. For a moment, he considered leaving her be. Then again, Mary had never truly felt like society to him. She had always felt more like family. So instead, he stepped away from the doorway entirely, abandoning any intention of entering. "Well," he said with a faint smile, glancing toward the chamber behind her, "you look far calmer than I imagine most people do after confessing their darkest secrets." His expression softened slightly. "Though you've also convinced me not to go in there myself, so perhaps I should be thanking you instead."

Considering that the first ball of the season and her first proper re-entrance to society, Mary should gave felt completely and utterly at ease, though it couldn't be further from the truth. The night that Mary had bumped into Freddie at the tavern, she had kept true to her word, no more messing around, no more sneaking out, Mary had been preparing herself. She had not touched her quill, she had studied book after book on etiquette, she practiced dancing with her whole family to make sure her steps were perfect, she walked around the house with books on her head to practice her posture, she read up on ladylike things so to have conversations with suitors and debutants, she spent hours locked in room talking to herself in the mirror to make sure that she was able to sound anything like herself. She felt like it had gone well until she had seen HIM, until she had gotten his note. She knew she would not feel at ease until she had replied and, to her thankfulness, her chest did feel lighter, that was until she had ran into one of Freddie's older brothers, and despite Edgar's kindness, she still felt her heart seize in her panic.

Calm he had called her, and considering her racing mind it was almost laughable, but she did her very best to show him calmness ( and hope despite the time that their families had spent around each other until that damned paper he wouldn't be able to see right through it ). Mary smiled that diamond like smile she had been practicing and she curtsied respectfully, laughing as she rose as though she was amused. " You should go in, Lord Edgar. Getting the things that plague the mind out... it is a relief I cannot describe in words, only recommend to anyone even considering. " She should leave it at that, Mary knew, but it had been so long since she had last seen the man she once considered family, a brother, she couldn't will her feet to move, not without checking on him.

He heard the noise, and he wished he could understand what it meant to be.

He then *melted*. Any tension that he had in his shoulder left him when he watched her kiss his palm. His face flushed, and his gaze could only turn so, so, so, so much softer. "Mary,"His voice quivered slightly. She can't do that to him, and expected him to be alright. "Do you recall that I never cared if you were a dreadful dancer?" He tells her back as he teases her.

"Yes..." He said as he moved closer to her, sliding right next to her. It felt like they were meant to be together, like two puzzle pieces. He hated to be called 'my lord' by Mary. He wanted to be hers, but not as a lord. He was quiet for a moment before he laced one of their hands together, and he returned the kiss to the back of her hand. He kept it close to his cheek as they danced.  

He hears her- and he knew that she didn't use him like that, no matter how much Dominic wanted to say differently. He had carefully nuzzled against her hand- truly he wasn't focused on the dancing. Maybe he just wanted her close.

He looked at her. "I know....I was hurt that you didn't tell me," He admitted to her as he sways them to the soft hum of the music. " I didn't care if you were ruined." He sighs softly. "Do you know, I didn't sign off on what my brother did? I had no idea until it was already too late." He hated it. He hated seeing in the papers what had happened- that he had to find out that their engagement had ended, that he wasn't even allowed to see her after that. He was banned. He shouldn't even be here. "You know that, right, Muse?" He asked her with the same desperation. He didn't even realize the pet name had slipped in his need for her to understand.

Mary. It was just her name, but the way he said it sent memories flying back to her. Hidden time spent together hunched over journals at balls when they were meant to be socializing. Good morning greetings, farewell goodnights. Time spent together when the pair of them ought to have been resting or should have been with a chaperone. The night but a few days ago spent at the tavern that she only half remembered, but she swore he said her name just like that... though whether she had imagined it or not was beyond her, but the tone reminded her of the feeling of his lips on hers. Warm. Right. She wanted to touch the flush on his cheek with her bare hand, reassuring- She knew what she had done. She did not regret it, she just wished it was his lips she could kiss instead of his hand, though for the beautiful stories he had written with his palm, if her kiss brought what he hoped they did, what the color upon his cheeks told, they deserved such a gentle loving touch too.

