Breath was held tightly in her chest until he dispelled the anxious notion he'd changed his mind regarding their arrangement. The tone of his voice was just as enthralling as she remembered. When the viscount stepped in, she smiled warmly up at him. It was the first time the weight of their unchaperoned meeting and its possible ramifications were felt. Alas, though her visit was at his request, and from what she'd known of the man so far, he cared very little for societal decorum amongst the tonβa mutually shared opinion. Lulled in by his engaging demeanor, she subconsciously leaned in to gain a few more inches.
The faint scent of a fragrance hung in the air between them, and while she attempted to concentrate on his words, she studied him as he now seemed broader and taller than last night against the backdrop of the beautifully adorned fireplace. Those features which had already been wickidly alluring under the moonlight were suddenly more intense: a jaw sharp enough to cut if dared to touch, and the dimple resting on his chin beckoned to be kissed. The thought caused her to blush as she suddenly realized she'd shifted her weight forward at some point, leaning in towards the man.
Quickly, she righted herself and took a proprietary step back before she scanned around the room for a distraction; an obvious, nervous, tight-lipped laugh escaped. Space was needed to think and breathe, but she found it difficult catching a softness in his eyes.
Eyes fell to the letter in his hand with the confession that he regretted nothing. The word conspirator caused her to tilt her head, as she let out a gentle, pleased sigh. Finally, able to formulate a sentence from her buzzing mind, "I assure you I've no regret either entrusting you with the secret." The words trickled from her mouth ever so slowly as she took another look around to find a pianoforte in the corner she'd initially missed. A smile bloomed across her features as she'd already begun to walk towards the well-crafted instrument, and she asked, "How delightful do you play?" Obviously, someone in the home must have.
Pulling out a bench, the scrape against the floor seemed to echo throughout the room. She looked over her shoulder and asked, "Do you mind if I play? I don't think I've ever seen one as lovely as this one." Checking pitch at first, she found it perfect. Bored by the silly songs most girls her age played to entertain suitors in parlors, she opted to play the melodically moody Sonata No. 14, Moonlight, by Beethoven. What was the point of music if it didn't elicit an emotion? Lifting her eyes from the ivories, she finally met his gaze again as she continued to play, a bit more at ease behind the pianoforte. Slowly, she was working up the nerve to ask a favor, but the temperament of the piece seemed too aggressive, so she shifted into Allegreto Symphony No. 7 as she smiled and sweetly confessed, "Sorry, he's my favorite."
It was another minute before she asked, "It might be rather early in our partnership to ask for a favor, but I need something only someone of your privilege and...eh- gender could assist in." She continued to play, bespelled by him as he proved too distracting, she found herself looking down at the keys more than usual. Finally, unfurling slightly more, "The payment for the publications has been quite lucrative, but I'm in desperate need to double my earnings, you see."
Making a conscious decision to stop playing and concentrate on the conversation, her hands fell into her lap. Eyes glossed over with emotion, her shoulders dropped before she continued, "It is my understanding that White's is a place where one could do just that, through gambling and bets. Is that correct?" Letting her eyes fall back to the piano, she gently traced a key as she almost choked on the next words, "I need to outbid my bride price before the end of the season, or else I'll be on a ship to the Americas to wed a railroad baron twice my age." It wasn't the most perfect plan, given her uncle could reject the offer, but it was all she could cling to at the moment.