#as promised hehe..

sometimes it felt like there were remnants of the tethers that used to bind them, phantom prickles of thread seven long years had tangled them up in. she hadn't wanted to cross paths with him; but what henrietta wanted when it came to nicholas van rensselaer was, like always, of little consequence. "dressed like a philanderer?" she remarks upon taking in his costume, head tilting to the side. "and here i thought we were supposed to come in costume." the words lack bite, though—perhaps it was the way something seemed disheveled about her ex fiance, like staring at a painting off center by just a hair. and then she sees it, the exhale of breath that leaves her throat practically a satisfied hum. "you've still got powder on your nose, nick." there's a flash of something in her dark gaze, a question before she's even parted her lips, though she doesn't frame it as one. "i want some."