She had to come down from the past, from her romantic ideations. He teased, she chuckled, her smile growing ( though tenderness still showed in her eyes ) " I do, though I do worry for your feet. I cannot fetch you ice for them as I might have when we were younger. " She joked back, laughing again, though her mind was still one step in the past, imagining what a younger Mary would have thought if she had read the paper, if she would have known what had happened between them....

Laughter and melancholic imagining were banished from her mind as he kissed the back of her hand. Wonder filled her face, and fingers the moment that they start their gentle movement brush at her cheek, fighting the urge to pull back for a moment so she can take her glove off and feel his skin upon her hand. She did not, too focused on his face and trying not to let the tears she felt burning her eyes spill. Something that was pointless in the end, because the moment two simple words left his lips, Mary could have sworn that her heart stopped.

He knew. Her biggest fear that had been growing since she read that paper, the fact that he might think she did not love him gone in a single breath. She wanted to sob with her relief, but the feel of his cheek, the closeness between them was enough to ground her and keep the sound tucked away, only a few tears slipping through to show her relief.

" I should have told you. I was so scared you would have wanted nothing to do with me, but I also was so lost in our stories, in you that I forgot. " The words whispered, eyes not leaving his for a single moment even as more tears slipped. She was about to apologize, but Freddie kept going.

And as he did, she suddenly felt like a bloody idiot, something Mary had only considered herself twice in her entire life- the first time when she read the O'Connor family paper, and the second after they kissed on the walk home.

Shame filling her, she looked down finally, having to take a breath. " I should have known. I was so blinded in my hurt and the hurt I knew that you must have felt that I could understand if you would have, something in me said that you didn't, you couldn't have. " Seconds later, the nickname hit her ear, muse, and it was enough for the briefest moment to pull herself out of her self pity and to look up at him, not hiding the guilt that was deep in her eyes.

" I am sorry, Poet. " The nickname said intentionally and without shame, holding her breath, hoping that understanding will still be in his eyes. " For not telling you the truth about my family, my lack of a dowry, for being so foolish after everything, and cold at the teashop. " Shoulders tensed, she could keep going, but she felt like she did not have to. " I am so sorry. "

|| LOCATION || The Barnett Gemstone Ball

Genevieve was not impressed attending balls anymore. Perhaps when she was a child and marveled at the grandeur chandeliers and elaborate decorations, but now, it was all crude. People with too much money using things they did not need for a gathering that did not matter. It was an agitation, a tumor that would never cease its festering upon people.

It was Edgar who made it all the more better, though. She wouldn't have admitted that she detested balls as much as he did, then he wouldn't have possibly shown up. He would make this an exciting ordeal, something to remember.

The one thing she would give credence to is the fashion. Everyone looked marvelous. There were some people who Genevieve eyed curiously, wondering if they'd gotten dressed in the dark. But aside from those outliers, her gaze remained on the crowd. She spotted someone in particular and approached them. "You are quite the dazzling gem, though I cannot tell which one you are."

Where the princess had been anything but impressed, Tessa could not help but find herself swept away in the spectacle. She knew this was certain a play by the Barnett's to show off their new state of being, how their house was stable once again and one of their own had been named the diamond of the season, but still, the colors, the finery.... She had not explored much just yet, but she was in awe of everything. Tessa, though, was even more shocked at the fact that with all of these people here covered in sparkling gems someone would approach her, compliment her.

... It must have been Kaira's dress. She was certain of that.

" Thank you. You are too kind. " She said with a curtsey, rising with a kind, but somewhat nervous. Tessa could tell from a glance, both at the finery of what the woman was wearing and the way that she carried herself, Tessa could tell she was of some sort of noble blood, though she did not know what. It really did not matter much, what she needed to focus on figuring out instead how to respond to such a compliment.

Katherine did not care much for the softer, quieter dances. They could definitely be intimate but that had to be at the right time with the right person. She much preferred the more energetic dances, dances where she could show off her flirty and playful side. That tended to draw people in much better.

