#mmthorne

It was a dreadful party and Ernest saw before him two possible options. The first was to leave and accept that the evening had been miserable and dull, the second, stir something up so it was more exciting. Of course he chose the second. There was a brief moment as he sipped on his wine that he considered the better, more gentlemanly first choice but it just didn’t appeal to him. It was a waste of an evening if he didn’t create at least some intrigue from it.

Unfortunately for observers, they were going to have to deal with Ernest’s less admirable side.

He knocked back the rest of his wine and then clapped his hands together, stepping towards the orchestra and politely waving for them to interrupt the music. “Thank you, thank you, you all play very well but thank you.” He said, clearly not a little bit drunk. Clearing his throat, he turned toward the many faces staring at him and seeing that he had the room’s attention, a grin crossed his features. “Forgive me for interrupting this - Well. . .” he couldn’t really call it a fine evening, now could he? “Evening.”

“Lord Pembroke, I beg you to stop whatever nonsense you are up to at once.” One of the men said, an older guest, likely somebody’s father but he had the good sense to catch a scandal about to occur. 

“Oh patience, I haven’t even gotten to my point. May I have some wine?” He looked into the crowd and pouted a little when none was offered. “You don’t mind if I take yours, do you?” He took it from the older gent’s hands and gulped it down, smacking his lips when he was through. “Thank you. Thank you very much.” He grabbed his hand and gave it an emphatic shake. “That’s all from me, shall we resume our soiree?” He grinned, throwing a hand in the air for the musicians to continue. They gave each other uncertain looks but sure enough, the music resumed, and Ernest grinned seeing that he very much so did give everyone something to talk about. He got a good deal of scandalized glances, not least from the man whose wine he drank. He passed the cup to a servant and went searching for some more, listening to the whispers surrounding him about what an outrage he was.

The boat was a frenzy of activity. The other guests were chatting feverishly, attempting to settle themselves in while the crew yelled orders over the bustle. Kit beelined for the secluded area, needing to be able to hear his own thoughts before getting his bearings. He spied Emmeline before she saw him, then promptly saw a massive gust blow across the boat just before her hat took for the sky. Her fingers were just a few seconds shy of catching the ribbon, and he imagined her toppling right over into the Thames in an attempt to catch it. How she fooled so many into thinking her gifted was utterly beyond him. He, however, could see the future clearly. “Emmeline,” he called, already jogging for the hat. He pointed his finger at her, eyes trained on the hat that was dangerously close to flying into the sea. “I will fetch it,” he all but demanded her to stay put. He leapt for the hat, his middle bending over the railing as his fingers grasped the edge of the brim just in time. Once secured he returned to Emmeline, pausing for a moment to gently order her to “Never give chase to a hat,” before placing it safely in her waiting hand. “If you lose this one we shall simply make a new one out of seaweed.”  

You never knew who someone would be on a dancefloor, a fact that was proven by the woman's success before the queen because their brief encounter hidden behind outfits, listening to the Cole's argue about things. Had she ever heard from the wife about those events?

"Ah, so it appears we meet again," Alexandre murmured quietly, a private tone meant only for the two of them. "You seem to be having a wonderful night. Congratulations." // @mmthorne

The sound of a disgruntled huff caused Sophia to look up from the lilies that she had been perusing for her front room. Hazel eyes lifted from the lilies and found the cause of the huff. An older woman, perhaps around her mothers age was looking upset indeed and accosting a much younger woman - the shop keep’s daughter perhaps?. The older womans brows were furrowed and she was red in the face. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t good. If there was something Sophia hated more than awkward social interactions, it was awkward social interactions in a public place. 

The blonde then turned her attention back to the flowers, gaze moving to the person on the other side of her. “Do you see that?” She inquired, desperate to have someone acknowledge the fact that she wasn’t seeing things. Despite how awkward the situation was it was wildly entertaining. “Who do you reckon will come out the champion?” 

It had long been Emmeline's vice - the burning curiosity that meant she could not help but crave intimate knowledge of the people around her. Most of the time she was able to let it wash over her, eyes hidden beneath her veil, carefully watching everyone around her, never staying focused on one person for too long.

Some people, however, were practically begging to be watched.

The couple Emmeline had found at the store were the perfect example. The woman she recognised, a Mrs Cole who had previous sought Emmeline’s predictions. The man she had to assume was Mrs Cole’s husband. a man so frustrated he had practically turned red in the face. The source of their disagreement appeared to be whether or not the couple should attend the ball in matching pastel outfits.

It was simply too good for Emmeline to look away.

She had hidden herself behind a shelf of fabrics. Eyes keenly watching through the multicoloured silks as she strained to listen in on the hissed conversation... “My good woman you cannot honestly expect me to...”

She was attempting to appear inconspicuous, as if she were simply browsing the store her self. All of her attention was, however, on the other couple.

So much so that she did not remember to look where she was going.

She ran into the person in front of her with a smack. Her cheeks turned crimson as she realised the person she had smacked into was a man. A man who would not struggle to figure out exactly why it was she hadn’t been looking where she was going. Who would figure out very quickly what had held her attention.

“Please forgive me.” She whispered, hoping he would not expose her to the couple who continued to argue obliviously. “I did not see you there.”

An important and very obvious thing about Alexandre was his nature as an extrovert, which meant that he wasn't one to shy away from people and most often, he wasn't one to shy away from their drama, either.

The pair likely thought they were being quiet, and in their defense, Alexandre could only catch part of what was being said, but the simple matter of their location and body language gave away indicators of just what they were debating so fiercely about.

Their tiff would certainly be in the newest issue of Whistledown and Alexandre was focused on what he was doing as he listened, unmoving, and so he wasn't overly concerned about the woman approaching him until she bumped into him with a solid collision.

Goodness, and Alexandre thought he was nosy.

A hand went to steady the woman and the other went to steady himself, only sheer luck preventing him from knocking anything over. That wouldn't have been good, it might potentially have given the both of them away and then where would they be?

"Obviously not." Despite his words, there was an amusement in Alexandre's tone as his eyes cut to the side, incapable of seeing the pair from his shifted position. "I can guess just what distracted you."

Any sign of a disturbance in the shop would also distract the arguing couple, but it seemed they were as rivetted in each other as the young woman had been, the hiss of voices still apparent when Alexandre strained to hear.