She watched as couples twirled around the floor, softly talking and laughing. A small pout on her face as she turned to the person next to her. "I don't know about you, but I wish the orchestra would play something more lively. This is a ball, where people are meant to dance."

Ajana sipped her lemonade as she watched the couples swirl on the floor, enjoying the brief moment of reprieve and the sight. As important as it was to meet and socialize with all of the debutants and suitors, she believed that it was equally important to watch who people were dancing with, especially during slow waltzes such as this. Because of this, the debutant's words beside her gave Ajana pause, raising her eyebrows in confusion.

Music became livelier and an announcement made for one of the dances to start. He was looking forward the most to that one out of all the activities going on. The idea of the appraisal sounded fun but he wasn’t too sure if he wanted it. Since it was a more relaxed dance, he didn’t bother, like usual, of filling out a dance card and instead grabbed the hand of the person next to him and started to dance, thrilled that it was some of the commoners taking part and they seemed to outnumber the nobles and their children in the dance. “It’s easy!” He says to the person, “come on! Just like this,” and shows them the dance everyone around them was doing.

|| LOCATION || The Barnett Gemstone Ball

She had seen many grand things. Imposing towers and ancient architecture. People of all ages, sizes, cultures. And yet, seeing the grandeur of the Barnett foyer and ballroom was something to tell. Jewels adorned the walls, reflecting off the marbled flooring. Everyone was dressed to the nines and glittered beneath the soft lighting of the room.

Riya was astonished. She felt as if she could fit right in alongside the uppity folks here in Mayfair. Approaching the drinks table, she poured herself a small glass of punch, trailing her eyes along the finger foods. A multi-layered tray filled with desserts reminiscent of gems. Emeralds, topaz, alexandrite, jade, opal, and others she could not quite name. They were much too beautiful to dare eat, though people were snagging them with a quickness.

Feeling someone beside her, she smiled sheepishly. She wasn't always bashful unless it truly mattered. "Is it obvious how much I am enjoying all of this?"

Mary was trying her best to stick to one area, to talk to people, to do what she assumed diamonds of the season were meant to do, but to be honest, she felt half restless. Everywhere she turned, she thought that she saw him ( though she was certain that it was merely her eyes going straight to him naturally, as it had season before ). Instead of fleeing the room as she had been doing, this time, Mary made her rounds, pausing to talk to Riya upon seeing the joy in her eyes as she took a small pastry for herself.

All that she could do was chuckle. " On the contrary, Miss, I do believe that there is beauty in obvious joy, and considering this is my families ball, I will take your enjoyment as the highest compliment. " Mary smiled, giving the other a curtsey before stepping closer after she rose.

the memory of the giddy young girl stepping into a ball of glittering gems, handsome suitors and the chance to dance the night away was long bidden within her mind, now entering the ball as a widow - a somewhat lived woman not ready to see faces of old familiars. shoulders roll as the amber ring on her right hand is spun round and round, an anxious movement developed over the years in france and away from home. hazel eyes glide over the decorations that were both gaudy and beautiful at the same time, a false push of presence to create influence and inspiration; sights set towards a secluded corner, far from the moonstone room and close by a table of drinks in case such vices were needed to survive one of many societal events she was sure to return her face to.

slowly, slipping her way through the crowd of faces, nora finds her position for the event - not secluded to far to cause gossip and commotion, but enough to still show her face and polite smiles. "keep me safe, amber," a low whisper of a prayer to the amber ring is her only hope of a pleasant evening right now.

For all the preparing that she had done even before arriving in Mayfair, Ajana felt as though she should feel far more confident about tonight than she truly felt. It was not fair, but she did blame all of it on one Nalan Das, who had ran into her once and purposefully visited her another time with the boldness to ask if she would dance with him at the ball. It would be a lie to say that seeing him so soon, but she was doing her very best to turn her anxiousness into determination. She would make moves towards finding herself the most wonderful match, one better than Nalan and his sisters. Everything would be fine- or better than fine, everything would be wonderful. She repeated those words to herself from the moment she rose the morning of the ball, the whole time she was getting ready, over and over until she was walking through, letting the spectacle wipe away her worries enough to try and build some confidence.

open starter // Barnett House, The Gem Ball

Mary had been on her way to The Ruby Confessional and Exchange, but catching a glimpse of someone dressed in rubies, she had quickly turned and with great haste made her way to any other area. Her feet had decided to take her to the Moonstone Room, and though she was still undecided on whether or not she would seek appraisal, she did just want to take in the room. Her smile did not drop as someone spoke to her, curtseying gracefully in greeting ( she had to play the sparkling diamond, after all ) before raising her eyes to meet the gentleman's.

" I am uncertain, though not because of my chosen gemstone. I know what many think of garnet's, though I am hoping that I can change people's opinion on them myself instead of relying on someone to overhear some masked one's views on them, on me. " Still, Mary smiled, trying to guess what gemstone he was as she took in his attire. She did not ask outright, not wanting to seem as though she did not know much about finer things.

|| LOCATION || The Barnett Gemstone Ball

Somewhere along the way, Ceara lost sight of Kitty and decided to traverse the Barnett residence on her own. She wasn’t sure where to go or what would await every corner, but it was better than the strange tension between her and her supposed new friend. She hadn’t seen Tim, which worried her. And she had yet to see Dominic, which made her stomach turn uncomfortably. There wasn’t anyone she could turn to with a familiar face and, for the first time in seventeen years, her vulnerability was at an all-time high.

She fidgeted her fingers, eyes darting from corner to corner until she found an empty hallway to breathe in. Sagging against the wall, she finally took a deep breath. Perhaps this was a bad idea. She wasn’t fit for this sort of thing. Or maybe it was the fact that so much had happened leading up to this ball and her mind was warping all the things that could possibly go wrong.

Ceara began muttering an Irish lullaby to herself, recalling the one her mother used to sing. She hummed the tune, shutting her eyes until she felt another presence and softly said, “I found this hallway first. So, if you do not intend to share it with me, then I suggest walking away.”

Ajana had done much preparations for tonight, perhaps too much for now that she was here, she needed a moment to collect herself. She knew she should focus on the dance floor, but she found herself wanting to prove herself both in the diamond trials as well as in being appraised in front of the largest amount of people as she could find. Still, all she had done thus far was mingle. One could only mingle, meet new people, charm so much before they became tired and in need of a break and so before deciding which test Ajana would first submit herself to, she took a break. The very last thing that she expected, however, was someone else doing the exact same.

The woman's lullaby caused a rush of comfort to Ajana and so she had been silent until she spoke and as she did, guilt filled her. Ajana was quick to explain herself. " I do not mind sharing. I am simply taking a moments break. " She said softly, hopeful that her tone conveyed her seriousness. " I did not mean to disturb, if you wish me to go, I shall. " The hope to make friends as well as find a match struck her though, and so an idea hit her.

He had been embarrassed at first, but not anymore- Maybe he had a couple of drinks that helped with being at ease as well.

He doesn't think twice as he turns to someone near him to dance with him- it seemed he didn't care if he would have known the person next to him. He even had a bit of an easy smile on his face. "are you here to join the next dance?"

Even though she had been invited twice, Tessa still could not shake the feeling that she did not belong here. She had gone back and forth between lingering near Tobias' side and roaming, trying to take the whole evening in and store it in her brain so that she might remember it on hard, lonely days. She had been lingering on the dance floor, fidgeting with her dance card, not even aware Bertie was beside her until he spoke.

He perked up when he heard the crunch of a leaf. He looked over, and his breath hitched at the sight of her. He had seen her in passing all evening, but seeing her so close?

She is so beautiful up close. He thought the dark gems looked perfect on her. He really was a diamond in his gaze. He stands up straighter when he hears her speak. He missed her, and it wasn't that long ago he walked her home. His lips tingle at the memory of that night. He looked her over, and he saw a diamond, but one under too much pressure. He could see the exhaustion. He knew it. He didn't need to ask.

He pushed himself off the wall and walked closer to her. He kept his hands behind his back." I..." he wanted to ask so many things, but instead of asking, he put his hand out. "i want to dance with you," He blurted out instead. He knew neither of their families would approve of it. " and talk too...about what happened. "He finally said.

He is tired of letting Dominic choose for him. He remembers Edgars words...he remembers when he spoke with Tobais. “If you’ll have me, of course, Miss Mary?” He said as he gave her a proper bow that he had yet to give anyone else. His words were much softer as well. He was really ready to embarrass himself if she denied him. But that would be closer, wouldn’t it?

He needs to choose for himself. And in this moment. He chooses to dance with the diamond of the season.

Her heart was thundering so fast, so loud that she did not hear the hitch in his breath, but she could see him, and for the first time in a night full of stolen glances, she felt like she was seeing him, her Freddie.

The soft tone, the soft... well, everything about Freddie pushed the last of her walls away without trying. Her lips upturned, barely, but visible as she moved closer and closer to him. She did not even realize she was moving. Instinct just pulled her in and here, alone, she did not fight it. How could she when looking into his eyes Mary did not see the man standing before her, she saw the man from last year, heard his laughter echoing in her ears as they passed their works back and forth? When he looked at her now with that very same look he had when they had kissed under the stars while walking her home?

She ought to rid herself of such memories, but to her surprise, he held out his hand. He asked her to dance. To talk… Why would he? What did they have to talk about?

Mary did not speak, but her face showed her reply- confusion. It did not last long for he took a step closer, he bowed, and this soft noise ( surprise? joy? awe? ) slipped from her mouth as she smiled. She curtsied back.

Rising, she spoke at last, smile still on her lips. “ You do recall I am a dreadful dancer, yes? ” Her words just as soft even though she teased. Still, she took his hand, quiet, hesitating for a moment before she brought it to her lips and pressed a soft kiss to his palm before slowly moving to place her hands into position for their dance.

“ It is a good thing that we can still hear the music. I would be delighted, my lord. ” And just like that, she started their movement, though she allowed him to lead right after.

Though she ought to be focused on the steps so to make sure that this pleasant, wonderful moment they are sharing would not be ruined by her stepping on his feet, but she couldn’t look away, nor could she stop thinking about he said. He wanted to talk about what happened.

"It is so taxing being a debutante! How terrible it is to be on one's feet all night!" Katherine groaned out in annoyance as she stood, letting her maid, Tessa, help her get ready for the Gemstone ball. "The only reason I am even going is because of how exciting the whole thing will be. I know it is hard for you to understand, seeing that you are only a maid, but imagine this: A family not only lied about how much money they had, but now their eldest daughter went and eloped with a dock worker! And now the two of them are Lord and Lady of the house! It is so horrible, I love it." Katherine babbled on to Tessa, always enjoying when she was able to gossip. To her, Tessa was really only around for her to talk mindlessly to and have her nod along, and to make her pretty.

She looked at herself in the mirror, admiring how sparkly her jewelry was and the light makeup that had been applied to her face. "I will want to go to bed promptly when I return home. So try to remember to get my tea and biscuits ready on time, alright?" Honestly, Tessa was very prompt most of the time. She was a very hard worker, but Katherine never paid much attention to hard labor.

Tessa should be used to Katherine's words and outlook on such things in society, though her lady never failed to surprise her with things. She hummed along as she always did, working with quick but gentle fingers to put the last touches on Katherine's gown and hair. Tessa sometimes enjoyed reading gossip, in particular, she enjoyed Lady Whistledown, the copy that mentioned her being kept currently in her favorite book. Even though she enjoyed Whistledown, she did not enjoy the hardships that the author and worse, The Ton brought to families who they were struggling. She managed to bite her tongue, not saying the sassy comment in return that popped into her head, instead trying to heighten her lady’s excitement on what she actually should be excited about. “ I can only imagine how beautiful it all will be. The invitation described it as a living jewelry box. ” Perhaps the Barnett’s and this dock worker brought out the very best in each other, perhaps they were doing better than. She hoped so, for their sake. She hoped the season would go beautifully for them. Of course, she did not say that.

Frederic had yet to talk to Mary for most of the ball. He knew his brother was watching him so closely. He saw a glimpse of her, and he was almost desperate to get a chance to talk to her. He found  The Ruby Confessional and Exchange. He paused because he had help from Kitty- he knew he shouldn't trust her for anything and yet.... as his fingers go along the blank note. He wonders.... He glanced around, and his brothers were distracted. He wrote a quick note to Mary, telling her to meet him somewhere. He didn't write his name, but he knew she would know his handwriting well enough.

He got a note back saying 'it's fake' And he pouted his duck-like pout, appearing. It wasn't fake...

He sent another, and he knew that he wasn't using the Ruby Confessional and Exchange as it was meant to be used. He didn't care, but seeing a note given to him back was worth it. He hoped that he got to her, that she'd listen and understand what he was trying to say. He just wanted to see her. His mind flashes to the only two meetings before. He knew Dominic is keeping him away from Mary for a good reason. It's useless to think he’d be able to stay away…   He's love-lorn, and it's pathetic. No matter who he met, many ladies and gentlemen tonight, none of them would work for him.

He just needed a closure…He needed to talk about what happened without his brother in his ear and just to hear it from Mary. That's all this way.

It wasn't because he's still in love.

No, it's nothing like that.

He managed to slip out to the outside of the ball. He could still hear the music. It was quiet and just a soft hum of it all, but no one would be out here. Why would anyone spend time outside of the ball? That wouldn't be proper. He's leaning against the wall. His gaze was up at the stars as he waited with bated breath. He expected her not to show up, and he'd be left like this. He'd deserved it, but- He hoped she would give him a chance

She knew full and well that this wasn’t a good idea. This whole night had been nothing short of a twinkling, sparkling, beautiful disaster, though she was certain that no one other than her could tell how she felt...

Or, well.... no one but her and perhaps the man also dressed in red- a ruby, of course. Not a garnet. He was the shiner thing. More desired. More expensive, not something that Mary should have even thought she had the right to gaze upon, let alone touch. Yet, despite herself, she could not stop herself from stealing glances, especially not after she had gotten his note.

Mary couldn't keep still- talking to JunHo, suitors and debutants approaching, trying to make her way to the Ruby Confessionals when she could, going to the ballroom, to Moonstone Appraisal before deciding she did not want to hear what others might have to say about her ( she felt like a fool in this dress- she did not want to hear anyone else say it, she already knew it to be true. This whole evening might as well have been a masquerade with how she felt like she was in a costume, playing pretend ), instead debating participating in The Diamond Trials though with a full dance card, she hardly had time to do that, more suitors, more debutants, a dance, then Freddie's second note... She felt like her head might burst. What else could she do but meet him?

Tears burned in her eyes as soon as she seemingly was alone outside, allowing them to burn while she searched for her former fiancee, though the moment he was in eyesight, she banished them. Instead, a cross look filled her face, one that was wiped away the moment she saw him.

She had been stealing glances at him all night, how could she not when those she had spoken to had questions about why her and her former intended were wearing matching colors, but now looking at him, seeing him... they did look like they matched. He was dazzling, she preferred him in simple clothes, like what he had worn to the tavern the other night, but even she couldn't deny just how handsome he looked... how long it had been since she had seen him like this...

Anger, tears fade away to show the depth of her exhaustion, the words she had meant to say falling away when she actually looked to him.

Being just a modiste, Kaira always thought that she would be standing on the sidelines and watching everyone take to the dancefloor but she didn’t mind it. It was a treat to see all the beautiful clothing move and seeing everyone's choices. It was a surprise that she was asked at all and feeling like her old self in her beautiful citrine dress, she accepted and moved easily with the dancing partner until the music ended. “You move most beautifully,” her face red from the moving but a wide smile on her face. “Thank you for asking me to dance. I’m sure you have had many offers already. And your clothes! What gemstone are you tonight?"